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Nam Co is held as "the heavenly lake" in
northern Tibet. lying at the foot of Nyainqentanglha Mountain, it covers
an area of 1,948 square km at an elevation of 4,720 meters. It is the
highest freshwater lake of the three holy lakes. It is said to house a
1,000-year-old fish, which is as large as a cow; there are also other
creatures resembling the shape of a dragon that Tibetan call "lake
sheep." These lake sheep are often seen to jump out of the water in
groups of three to five. Herders say that those who see them will be
able to have their lifelong wishes fulfilled.
Meaning Heavenly Lake in Tibetan, Namtso is respected as one of the four
holiest lakes and the seat of Paramasukha Chakrasamvara by Buddhist
pilgrims. Buddhists believe Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and Vajras will
assemble to hold religious meeting at Namtso in the year of sheep on
Tibetan calendar. Circumambulation around the lake at the right moment
equals 100 thousand times of that in normal years. Hence thousands of
pilgrims from every corner In the 5th & 6th month of the Tibetan
calendar each year, many Buddhists come to the lakeside on pilgrimage to
pay homage and pray. Deep tracks are worn into the lakeshore due to this
activity. In history, monasteries stood like trees in a forest around
Lake Namtso attracting large numbers of pilgrims with eminent monks in
Buddhist temples developing body and character and extending Buddhism.
On the four sides of the lake stand four monasteries, which have
Buddhist meanings.
A peninsula protruding into the lake holds sites related to eminent
monks. On the mountain slopes nearby are ancient rock paintings.
By the lake there are also two standing stone pillars, each rising 30
meters and eight meters apart. One has a crack large enough to hold a
single person inside. Some Tibetans believe it is the Gate God of the
Nam Co Lake.
Five islets, planting themselves in the vast sapphire blue lake, is said
to be the incarnation of the Buddha of Five Directions. Every pilgrims
circumambulating the lake will piously worship them. Those islets are
famous for their topography, covered by weird but vivid stones.
Producing abundant fish and lodging many birds and beasts, the lake is
also a heaven for animals and plants. The natural pastureland around the
lake offers ideal condition for animal husbandry. Wild animals, such as
yaks and bharals, can often be found in this area.
In the eyes of the Tibetan Buddhists, taking ritual walk around Nam Co
Lake and worshipping Nyainqentanglha in the Tibetan Year of Sheep is of
great importance for them for these reasons: The aforementioned Zhaxior
(Auspicious Island) on the eastern bank of the heavenly lake holds the
"body" of Sakyamuni, where 3,000 deities gather; Dorje Gongzhama, the
deity in charge of the heavenly lake, holds the "language" of the Buddha
and is also the Queen of the God of Nyainqentanglha. And both the
mountain god and his queen were born in the Tibetan year of Sheep.
Walking around the lake takes a week.
Ritual walkers love to burn aromatic plants for auspicious smoke on the
Auspicious Island and throw a piece of snow white hada scarf into the
lake as a token of fulfilled wishes. If the scarf sinks, it implies
one's wish is accepted by the Buddha; if the scarf flows on the water or
only half sinks, it means one has failed to be honest and something
unhappy lies ahead.
Ritual walkers also pay sacrifice to Lu, King of the water deities who
lives in the lake. Tibetans think Lu is invisible, but all pervasive.
Even in a small pit of the size of a horse hoof, there might be dozens
of invisible deities. Lu owns huge wealth and is a miser, and is also
prone to illness. Anyone who does something that Lu decides is not good
enough will suffer back luck or will fall ill.
When paying sacrifice to Lu, one has to pay with cereals and expensive
medicinal herbs. Almost all worshippers bring Luboin (Treasure Bottle
containing sacrificial objects and sutra books, to be presented to Lu),
which they throw into the lake.
Lake Namtso is also rich in its products with its gorgeous and
enchanting sights. The lake is full of islands and islets in varied
forms with birds sporting over the water surface. There is a peninsula
in calcareous stone southeast of the lake, called "Zhaxiduo Island", on
which stands a forest of strange-shaped stones, among which occur
numerous fantastic caves. lake Namtso also has abundant resources of
fish. The annual volume of fishing goes up to 350,000 or more kilograms.
The views around Lake Namts every evening at dusk are even more varied,
beautiful and fantastic.
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Namtso Lake 