Lake Mansarovar

Lake Manasarovar, situated at a high elevation, about 4,590 meters (15,060 feet) above sea level, is a holy freshwater lake situated in China’s Tibet Autonomous Region, not far from the Indian border. The words “Manas” and “Sarovar” in the name “Manasarovar” are Sanskrit equivalents, where “Manas” denotes the mind and “Sarovar” denotes the lake. It might be referred to collectively as the “Lake of the Mind”, the “Lake Born from the Mind”, or “Brahma’s Lake.”  This name for the lake indicates its profound spiritual importance in Buddhism and Hinduism.

According to Hindu Mythology, Lord Brahma, one of the main deities in Hinduism, created this Mansarovar lake as a mirror of his mind and epitome of purity. Apart from being the holiest lake, it is also the source of the four main rivers, including the Ganges (also known as the Karnali, the longest river in Nepal) flows on the south side, whereas, the Indus, the Sutlej, and the Brahmaputra (the Yarlung Tsangpo) in the east, west, and north, respectively. Pilgrims and other travelers from around the world walk the tough trails to reach this holy lake and take a bath in its pure waters to atone for sins and purify the soul.

Also, this lake holds holy significance in Buddhism too as a site of enlightenment and spiritual cleansing. In Buddhist scriptures, it is referred to as the “Anavatapta,” a phrase denoting that its waters never warm up. Buddhists walk around the lake as part of their religious observances because they think that doing so might aid in obtaining spiritual understanding and Moksha (freedom from the cycle of birth and death).