Lake Rakshastal

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lake Rakshastal
Lake Rakshastal - Satellite view of lakes Rakshastal (left) and Manasarovar with Mount Kailash in the background
Satellite view of lakes Rakshastal (left) and Manasarovar with Mount Kailash in the background
Location Tibet
Coordinates 30°41′58″N, 81°14′11″ECoordinates: 30°41′58″N, 81°14′11″E

Lake Rakshastal (officially: La'nga Co; Tibetan in Wylie transliteration: lag-ngar-mtsho; Chinese: 拉昂错, Pinyin: Lā'áng Cuò) is a lake in Tibet, China, lying close to the west of Lake Manasarovar and Mount Kailash.

According to Hindu mythology, this lake was created by the notorious demon Ravana for the express purpose of garnering superpowers through acts of devotion and meditation to the Lord Shiva who was presiding on Mount Kailash. It was upon the banks of a special island in this lake that he would make daily offering with one of his ten heads as a sacrifice to please the Lord Shiva. Finally, on the tenth day, Lord Shiva was moved enough by his devotion and granted Ravana his wish to obtain superpowers. This lake is set as a contrast to the holy god-created Lake Manasarovar.[citation needed]