Believers of four religions worship this mountain and consider it sacred.
The unconquered Mount Kailash in the Tibetan Plateau rises more than 6600 meters. She is worshiped by representatives of various ancient religions. The Jains believe that their first saint attained enlightenment in this place. Bon adherents believe that the founder of the religion, the celestial creature Tonpa Shenrab, descended from heaven to earth here. Hindus are sure that the top of Kailash is the abode of the god Shiva. Buddhists consider the mountain to be the dwelling place of the Buddha in the incarnation of Samvara and worship it as the spiritual center of the universe.
The adherents of these four religions believe that the mountain is sacred and endowed with divine powers. Everyone seeks to make a pilgrimage for the purpose of ritual circumambulation of the mountain (performing kora or parikrama). Some are looking for enlightenment, others - for the purification of karma.
Photographer Samuel Zuder from Hamburg first saw Mount Kailash in 2012. He instantly realized why she is so important to so many people.
“I immediately understood why people think that this must be the center of the universe,” the photographer describes his first impressions. The mountain, topped with a snow cap, has a four-sided pyramidal shape. Its edges are oriented to the cardinal directions almost without error. Even non-religious people feel the mysticism and power of Kailash.
Suder traveled to this place after reading about grief in Christian Kracht's 1979 novel. He took with him a Tibetan guide, assistant, driver, a Linhof 4x5 camera and a tripod. For a month, the photographer captured the pilgrims and the awe-inspiring landscape. He is now raising money on the Kickstarter crowdfunding platform to publish his photographs in Face to Faith: Mount Kailash, Tibet.
“It would be great if my photobook could convey a little bit of the special power and beauty of this remote place,” says Suder.
Mount Kailash, Dirapuk Gompa, north side.
Promotional video:
Left: Sonam Tsering, 24. Origin: Darchen, Tibet. 4 rounds. Right: Cerin Zumba, 28. Origin: Darchen, Tibet. 22 rounds.
Tarpoche. Saga Dawa holiday.
Left: Dolma, 18. Origin: Lhatse, Tibet. 1 round. Photo on the right: Lobsang Yeshe, 27. Origin: Markam, Tibet. 5 rounds. Far right: Tempa Gyatso, 28. Origin: Markam, Tibet. 5 rounds.
Mount Kailash, Lha Chu Valley.
People come to the mountain all year round, but there are especially many pilgrims during the Saga Dawa religious holiday in honor of the birth, enlightenment and death (departure to parinirvana) of Gautama Buddha. The atmosphere is festive. Pilgrims have picnics, cook food, laugh and sing.
“By worshiping Mount Kailash, one does not abandon ordinary daily behavior. This is not like going to church, where you have to stay calm and focus on prayer. During the ritual tour, I saw many groups and families who seemed to take great pleasure in worshiping grief,”writes the photographer.
Left: Sange, 17. Origin: Darchen, Tibet. 12 rounds. Right: Yeshe Gyaltsen, 35. Origin: Shigatse, Tibet. 12 rounds.
Mount Kailash, Dirapuk Gompa, north side.
Left: Dazang, 47. Origin: Nagchu, Tibet. 7 rounds. Right: Lhaga, 49. Origin: Gejey, Tibet. 6 rounds (11 days).
Mount Kailash, Dirapuk Gompa, north side.
