Geographic significance: 

Mansarovar is a fresh water lake around 20 kms from Mount Kailash. The symmetric pyramid stands 21,778 ft above sea level. Mt Kailash stands tall on Axis Mundi of our planet earth (there will be a separate article on the relevance of axis mundi), it is also said to be the naval of earth. This is one place where earth and heaven meets.

Mt. Kailash and the 2 lakes- Mansarovar and Rakshas Taal form the trinity that is epicentre of spirituality in Hinduism. Mansarovar is 15,060 ft  above sea level. Most of the lakes in Tibet are saline but Mansarovar is fresh water lake. The glaciers on Kailash feed water in Mansarovar. The circumference is 88 kms and mostly Tibetians try to do its parikrama in a day on foot. Non professional trekkers take around 3 days to do Mansarovar parikrama (walking).  Although mostly this is done on the bus.

Next to Mansarovar is Rakshas Taal. Overflow water from Mansarovar enter the saline Rakhas Taal via the Ganga Chuu Channel. There is no outflow of water from Rakhas Taal. 

While Mansarovar is considered Holy, Rakshas Taal on the other hand is  considered unholy and its water not fit for human use. The nature wants to show significance of these two lakes, that Good and Bad both exists in this world, its how we see it Bad next to Good or Good next to Bad but both exists and they are in circle behind each other. Its only how we mitigate and react but the results will follow.

Lake Manasarovar is near the source of the five Himalayan rivers like Sutlej, Indus, Brahmaputra, Karnali and Ghaghra, an important tributary of the Ganges. 

Religious Significance:

It is believed that the lake was created in the mind of Lord Brahma and it manifested on earth as Mansarovar. The word ‘Manas’ means Mind and ‘Sarovar’ means Lake, which is translated as lake which was created in the mind (of Lord Brahma) is Mansarovar. 

 The water is considered so pure that drinking it cleanses all sins committed in 100 life times. One who drinks its water goes to abode of Shiv after death. Bathing in its holy water wipes off all the sins from seven births. 

Pilgrims from Mansarovar bring back water to distribute to friends and family as it’s a difficult pilgrimage and not everyone gets a chance to do it. 

It is believed that stars/Gods come down and bath in the holy water of Mansarovar between 3 am and 5 am everyday. This is the ideal time to meditate on the shores and watch the miracle unfold with open eyes. One more reason for the water to be pious. 

We reached Mansarovar on Guru poornima. It’s a very important day. It’s the day of praying to Vyasa Maharshi. Vyasa Maharshi has done many good things for this mankind and whenever he appeared to the people that’s was near Manasarovar or Kailash Giri. He has played a vital role in Sanathanadharma. He divided the vedas in four by considering the life span on people in Kaliyug, wrote Astadhasi Puranas, Panchama Vedham (Bhagavatham), requested Adhi Shankara to extend his life span for 16 more years to help the mankind. Narayanam, Padmabhuvanam tat putram Shaktancha, Parasaram, Vysam cha tat putram Sukan cha, Gowda padam cha, Govinda Bhagawatpadam, Adi Shankarachraya (Shakara Bhagawatpadam)

The following is the Guru parampara told by Adi Shankarachrya which we need to recite or remember the Guru parampara when we visit Manasarovar and Kailash Giri.

चीर आया चरम में… 
मार आया “मैं” को मैं… 
“मैं” , “मैं” नहीं… 
”मैं” भय नहीं… 

मैं शिव हूँ। मैं शिव हूँ। मैं शिव हूँ। 

जो सिर्फ तू है सोचता… 
केवल वो मैं नहीं… 

मैं शिव हूँ। मैं शिव हूँ। मैं शिव हूँ। 

मैं काल का कपाल हूँ… 
मैं मूल की चिंघाड़ हूँ… 
मैं मग्न…मैं चिर मग्न हूँ… 
मैं एकांत में उजाड़ हूँ… 

मैं शिव हूँ। मैं शिव हूँ। मैं शिव हूँ। 

मैं आग हूँ… 
मैं राख हूँ… पवित्र राष हूँ… 
मैं पंख हूँ… 
मैं श्वाश हूँ… 
मैं ही हाड़ माँस हूँ… 
मैं ही आदि अनन्त हूँ… 

मैं शिव हूँ। मैं शिव हूँ। मैं शिव हूँ। 

मुझमें कोई छल नहीं… 
तेरा कोई कल नहीं… 
मौत के ही गर्भ में… 
ज़िंदगी के पास हूँ… 
अंधकार का आकार हूँ… 
प्रकाश का मैं प्रकार हूँ… 

मैं शिव हूँ। मैं शिव हूँ। मैं शिव हूँ।