The Legends of Kawa Karpo

The mighty Kawa Karpo was a wrathful demon with nine heads and eighteen bodies who plagued, terrorized, and destroyed those in his realm. One day, a brave Buddhist lama engaged Kawa Karpo in battle. The lama defeted Kawa Karpo by cutting off all but one of his heads and bodies. Humiliated and humbled, Kawa Karpo vowed to change his wicked ways. When the Buddha Sakyamuni heard of Kawa Karpo's desire to abandon evil, he was filled with compassion and took Kawa Karpo as his disciple. After studying Buddhism for many years, Kawa Karpo was given an army and told him to search the land for an area in need of protection. Kawa Karpo chose Deqin and rested there as a mountain.

That is one story.

Another is that the wrathful demon Kawa Karpo was approached by a buddha and challenged to a battle of wits. On the basis of his wisdom alone, the buddha Padmasambhava overcame Kawa Karpo, who was so persuaded by Padmasambhava, that he converted to Buddhism and brought his wife, his general, his crown, and his entire army to settle with him at the site of his defeat. Kawa Karpo thus became a mountain god and a defender of Buddhism in the region.

Whether you choose to believe either tale, Mt. Kawa Karpo is nevertheless a phenomenal and powerful peak.

Despite many efforts, no human being has ever successfully summited Mt. Kawa Karpo. The people of Deqin county are very proud of that fact. One local guide explained to me that though Mt. Everest was shrinking because men were stepping on the mountain god, Kawa Karpo was too proud and strong to be conquered. I believe it.