Bon and Buddhism are by far the two most important religions of Tibet. The followers of Bon, known as Bonpos, claim that Zhang-zhung (both the country and its language) was the immediate source of the Bon religion that was subsequently transmitted to Tibet. Hence, the study of Zhang-zhung must be considered a prerequisite for tracing back the history of Bon religion, which for Bonpo scholars is a very crucial subject. At the same time this study might also be beneficial for other scholars working in the fields of Indian, Tibetan and Himalayan studies. There are various lines of reasoning that could demonstrate how the study of Zhang-zhung is connected with all three of these fields of study. Although not very well known, over many centuries important connections have been maintained between Indian religious leaders and the region of Zhang-zhung. Figuring very highly in this connection are certain geographic features of Upper Zhang-zhung, namely, the mountain called Kailash (or Ti-se) and Lake Manasarowar.
