The Sacred Lake of the Heart: Manasarovar's (Mapang Yongcuo) Ten Thousand Shades of Blue
Reference: "To the West of Tibet, Ali Ali" by Li Chuchu
Photography: Big Knife, Yanhai, Liuye Blade Zzvet Alamy
Photography: Big Knife, Yanhai, Liuye Blade Zzvet Alamy
Writing: Wang Cong, Huang Ying
Lake of the Heart
The ancient Tibetan Plateau
was once a vast blue sea
rising slowly towards the sky
over millions of years
a process unfathomable
yet still ongoing
Photography by Yanhai
Here
Ascend to such great heights on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
Penetrating through layers of haze, nearing the cosmos
Ultimately, you can feel
That even the sky has a life of its own.
Ascend to such great heights on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
Penetrating through layers of haze, nearing the cosmos
Ultimately, you can feel
That even the sky has a life of its own.
Photography by Yanhai
The blue of Tibet's sacred lake
Is not just tranquility and purity
It is ethereal and vivid
Close to the mysteries of the universe
It holds boundless abundance and power
Is not just tranquility and purity
It is ethereal and vivid
Close to the mysteries of the universe
It holds boundless abundance and power
Photography by Dadao
King of Sacred Lakes
Manasarovar
Tibetan meaning "the eternal and invincible emerald lake"
Sanskrit: मानसरोवर Manasarover
Composed of the words "mana" (meaning, mind)
and "sarover" (lake)
Can be translated as "lake of the mind"
or "lake of the heart"
Tibetan meaning "the eternal and invincible emerald lake"
Sanskrit: मानसरोवर Manasarover
Composed of the words "mana" (meaning, mind)
and "sarover" (lake)
Can be translated as "lake of the mind"
or "lake of the heart"
Photography by Zzvet
It is the freshwater lake with the highest average elevation in the world (4588 meters above sea level), a mythical companion of the king of holy mountains, Mount Kailash. It is also recognized as a sacred lake by multiple cultures and religions around the world.
Photography by Dadao
Lake Manasarovar has the highest transparency and
the second largest storage of natural freshwater.
The lake water comes from the melting of ice and
snow from the Gangdise Mountains.
It is clear and sweet, reaching deep into the heart.
Photography by Dadao
In Tibetan culture, it is the palace of the dragon god "Lu",
It is the Shangri-La of the gods,
It is the nectar of the human world,
It can wash away the troubles of the soul.
It is the Shangri-La of the gods,
It is the nectar of the human world,
It can wash away the troubles of the soul.
Photography by Dadao
The Origin of Benzene Teaching
Located amidst a scattered network of lakes,
Lake Manasarovar lies between Mount Kailash
and the Naimona'nyi Peak of the Himalayas,
35 kilometers east of Pulan County, Ali Region, Tibet.
Covering an area of 412 square kilometers,
it is revered as one of the three sacred lakes.
Lake Manasarovar lies between Mount Kailash
and the Naimona'nyi Peak of the Himalayas,
35 kilometers east of Pulan County, Ali Region, Tibet.
Covering an area of 412 square kilometers,
it is revered as one of the three sacred lakes.
Image source: Dinodia Photos/Alamy
The sacred mountain of Mount Kailash and
the holy lake of Lake Manasarovar,
regarded as the "center of the world" by the four major
religions of Buddhism, Bon, Hinduism, and Jainism,
together constitute "the source of a thousand mountains and
the origins of ten thousand rivers."
Photography by Yanhai
During the Xiangxiong period,
Lake Manasarovar was known as "Matselso" and
was the name of the dragon king of wealth
in the Bon religion.
The ancient book "The Gazetteer of Mount Kailash
and Lake Manasarovar" records: "In the sacred
Lake Manasarovar, there is a dragon
palace of the dragon king of wealth."
Photography by Dadao
"In the palace there is a gathering of many treasures from the world,
Those who come here on a pilgrimage
Just need to walk around the lake or be by the lakeside
To receive a small fish from the lake,
A small stone, a feather of a flying bird
Considered as a reward from the Dragon King"
Photography by Zzvet
In the 11th century, a war occurred by the lake.
The Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism defeated the Bon
religion, leading to the lake being renamed "Lake Manasarovar,"
meaning "eternally undefeated emerald lake."
The Bon scripture "The Great Canon of the Elephants" mentions
the "source of the four great rivers,"
which refers to the mother lake Manasarovar.
In "The Great Tang Records on the Western Regions,"
it is called the "Celestial Pond of the Western Heaven."
According to Hindu legend, this is where Shiva and his wife bathed.
Photography by Yanhai
Sacred Lake and Ghost Lake
The map outlines the majestic Pangong Tso,
Hidden in a barren land where nothing grows
A turquoise gem shining under the sky,
Reflecting the distant snow-capped mountains high.
In the quiet depths, a primal life force flows,
Nourishing all creatures with its gentle glow.
Photography by Zzvet
To the west of Lake Manasarovar,
there is a ghost lake called Rakshastal.
It is said to be the sister lake of Manasarovar,
both of which were originally part of the same lake in ancient times.
Due to climate change, the lake eventually split into two.
Interestingly, Manasarovar is a freshwater lake,
while Rakshastal is a saltwater lake,
meaning "poisonous black lake" in Tibetan.
there is a ghost lake called Rakshastal.
It is said to be the sister lake of Manasarovar,
both of which were originally part of the same lake in ancient times.
Due to climate change, the lake eventually split into two.
Interestingly, Manasarovar is a freshwater lake,
while Rakshastal is a saltwater lake,
meaning "poisonous black lake" in Tibetan.
MaPang Yongcuo and La'angcuo
The image is sourced from the internet.
Buddhists believe that Lake Manasarovar and Lake Rakshastal represent light and darkness respectively. These two lakes are connected through an underground passage. It is believed that the circulation of water between the two lakes symbolizes auspiciousness. If the lakes dry up and the circulation between them is interrupted, it will be a sign of disaster.
Photography by Dadao
The Twelve-Year Offering
In Tsongkhapa's "A Brief Description of Lake Manasarovar," it is recorded:
"A compassionate king named Muganhon
On his way to the forest, saw suffering beings
He sought advice from his teacher on how to alleviate their pain
The answer was: through the practice of generosity
The king provided food for all those in distress
For a period of 12 years
The water used to cook the rice kept accumulating
And after 12 years, it formed a lake
That lake is known as Lake Manasarovar"
"A compassionate king named Muganhon
On his way to the forest, saw suffering beings
He sought advice from his teacher on how to alleviate their pain
The answer was: through the practice of generosity
The king provided food for all those in distress
For a period of 12 years
The water used to cook the rice kept accumulating
And after 12 years, it formed a lake
That lake is known as Lake Manasarovar"
Photography by Dadao
Vivid mythical stories and the glorious history have faded away in this vast land of Ali, gazing into the distance. By the lake where the stars of the Milky Way cascade down, countless devout people have passed through here, leaving behind their awe of nature.
Photography by Liuyedao
Every year, thousands of pilgrims visit the holy lake. They are drawn to the extraordinary power of this sacred lake. In the presence of this holy lake, they find a profound spiritual fulfillment and redemption.
Satellite image of Lake Manasarovar