What’s it like to do the Mount Kailash Yatra? Swami Govinda shares his life-changing experiences of walking the full Outer Kora; starting at Lake Manasarovar, then Yama Dwar, Dolma Pass and Gauri Kund. With HD photos.
Looking in a drawer for matches to light the lamps, I came across two pictures, one of a perfectly domed mountain, the other of a glacier, with what appeared to be a small river flowing out from underneath it.
Enthralled by the domed mountain, on Guru’s return I asked Him what it was, and could I have the picture for my shrine. He said no, but then proceeded to give me the glacier picture, which turned out to be Gaumuk, the source of the Ganges.
I wasn’t totally happy with the outcome; it was the mountain that sparked a deep resonance, but that was how it was.
A year later; the same situation lighting lamps, looking for matches, and again I came across the picture of the same mountain. I looked at it every night for the week I occupied Guru’s room.
All of that happened the best part of twenty years ago, and ever since Kailash has been the only place on earth that I desired, actually longed, to visit.
A year or so later it happened that Mohanji was organising a large group for pilgrimage to Kailash. Members of his organisation had mentioned this to a member of Skanda Vale Community who told them of my love for Kailash.
Later that day they bumped into me and I just said that when they come back from their trip they have to tell me absolutely everything.
Unbelievably a space for that pilgrimage became available and at the age of 45 I was suddenly on my way to Kailash; everything very beautifully arranged.
Kailas Outer Kora
Driving up through Nepal, some overnight extreme rain caused a major landslide, making our route to the Tibetan border impassable. Unbelievably, helicopters were made available and all day, five helicopters at a time were flown over the devastated area.
Lake Manasarovar
Bathing in these holy waters, drinking her purity, with Kailash in our sights cured the effects of altitude sickness and more; what an auspicious way to start.
It is said that in the dead of night celestial beings descend on these waters to quench their thirst. For the next two nights we would wake to see small lights appear from nowhere, drop to the water, hover briefly and evaporate. We performed a yagam here to protect our way up towards Kailash.
The effects of the yagam were extremely purifying and any signs of illness disappeared. I went to Manasarovar again, bathed and offered a small bottle of water collected from the Sri Ranganatha Temple, then filled the bottle with Manasarovar water to offer back to Sri Ranganatha… all this with Kailash in full view.
We were now ready to start the parikrama. Early in the morning we travelled a short distance up to Darchen. After several passport checks, body scans and a thorough examination of all hand luggage, our paranoid Chinese friends deemed us fit for pilgrimage.
Yama Dwar
These vast rock structures appeared fluid and alive, their residing deities oscillating within. Mile after mile was filled with this wonder. I was totally overwhelmed to be in the presence of this great mountain.
Dark, beautiful and of awesome power, nothing prepares you for this meeting. I stayed for some time and then slowly moved on, unaware of my hunger and thirst.
The effects of altitude
I just about managed to praise this mighty face (the face I had been worshipping for 20 years through a small picture on my shrine) then hauled myself up the stairs and crashed. My head was beating hammers – sledge hammers! Such a sickness and a fever like I had never known.
Dolma Pass
Gauri Kund
I quickly clambered down to the furthermost pond and unpacked everything. I placed a very special Vel from the Murugan Temple in the stony sand. Alongside it a pot full of Maa Kali’s tilacs from the Shakti Temple, and a small murthi of Lord Rama from the Sri Rangantha Temple.
All alone, I started the most beautifully awesome little puja; sprinkling vibhuti from our Swiss Temple and tilacs from Sri Ranganatha into the water. Chanting to all aspects of the Divine, I lit the camphor (from Mother’s camphor garland) and alongside the Vel I placed a piece of paper with all the names of the Skanda Vale Community, my family and many others.
When the camphor had died down, a large cap stone was laid above everything, sealing Skanda Vale to Kailash. What a privilege!
The following day it was just a short walk to complete the parikrama. On the way I must have collected 10 kilos of stones and rocks for all those back in the UK. I was hoping to see Kailash again on that last morning, but a ring of mountains firmly obscured any view of the south face. We boarded our coach and drove away from Darchen and from a distance the clouds lifted just enough for me to glimpse the base of Kailash… so beautiful.
This small account would not be complete without a huge thank you to all those who enabled me to make the journey. Also to Mohanji, a true guru – for surely without him we would have travelled nowhere. Thanks to his team and devotees, who were a stunning group of people to spend time with, and of course for all the grace that allowed me to realise my dream with Kailash.
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