Learn About Himalayan Mythology on an Everest Base Camp Trek

The exploration and early ascents of Mount Everest (8,848 metres) are the stuff of legends, while completing an Everest Base Camp trek is a personal quest for many visitors to the Himalaya. But the significance of the mountain is much wider than this, and its stories stretch back into the mists of time. Having an understanding of the beliefs and traditions surrounding Everest lets visitors appreciate its presence and might all the more; it can help explain the awe and reverence that so many feel when beholding or climbing this legendary mountain. For a brief overview of some of these beliefs, read on.
Hinduism and the Himalaya
As anyone who has embarked on an Everest Base Camp trek can attest, the mere sight of the Himalayan scenery is enough to instil a sense of intense wonder in the viewer. It is not surprising that so many hold these mountains in high spiritual regard - indeed, the writers of ancient Hindu scripture had the same idea, with one text teaching that simply looking upon the Himalaya can free a person of their worldly sins and cares. A significant feature in Hindu cosmology, the mountain range is described in one sacred text as the centre of the universe, while other texts personify the mountains as the god of snow, Himavat, father of the river Ganga and the goddess Parvati.
The Mountain in Tibetan Tradition
According to Tibetan tradition, Mount Everest is the mother of the Earth - this is reflected in the Tibetan name for the mountain, Chomolungma, literally meaning 'holy mother'. The goddess associated with the mountain, who is called Miyo Langsangma, is one of five sisters connected to sacred mountains, according to the pre-Buddhist Bon religion. The goddess of prosperity and a protector of humans, she is often depicted riding a tiger. She remains a sacred figure in local Buddhist tradition, with stories telling how she became a protector of the Tibetan Buddhism after initially resisting but eventually being pacified by its founder, Guru Rinpoche. She is the guardian of the mountain, and it is customary among Nepalese Sherpa communities - who also practice Tibetan Buddhism - to make offerings to her before an ascent; if you visit a temple as part of your Everest Base Camp trek, you may be able to see people lighting incense to her.
Beyond the Himalaya
Over centuries, myths and legends of Everest and the Himalaya have spread throughout Asia and influenced other traditions - for example, in Southeast Asia, Theravada Buddhist cosmology holds that Himmapaan is a sacred mountain forest where magical creatures dwell. In more modern times, those who listen to local legends as they make their Everest Base Camp trek - or prepare to take on the summit - carry the stories home with them, which explains the popularity of Yeti tales, inspired by Sherpa legends, across the world. Stories travel and develop, but the magic of this mountain endures.

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