Amarnath Temple
 
Amarnath is 145 km east of Srinagar in Kashmir.
There is an ice Silva-linga here that changes size with the seasons, and
also as the moon waxes and wanes it becomes bigger and smaller. On the full
moon day the linga is about 6 ft high. Each year on the full moon day of
July-August (Sravana) when the Siva-linga attains its maximum height there
is a festival at this cave temple. It is said that Lord Siva first appeared
on this day.
It is located in a glacial valley at 4,175m (13,700 ft.). The cave is about
150 feet high and 90 feet long. Within the cave there are four or five ice
formations that resemble the figures of different gods. The biggest figures
of different gods. The biggest figure is regarded as Siva (Amarnath). On the
left side of the linga is an ice formation called Ganesh, and on the right
side is one of Parvati and Bhairava.
The area is covered with snow from September to June. The cave opens only in
July and August. This is the rainy season, so pilgrims have to brave the
rain to get there. About 25,000 people make this pilgrimage each year. You
can also hire ponies and dandies for the trip. It is very crowded during the
annual Sravana festival. There is a yearly pilgrimage starting from Srinagar
that is led by the Chhari Saheb, the holy seepter.
Significence of
Amarnath Cave
The Legend about the importance of Amarnath Cave is as follows :
- This is The Cave which was chosen by
Bhole Shankar for narrating the secrets of immortality and creation
of Universe to Maa Parvati ji . The story goes like this . Centuries
ago Maa Parvati asked Shiv ji to let her know why and when He
started wearing the beads of heads ( Mund Mala) . Bhole Shankar
replied when ever you are born I add one more head in my beads . Maa
Parvati said ," My Lord, my body is destroyed every time and I die
again and again, but you are Immortal. Please let me know the secret
of this ." Bhole Shankar replied that it is due to Amar Katha ."
- Maa Parvati insisted that she may be
told that secret. For long Shiva ji continued postponing . Finally
on consistent demand from Maa Parvati He made up his mind to tell
the immortal secret . He started for lonely place where no living
being could listen it . He choose Amarnath Cave . In preparation to
that He left His Nandi ( The Bull which He used to ride ) at
Pahalgam (Bail gaon) . At Chandanwari He released Moon from his
hairs (Jataon). At the banks of Lake Sheshnag He released the snakes
. He decided to leave his Son Ganesha at Mahagunas Parvat (Mahaganesh
Hill ) . At Panjtarni, Shivji left the Five Elements behind (Earth ,
Water, Air , Fire and Sky) which make living being . He is the Lord
of these elements. It is believed that as a symbol of sacrificing
the earthly world , Shivaji and Maa Parvati had Tandav Dance . After
leaving behind all these, Bhole Shankar enters the Holy Amarnath
Cave along with Parvati Maa.
- Lord Shiva takes his Samadhi on the
Deer Skin and concentrate . To ensure that no living being is able
to hear the Immortal Tale , He created Rudra named Kalagni and
ordered him to spread fire to eliminate every living thing in and
around the Holy Cave . After this He started narrating the secret of
immortality to Maa Parvati . But as a matter of chance one egg which
was lying beneath the Deer skin remained protected . It is believed
to be non living and more over it was protected by Shiva -Parvati
Asan (Bed) . The pair of pigeons which were born out of this egg
became immortal having listened the secret of immortality (Amar
Katha). Many pilgrims report seeing the pair of pigeons when they
trek the arduous route to pay their obeisance before the Ice-Lingam
(the phallic symbol of Shiva).
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Discovery of Holy Cave
The story narrated by people about the discovery of this Holy Cave is of a
Gujjar ( shepherd) Buta Malik . He is given the credit of discovering this
Holy Cave . Story goes like this , that a saint gave Buta Malik a bag full
of Coal. On reaching his home when he opened the bag , to his utter
surprise the bag was full of gold coins . This made him overwhelmed with
joy. He ran to thank the Saint . But, what he found was that the Saint had
disappeared . Instead , he found The Holy Cave and Shiv Lingam there in .
He announced the discovery of this to the Villagers. Then onwards this has
become the sacred place of Pilgrimage .
The ancient epics narrate an other story which goes like this. The valley
of Kashmir was under water .It was a big lake. Kashyap Rishi drained the
water through number of rivers and rivulets . In those days Bhrigu Rishi
came that way on a visit to The Himalyas. He was the first to have
Darshans of this Holy Cave . When people heard of the Lingam, Amarnath for
them became Shiva's abode and a Centre of pilgrimage . Since then Lacs of
devotees perform the pilgrimage through tough terrain and avail eternal
happiness. The trek to Amarnath, in the month of sharavan ( July-August)
has the devout flock to this incredible shrine, where the image of Shiva,
in the form of a Lingam, is formed naturally of an Ice Stalagmite, which
waxes and wanes with the Moon's cycle . By its side are fascinating, two
more Ice Lingams, that of Maa Parvati and of their son, Ganesha .
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