Milarepa meditate at the Holy Sacred Mount Kailash.

Synopsis

Mount Kailash—the Stairway to Heaven—is the most intriguing mountain range is the whole of Himalayas, so we thought of divulging some things that you might not know about it. 

As a matter of fact, Mount Kailash is 22,000 ft from the Tibetan Plateau, which is largely considered to be inaccessible. For Hindus and Buddhists, Mount Kailash is the physical embodiment of Mount Meru. 

In a remote region of Tibet, the sacred Mount Kailash towers over the surrounding landscape. At 6,638 meters, the revered mountain holds a place in the spiritual beliefs of Buddhists, Hindus, and followers of the Jain and Bon religions. 

Despite the attention, Mount Kailash is still a mystery. The unconquered peak remains wrapped in myths, legends, and spiritual tales. 

The Hindus 

One of the legends about Mount Kailash, according to Hindu belief, is that it is the home of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva is one of the principal deities in Hinduism. He is the god of destruction and transformation, as well as the god of meditation and asceticism.

According to legend, Mount Kailash is his divine residence. Lord Shiva is said to reside there with his consort, the goddess Parvati. Hindu legend tells us that he sits atop the sacred mountain, meditating in perpetual stillness, surrounded by divine energies. 

Hindu pilgrims do the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra to seek blessings and enlightenment by paying homage to the abode of Lord Shiva.

Buddhism 

In Tibetan Buddhist traditions, Mounailash is known as Kang Rinpoche or Gang Rinpoche. They believe the deities Chakrasamvara and Demchog dwell in the mountains. 

The Tibetan saint, Milarepa, is also associated with Mount Kailash. He is believed to have meditated in the caves surrounding the mountain. 

Jainism

Mount Kailash is mentioned in the Jain scriptures as the place where the founder of Jainism, Lord Rishabhadeva, attained liberation. The mountain is known as Ashtapada. 

Bon Faith 

The Bon religion is the ancient spiritual tradition of Tibet that predates Buddhism in the region. Followers of the Bon religion consider Mount Kailash to be the spiritual center of their faith, and it is the site of many rituals and ceremonies.

Buddhist and Hindu texts state that there are very ancient monasteries and caves on Mount Meru where holy sages live in both material and subtle bodies. Few people are fortunate enough to be able to see these caves. 

Thousands of travelers enter Tibet each year to travel to the revered Mount Kailash. Few arrive in the area, and even fewer complete the whole circumambulation of the sacred peak. A few courageous mountaineers have tried to reach the peak, but they haven't been successful. 

Trekking all the way up to the peak of Mount Kailash is held to be a forbidden act among Hindus for fear of trespassing on the sanctity of the mountain and disturbing the divine energies residing there. 

Climbing to the Peak of Mount Kailash is Impossible. 

The 6,638-meter Mount Kailash is one of the few unconquered and unclimbable mountains in the world. One reason is the challenging terrain. 

Mount Kailash has steep, icy slopes in extremely rugged surroundings. Harsh and often unpredictable weather much of the year would make it a very challenging mountain to climb. 

More importantly, the religious significance of Mount Kailash as a sacred site stops people from climbing it. In the Buddhist, Hindu, Jain, and Bon faiths, climbing the mountain is forbidden. Respect for local beliefs discourages any attempts.

Mount Kailash is Considered the Center of the World.

Part of the spiritual traditions involving Mount Kailash is that it is revered as the cosmic axis or center of the world. Often referred to as the "naval of the universe" in Tibetan Buddhist mythologies, it is the dwelling place of important deities and a sanctuary where the world was born.

Has anyone climbed Mount Kailash before? Who has climbed Mount Kailash?

A Buddhist legend holds that Milarepa, the champion of Vajrayana Buddhism, challenged the champion of the Bon religion, Naro Bon-Chung, to climb the mountain. Milarepa won by ascending the mountain on a ray of sunlight, and he claimed Mount Kailash for Buddhism.

As per Tibetan lore, a monk named Milarepa once ventured far enough to reach the top of Mount Meru. When he returned, he forewarned everyone to avoid bothering God, who was resting high up in the peak.

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