Mapam Yumco

Lake Manasarovar also called Mapam Yumtso (; ) locally, is a high altitude freshwater lake near Mount Kailash in Burang County, Ngari Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, China. It is located at an elevation of , near the western trijunction between China, India and Nepal. It overflows into the adjacent salt-water lake of Rakshastal via the Ganga Chhu. The sources of four rivers: Indus, Sutlej, Brahmaputra, and Karnali lie in the vicinity of the region.

The lake is sacred in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Bon religion. People from India, China, Nepal and other countries in the region undertake a pilgrimage to the region. The pilgrimage generally involves trekking towards Lake Manasarovar and a circumambulation of the nearby Mount Kailash.

Etymology

The Sanskrit word "Manasarovar" (मानसरोवर) is a combination of two Sanskrit words, ''Mānas'' (मानस्) meaning "mind" (generally denotes the mental powers associated including intellect, perception, conscience) and ''sarovar'' (सरोवर) meaning "lake or a large pond". The lake is called as ''Mapam Yumtso'' (; ) and ''Tso Madröpa'' locally. In his Tibetan- English dictionary, Sarat Chandra Das states that ''Mapam Yumtso'' is derived from ''Mapam'' meaning unconquerable or invincible and ''Tso Madröpa'' is derived from ''Madropa'' meaning "ground heated by the Sun" both used in combination with ''Tso'', the Tibetan word for lake.

Geography

Lake Manasarovar is located in Ngari Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region of China. It is located in the southwest region of Tibet north of the western tripoint of the border between China, India and Nepal. It is visible from the Lapcha La pass above the Limi valley in Nepal on a clear day. The freshwater lake lies at above mean sea level on the mostly saline lake-studded Tibetan Plateau and is one of the highest freshwater lakes in Asia.

Spread over a surface area of , Lake Manasarovar is relatively round in shape with a circumference of and a maximum depth of . Manasarovar overflows into the salt-water endorheic lake of Rakshastal via the natural Ganga Chhu channel. The major rivers rising from the region include Yarlung Tsangpo (which becomes the Brahmaputra), the Indus, the Sutlej and the Karnali, a tributary of Ganges.

Climate

The weather is fairly dry during April to June with day time temperatures of more than and night time temperatures close to . The temperature starts to decrease in October with January being the coldest. Winters have day time temperatures below freezing with colder nights. Monsoons bring rain from late June to August with cold winds.

Global warming is described as happening more rapidly on the Tibetan Plateau than anywhere else in the world. According to locals, the land around the region has been growing warmer in recent years with winters not as cold as it used to be. The retreating glaciers and thawing of the permafrost in the Tibet region might lead to uncertain effects on water resources of the region. These effects along with population explosion and tourism has put severe stress on the fragile ecosystem.

Religious significance

Hinduism

In Hindu literature, Mansarovar is mentioned by name in the Hindu epics ''Ramayana'' and '' Mahabharata''. Though modern texts state the lake to be among the most sacred sites of Hinduism, there is no explicit mention of the lake in early Vedic literature. The ''Rigveda'' mentions that the Indus River flows north because of Indra, a geographical reality only in the Tibet region. According to Frits Staal, this makes it likely that some of the ancient Vedic people traced the route of the Indus river and had seen the valley near Mount Kailash.

The early Hindu texts mention a mythical Mount Meru and lake Manasa. The mythical Manasa lake is described as one created through the mind of Brahma as the preferred abode of his vahana hamsa. In the ''Ramayana'', Vishvamitra tells Rama that Brahma created a lake out of his consciousness (Manas), hence the name Manas Sarovar (lake of consciousness) and a river was born out of that lake called Sarayu, which flowed through the kingdom of Ayodhya.

Mount Kailash on the banks of Lake Manasarovar is believed to be the abode of Shiva. This is where the holy river Ganges was tamed by Shiva and sent to nourish the fertile valleys below the Himalayas.

Buddhism and Bon

Lake Manasarovar and Mount Kailash are central to Buddhist cosmology, and a major pilgrimage site for some Buddhist traditions. Kailash is known as the mythological Mount Meru. In Buddhism, Kailash represents the father of the world and Lake Mansarovar symbolizes the mother. According to mythology, Maya bathed at Manasarovar to purify herself before Buddha could enter her womb. Numerous sites in the region are associated with Padmasambhava, who is credited with establishing Tantric Buddhism in Tibet in the 8th century CE. Vajrayana Buddhists believe that saint Milarepa () had a challenge with Naro Böncham, a follower of Bön religion on the banks of Manasarovar.

For the Bon people, the region was the centre of the ancient Bon empire of Zhang Zhung and is associated with the holy place of Zhang Zhung Meri deity. As per Tibetan beliefs, the region was the source of the mythical Lion, Horse, Peacock, and Elephant Rivers. When Tonpa Shenrab, the founder of the Bon religion, visited Tibet for the first time and bathed in the lake.

Jainism

In Jainism, Lake Manasarovar is associated with its founder and the first Tirthankara, Rishabhanatha. As per Jain scriptures, he attained nirvana on the Ashtapad Mountain. It is believed by Jains that after Rishabhanatha attained nirvana, his son emperor Bharata had constructed three stupas and twenty four shrines of the 24 tirthankaras in the region. There are other stories related to the region relating to Mahavira, Kumar and Sagar, Tapas Kher Parna, Ravana and Mandodari, among many others.

Pilgrimage

The lake has been mentioned in various Hindu and Buddhist religious literature. It was part of one of the oldest pilgrimage routes, which has been in existence for many years. Though modern texts state the lake to be among the most sacred sites of various religions, there is no explicit mention of the lake being a pilgrimage site in early literature. Typically, historic pilgrimage sites that were frequented by Buddhists, Hindus and Jains attracted discussion in their respective texts and the construction of infrastructure by wealthy patrons or kings. The Hindu ''Puranas'' indicate various infrastructure, such as temples, dharmasalas, ashram

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