Friday 3 March 2017

The mystery and secrets of Mansarovar Lake

There's always a mystery surrounding Lake Mansarovar near Mt Kailash. I just can't wait to visit this place when my little one grows up. Speaking Tree throws some light on the mystery surrounding this amazing lake:

Located at about a height of 4,590 metres, Mansarovar is the largest freshwater lake of the world situated at that high. The captivating scenery presented by this lake is incomparably superb. The origin of the word Mansarovar is from two roots namely manas and sarovar meaning mind and lake respectively. It is said in the scriptures that initially Brahma conceived this lake in his mind and later it go the visible manifestation and thus the name ensued.


Hinduism believes that initially Lord Brahma created this lake for meditation and he sat here in meditation for several ages that culminated in the beginning of the creation process. It is from this spot that the entire world was created. Earlier during that time, Mansarovar was even vaster and eventually it was reduced to its present size. This theory is supported by several religions and the concept of lake Tethys, which is the source of all creation points out to Mansarovar.

Very interestingly, this lake together with Mount Kailash rising adjacent to it are considered holy by several religions at once including Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Bon.

Hinduism views Mount Kailash as the form of Lord Shiva and Mansarovar as the form of Mother Parvati, the male and female aspects of the supreme energy. The total circumferance of this lake is 80 km and it takes about three days to go around it. The depth is about 300 feet and stretches over an area of about 320 square kilometres.


It is believed that some celestial bodies and sapta rishis (the seven sages) descend on to this lake in the form of some visible light everyday during Brahmamuhurt time to take a holy dip and then leave back. Interesting and highly mysterious phenomenon has been conspicuously observed by a lot of people with reverence, wow and wonder. Legends in Buddhism state the Queen Maya was given a holy bath in the Mansarovar lake before she gave birth to Lord Buddha. Earlir there were eight famous Buddhist monasteries around this lake.

To the west of the Mansarovar lake, we can find yet another lake namely Raksas Tal. The two lakes are connected by Ganga Chhu channel. Mansarovar is a round shaped freshwater lake and Rakshas Tal is crescent shaped and is a salt water lake. This start contrast is inexplicable by science. In Buddhism, the two lakes are symbolically interpreted as the lightness and darkness respectively. Hinduism says Mansarovar is the god's lake and Rakshas tal is the devil's lake.


Yet another baffling fact even for scientists is that even during adverse weather conditions, the Mansarovar lake constantly remains calm and undisturbed. Whereas the much smaller crescent shaped Rakshas Tal is constantly turbulent regardless of the weather conditions. While Mansarovar presents an inviting appearance and bounteously gives away its water for bathing and drinking, no one even dares to come near the adjoining Rakshas Tal lake being scared by the very turbulent appearance of it. Even touching the water of the Rakshas Tal lake is strictly prohibited. Mansarovar's mysteries are unresolved and strongly attest the religious beliefs of people. 

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