Did you know that Mount Kailash, located in Tibet, is believed to be the ‘center of the universe’? 

For Hindus, the holy peak of Mount Kailash is the abode of Lord Shiva; for Buddhists, it is the abode of Buddha Demchok; and for Jains, the first Tirthankara (Rishabhanath) attained enlightenment at Kailash. It’s the world’s most famous and revered pilgrimage site, carrying immense spiritual significance for four religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Bon. 

Moreover, Asia’s four major rivers originate from the Himalayan range of Mount Kailash. Want to dive deeper? Scroll down to learn more about the origin of these sacred rivers before you go for Kailash Mansarovar Aerial Darshan anytime soon. 

What are the four rivers of the Mount Kailash Range?

Tibet, the autonomous region of China (Tibet), is home to four sacred rivers in Asia: the Indus, the Brahmaputra, the Karneli, and the Sutlej, each with fundamental significance that transforms the land of Tibet into a spiritual retreat. Since these four rivers spring from the Himalayan range of Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar, the river water is believed to be sacred and pure. Significantly, each of these rivers supports a large ecosystem, rich biodiversity, agriculture, irrigation system, and the development of hydropower.

All four Tibetan holy rivers support human life and the cradle of civilization. According to Tibetan and Buddhist cultures, the source of these rivers is related to the four iconic faces of Mount Kailash, located in the central part of Kailash mandala; with each river being born out from the beak of the animals, the Sutlej (elephant), Karnali (peacock), Indus (lion) and Brahmaputra (horse). You can spot these rivers near Kailash Mansarovar during your yatra.

Based on Tibetan philosophy, a giant mandala is formed out of the lakes, rivers, valleys, and mountains around the region of Kailash Mansarovar, positioning Mount Kailash as the centre of the mandala and a repository of enlightenment. According to Tibetan tradition, rivers near Mount Kailash are linked to the meditation Buddha families as well, namely, Ratnasambhava (Sutlej river), Amitabha (Karneli), Amoghasiddhi (Indus), and Akshobhya (Brahmaputra). 

Curious to know more about the sacred rivers of Tibet originating from Kailash Mansarovar? Read further.

Indus River (Sindhu)

Did you know that the flow of the Indus River is around 58 cubic miles? Sounds interesting? Read to know more. 

The source of the Indus River is comparatively remote than the origins of other rivers. One can reach the source of the river via several routes that begin from Kailash Kora. The origin of the Indus River is the northeast of Mount Kailash, the western Tibet region of China (Tibet) in the Kailash Mountain range, near Bokar Chu glacier, flowing through China (Tibet), India, and Pakistan, and two more mountain ranges, the Karakoram and Hindu Kush. In India, the Indus River enters through the Ladakh region, flowing between the Karakoram and Ladakh ranges. In Tibet, the Indus River is known as ‘Singhi Khambban’ (the Lion’s mouth).

The river ends and merges into the Arabian Sea near Karachi, Pakistan, whereas the Indus River originates from the North face of Mount Kailash. The Indus River is one of the significant rivers in the Indian subcontinent, supporting agriculture, human settlement (Indus Valley civilization), and a large ecosystem.

Length: 3,180 km

Source of the Indus River: Glacier close to Bokhar Chu, Tibetan region, in the Kailash Mountain range, close to Mansarovar Lake.

Other names of the river: Sindhu River, Sengge Chu (Lion River), Abaseen (the father of rivers), Singhi Khambban

Tributaries: Zanskar, Jhelum, Chenab, Suru, Soan, Ravi, Beas, Sutlej (left bank tributaries), and Shyok, Gilgit, Kabul, Kurra, and Gomal rivers (right bank tributaries)

Indian states through which it flows: Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan and Haryana.

Spiritual significance of the Indus River

In Rigveda, the Indus River is mentioned as the ‘Sindhu River’ before it came to be known as the Indus River, holding immense importance owing to its quality of creation and sustenance. It is one of the sacred rivers of India, after the Ganges, Brahmaputra, Saraswati, Yamuna, and Godavari.

Brahmaputra (Yarlung Tsangpo/Jamuna)

Did you know that the Brahmaputra River is popularly known as ‘the mighty river of the east’ and its lifeline?

Brahmaputra- a transboundary river, takes birth from Chemayungdung Glacier in the Kailash range of the Himalayas flowing through northeastern parts of India, China (Tibet), and Bangladesh. The Brahmaputra River originates from the east face of Mount Kailash.  

The Brahmaputra River enters India through Arunachal Pradesh, where it is called ‘Siang,’ and flows through the valley of Assam before it unites with the Ganges and empties into the Bay of Bengal. It was finally named ‘Brahmaputra’ when it was joined by the Lohit and Dibang rivers. The river also flows through Bangladesh, where it is referred to as ‘Jamuna’, and finally merges with the Ganges, giving birth to the Padma River.

Brahmaputra River holds greater importance for Tibetan people, as it is highly useful for irrigation, transportation, hydropower generation, agriculture, and supporting the entire ecosystem of Tibet. 

Length: 2,900 km

Source of the Brahmaputra River: Mansarovar Lake region and Mount Kailash range (Angsi Glacier)

Other names of the river: Yarlung Tsangpo, Jamuna, Siang 

Indian states through which it flows: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, West Bengal, and Sikkim. 

Tributaries: Lhasa River, Nyang River, Parlung Zangbo River, Lohit River, Dhanashri River, and Kolong River (left bank tributaries); Kameng River, Manas River, Beki River, Raidak River, Jaldhaka River, Teesta River, and Subansiri River (right bank tributaries).

Spiritual significance of Brahmaputra River:

The Brahmaputra River is known as the ‘Son of Brahma’ as per Hindu texts, named after Brahma Dev, the God of creation within the Trimurti. According to a popular legend, sage Shantanu and his wife Amogha did not have any children. So Amogha prayed to Lord Brahma, seeking the fulfillment of her wish. Looking at her devotion, Brahma blessed her with a child who later emerged in the form of a river as ‘Brahmaputra’ or ‘the son of Brahma’.

Karnali River (Ghaghara)

The origin of the Karnali is the Mapchachungo Glacier, in the Himalayan range of Mount Kailash, in Tibet, close to Lake Mansarovar, with an elevation of approx. 3,962 m. After originating from Tibet, the river flows through Nepal, where it is known as ‘Karnali’, further merging into the Sharda River/Kali River (a river that flows in the Uttarakhand state). The river also flows through Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, where it is called the ‘Ghaghara River’. Also, the left-bank tributary of the Sharda River is the ‘Saryu River’ which flows in Ayodhya. In Patna, the river finally merges with the Ganges, with one of its tributaries flowing through Bangladesh and another flowing through West Bengal before emptying into the Bay of Bengal. You can spot the Karnali river flowing as you witness the west face of Mount Kailash while performing Kailash Parikrama. 

Length: 1080 Km

Source of Karnali River: Mapchachungo Glacier, Tibet

Other names of the river: Ghaghara (U.P), Mapcha Tsangpo (Tibet), Saryu River (U.P)

Indian states through which it flows: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar 

Tributaries: Bheri, Sarju, Kuwana, and Rapti (left bank tributaries); Seti, Sarda, Budhi Ganga (right bank tributaries)

Spiritual significance of Karnali River:

The Karnali river is mentioned in the epic of Ramayana as the river ‘Saryu’. Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Rama, is nestled along the banks of the Saryu River. Traversing from Kailash Mansarovar to Ayodhya and finally merging with the holy Ganges, this river's water is considered highly sacred. 

Sutlej River (Langchen Khambab)

The Sutlej River springs from the Kailash mountain range in Tibet and Dunchu Gompa. The Sutlej River originates from the south face of Mount Kailash and is an eastern tributary of the Indus River, flowing through India, China (Tibet), and Pakistan. Originating from the northern slopes of the Himalayas in Tibet, the river enters India through Himachal Pradesh, flows through Punjab, joins the Beas River at the India-Pakistan border, and further merges with the Chenab River at Bahawalpur, giving birth to the Panjnad river that flows into the Indus river. In India, the river majorly flows through Himachal Pradesh and Punjab.

In the Tibetan language, the river is referred to as ‘Langchen Khambab, a river born from the mouth of an elephant. The upper Sutlej valley in Tibet is known as Langqen Zangbo, where you can spot warm springs made by white salt crystals on the southern banks of the river Sutlej, creating basins enclosed by the dripstones and cutting their way into the sandstone. In Tibet, several living caves and meditation caves form a complex, ‘Garuda Valley’ or ‘Khyunglung’, located on the banks of the Sutlej River. Tirthapuri, a Buddhist pilgrimage site located close to the holy Mount Kailash, is settled along the banks of the Sutlej River. There are two hills, the Palace of Black, the Palace of Dzambala, and the Palace of Daikini, located along the banks of the Sutlej River. 

Length: 1450 Km

Source of the Sutlej River: Northern slopes of the Himalayas in Tibet 

Other names of the river: Shatadru, Langqen Zangbo, Langchen Khambab

Tributaries: Baspa, Spiti and Soan

States through which it flows: Himachal Pradesh and Punjab

Spiritual significance of Sutlej River:

In Sanskrit, the Sutlej River is referred to as ‘Shatadru,’ which means ‘flowing in a hundred channels’ or ‘swift rivers.’ The river holds great spiritual significance for Sikhs as it flows through Anandpur Sahib, the residence of Guru Gobind Singh, where he composed Khalsa Panth in this city. 

The spiritual rivers flowing from Mount Kailash are the lifelines for India, China, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Adding to the religious significance of Kailash, these rivers are the unification of spirituality, faith, and holiness, with each drop a blessing on Earth. 

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