Holy waters
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| Tilicho Lake, Nepal |
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| Parashar Lake |
Certain places are believed to have the special spiritual powers. I have visited many such places during my travels. The water at some of these holy locations are considered sacred. These sacred waters are credited with spiritual and healing powers. Many have interesting legends and incidents associated with it. Bathing or even sprinkling the holy water from some of these locations is believed to erase all sins and reset the Karmic account to zero. My visits to most of these locations were purely coincidental. Many a time, I was not even aware that such places existed when I started my travels! In this blog, I am collating all the locations with spiritual water that I have visited.
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| Rishikesh |
Khecheopalri Lake (Sikkim, India): This was the perhaps first holy lake I encountered during my travels. I don’t remember the exact year, but it was approximately 2002-03. Those were the days before digital cameras and mobile phones. I might have a photo of this lake from my film camera. I had finished the Kanchenjunga trek and was staying in Yuksum. I remember walking part of the way from Yuksum to the lake because share taxi was not available. The pristine lake is sacred for Buddhists and Hindus. It is said that that even a leaf floating on the lake will be picked up cleared by the birds. I visited this holy lake again in 2024.
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| Haridwar during Somvar Amavasya |
Manjul-ata spring (Kyrgystan): At the travelers lodge at Bishkek, I met a German anthropology student. He told me about this sacred spot. Manjul-ata is a collection of springs famous for its healing and spiritual power. I stopped at this holy spring on the way to Kaji Sayi Village. (Click here for my full blog)
Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India): This is one of the major pilgrimage destinations for Hindus. Taking a dip in the holy Ganga at Haridwar is considered highly auspicious. I planned my trip to reach Haridwar before the Char Dham Yatra rush. But it’s extremely busy today. I have arrived here on Somvar Amavasya day. This auspicious event happens once in 12 years. Bathing in the Ganga today is guaranteed to remove all sins, even extra strong super sticky ones. .I’m not the one to waste such a golden opportunity.
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| Pashupatinath (Katmandu, Nepal). Notice the the funeral pyres on the river bank |
Rishikesh (Uttarakhand, India): Located on the banks of the Ganga, it’s a popular location for Hindus and foreign travelers. Been there a couple of times and took a few de-sinning baths!
Pashupatinath (Katmandu, Nepal): Pashupatinath temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is located on the banks of Bhagmati River. The Aarti that happens daily evening on the river bank is worth attending. The cremation Ghats at Pasupatinath on the banks of the Bharmati are among the holiest for Hindus.
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| Parashuram Kund |
Parashuram Kund (Arunachal Pradesh, India): As per Hindu mythology, Parashuraman’s battle axe becomes fused with his hand. Despite his best efforts, he is unable to remove it. As per expert advice, he travels to the eastern part of India. The axe came off as soon as he washed his hand in the Lohit river. This spot where the axe came off is today known as Parashuram Kund. Bathing here believed to wash away one’s sins. It was extremely quiet when I got here. The river flow was very strong and the water cold. That’s another de-sinning bath for me. Getting to this remote corner of India is a bit difficult. Even Indians require an Inner Line Permit (ILP) for visiting this place in eastern Arunachal Pradesh.
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| Mani Mahesh lake |
Mani Mahesh Lake (Himachal Pradesh, India): Mani Mahesh literally translates to “The Jewel in Shiva’s crown”. Pilgrimage to this high altitude holy lake is open for only one month in a year. Bathing in this ice cold lake is supposed to remove all sins. I was very fortunate to have arrived there during the holy month. Those were covid times and the main trail to the holy lake was sealed by the police. I was on a 2 week trek and I reached Mani Mahesh lake after crossing Sukhdali Pass (Altitude-4620 M.) Since this path is rarely used by pilgrims, police were not monitoring people hiking over the pass. (Click here for my full blog)
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| Notice the 108 water sprouts in the background |
Mukthinath (Nepal): This temple is located in Lower Mustang. For many, visiting this remote mountain temple is a lifetime’s pilgrimage. Ice cold water running down the mountain has been channeled into 108 water sprouts behind the temple. Additionally, there are 2 more tanks in front of the temple. Taking a bath in the 108 water sprouts and 2 tanks is supposed to remove all sins. I am fortunate to have taken a de-sinning bath at Mukthinath; not once but twice!
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| Dev Prayag at the confluence of Bhageerathi and Alakananda rivers |
Dev Prayag (Uttarakhand, India): Contrary to popular belief, the holy Ganga is formed at Dev Prayag by the confluence of the Bhageerathi and Alakanada rivers. Tehri dam built upstream on the Bhareerathi traps the silt flowing down the river. So the waters of the Bhageerathi River at Dev Prayag has a clear blue hue to it. There is a bathing ghat at the confluence of the 2 rivers. I did not waste an opportunity for a de-sinning dip.
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| Kamakhya Temple |
Papanasham (Kerala, India): The name literally translates to ‘Destruction of sin’. It is one of the holy places where people come to scatter the ashes of the dead. There was very little water in the river when I reached there. I did manage to wade in and take a holy dip!
Kamakhya (Assam, India): Kamakhya is famous as a temple rather than a place for holy water. However, this temple does not have an idol. The whole temple has been built to enclose a natural spring. The water is supposed to represent ‘Shaki’ or feminine energy. There are numerous other smaller temples on the same hillock enclosing other natural springs. (Click here for full list of temples)
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| Sarosar Lake |
Parashar Lake (Himachal Pradesh, India): The location of Parashar Lake is something straight out of a movie scene! It is said that the revered sage Parashar Muni meditated on the banks of the lake. Beside the lake is a wooden temple dedicated to the sage.
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| Cooking rice at the holy geothermal spring at Manikaran |
Sarosar Lake (Himachal Pradesh, India): This small mountain is also called as Seruvalsar lake. From the road, it’s a 2.5-3 hour walk to get here. This lake is associated with Buddhi Nagin, the Goddess of snakes and ghee. She is also the mother of all snake deities. Beside the lake is a temple dedicated to Buddhi Nagin. Leave all leather items including belt, purse etc. outside before entering the temple premises.
Manikaran (Himachal Pradesh, India): This geothermal hot water spring is sacred to both Hindus and Sikhs. Geothermal hot water has been channeled into various concrete tanks. There are separate tanks for men and women to take a holy dip and cleanse their sins. That’s another de-sinning dip for me! The rice for the gurudwara is cooked in the geothermal hot spring.
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| Mai Pokhari, Nepal |
Tilicho Lake (Nepal): During the Thorongla pass, I made an impromptu decision to hike to Tilicho Lake. This has to be one of the most beautiful locations I have ever visited. (See video) This lake is sacred for Hindus and Buddhists. Beside the lake is a statue of Buddha and Shiva. The water of this lake has the power to remove all sins. One side of the lake touches a glacier. It’s too cold to swim in. I removed my shirt and sprinkled freezing cold holy water on myself.
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| Gangnani |
Mai Pokhari Lake (Nepal): This remote lake, about 15 KM from Ilam, is considered sacred by Buddhists. My cab driver told me that many years ago the lake fell into a state of disrepair. It became a haunt of anti-social elements. And then a dead body was found floating in the lake. Following this incident, the lake mysteriously began drying out. Buddhist priests were called to perform prayers at the lake. The prayers worked and the waters returned to the normal level. Today it’s once again an oasis of tranquility.
Gangnani (Uttarakhand, India): As the story goes, the revered sage Jamadagni (Pasahuraman’s dad) resided at Gangnani, on the banks of the Yamuna. But he needed the holy water from the Ganges for his rituals. So, he would walk across the mountains just to fetch it. As he got older, crossing the mountains became too tedious a task. With his magical powers he created a source of Ganga water beside the Yamuna river. This magical source of Ganga water beside the Yamuna river is at Gangnani.
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| Holy spring at Gokarna |
Holy spring (Gokarna, India): As per hindu mythology, Lord Ram came to Gokarna to do penance for his sins. As Gokarna is close to the sea, he found it difficult to obtain potable drinking water. He shot an arrow into the rock and fresh water came gushing gushing out. Even today, people fill up their drinking water from this source.
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| The palanquin of goddess Yamuna Devi is washed at Yamunotri (Yamuna river) before placing it in the temple |
Yamunotri (Uttarakhand, India): Yamunotri temple, located besides the bank of the Yamuna river is the summer residence of Yamuna Devi. The glacier that is visible from the temple is the source of the Yamuna river. In winter months, Yamnuna Devi’s idol is kept in the village of Kharsali. The day the deity arrives from Kharsali, the idol washed in the Yamuna river before placing it the temple. (Click here for full blog)
Hiranyakeshi Temple (Maharashtra, India): This temple at Amboli is built at the source of the river Hiranyakeshi.
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| Washing away my sins at Gangotri |
Gangotri (Uttarakhand, India): This is arguably the holiest of all bathing spots for Hindus. This bathing spot is located beside the Gangotri temple, the summer residence of Ganga Devi. For many, taking a holy dip and praying at the Gangotri temple is a culmination of a lifetime’s dream. Contrary to popular belief, the river flowing beside Gangotri temple is not the Ganga; is the Bhageerathi. The Bhageerathi originates from Gangotri glacier. Ganga is formed at Dev Prayag after the confluence of the rivers Bhageerathi and Alakananda. Since Alakananda is longer than Bhageerathi, it can be argued that source of the holy Ganga is Alakananda and not Gangotri glacier. Unfortunately, a good grasp of geography will not help me cleanse my bad karma. So I took a holy dip in icy cold waters of the Ganga at 'Gangotri'. Only later did I come to know that I had taken the holy dip during the highly auspicious day called ‘Ganga Saptami’ (a.k.a Ganga Devi’s birthday).
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| Vulture lake. One of the many holy lakes of Labatama |
Lakes of Labatama (Laba Tama, Bhutan): I came to these lakes during the Dagala trek or 1000 Lakes trek. (Click here for full trek)Each lake is a gem. Few of the larger lakes in this region are signposted. There is a curious instruction on the board that I’m copying here. “Please avoid from making loud noises/ shouting. This may provoke the Tshomen (mermaids) local deities and bring misfortune.” The board also forbids people from making offerings of food, coins or currency at the lake. Fishing and bathing in the lakes are obviously prohibited. The yak herders who arrive here in summer light yak butter lamps and pray beside the lake for good luck and fair weather.
Nachiketas Lake (Uttarakhand, India): It’s a 2 hours hike to reach the lake. As per the story in the Katha Upanishad, Nachiketas goes in search of Yaman (Lord of death). In the local version of the story, Nachiketas finds Yaman beside this lake. On the banks of the lake is a temple dedicated to Nagas (snakes). The lake is teeming with fish. The fish in this lake are considered holy and people feed it. Walk up a little beyond Nachiketas Lake to reach a dried up lake bed. It is said that the original Nachiketas Lake existed there. Only later did it shift to its present position. In the middle of the old dried up lake bed is a small cave. Apparently, all attempts to explore this holy cave have ended in failure.
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| Bathing ghats at Omkareshwar |
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| Board beside the holy lake called Turquoise lake at Laba Tama. |
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| Lighted lamps being set afloat on the river Ganga at Rishikesh |
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| Khecheopalri Lake |
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