Tirthapuri Hot Springs – The Indian Name on the Tibetan Land with Hindu, Buddhist, and Foreign Visitors
Sacred Waters | March 26, 2010Situated at 80 km northwest from Mount Kailash in Western Tibet, the Tirthapuri Hot Springs is the sacred place of power of the Hindu Goddess and Consort of Lord Shiva, Mother Parvati along with the Buddhist Goddesses Bajra Barahi and Tara. Tirthapuri to Hindus and Tetapuri to Tibetans, this is the third and final destination of the pilgrims who first walk around Mount Kailash followed by Lake Mansarovar. Located in the Burang county, the hot spring is the prime holy scene for the pilgrims, which is regarded as the female entity in contrast with the Mount Kailash that is regarded as the male entity.
Not only with the Goddesses, but the pilgrim spot of Tirthapuri is also linked with Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche). Here, as the final stage of the pilgrimage, in this one-hour route of pilgrimage, pilgrims bathe in pools filled by the spring, worship the cave and guru’s footprint in the monastery, and find healing stones by digging.
Located on the bank of the Sutlej River, the springs are so hot that one can see the steam that covers the barren terrain. What make the landscape interesting are the prayer flags across the river canyon and chortens (stupas).
Legend
It is said that is was precisely here that Heruka defeated Rudra and that from the point of view of Tantrism, Tirthapuri hot springs is among the 24 prime sites of power on the sub-continent.
My Visit
It took me one hour to be complete the pilgrimage route around Tirthapuri. After bathing in its hot springs at its southwest corner, the route ascended me to a cremation point where there were old attires and rags left on the rocks. Then, towards the east, I came across a sour hole and a sweet hole in which I dug for small stones that are famous for their curing abilities. This was quite exciting for me.
Further, a karma-testing hole appears below the prayer wheel where I tested for whether I have done good deeds or bad ones like other pilgrims. By accessing the hole and pulling out two stones, I could know my own deeds signified by white and black stones. If you get both the stones as white, it is a sign of good deed, while two black ones represent a bad deed. It is believed that penance, pilgrimage, and rituals can damage the bad deeds and bind good deeds. So, instead of seeking what I got, you need to go and check it out of your own! That will be helpful, right?
Now, it was the turn to visit the Guru Rinpoche Monastery also called as the Tirthapuri Monastery and a cave utilized by him. In its assembly hall, there are stone footprints of Padmasambhava and his wife Yeshe Tsogyel.
Then, I went to the see the circle of mani stones to the south of the monastery, which marks the site where the gods danced upon enshrining the Guru Rinpoche. Go ahead in the east to see many long mani walls where you can spot yak heads and other items of offerings. Among them, the largest one being 200 m long stretches from the monastery towards the east. This was made by the guru by transforming an incoming arrow shot by a demon towards him.
Finally, I turned towards the west along the Tibetan river to return to the hot springs.
TIP:
The Tirthapuri Hot Springs is accessible only through guided jeep on the tour to Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar as there is no other transportation.
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Located northwest of Mount Kailash in Western Tibet, the Tirthapuri Hot Springs are closely associated with Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche).
Pilgrims bathe in pools fed by the springs, visit the monastery containing the guru’s footprint and dig for healing stones along a one-hour pilgrimage route.