Legends:-
Legends have it that Shiva narrated to Parvati
the secret of immortality in the Amarnathji
cave. Wanting to reveal the secret in an isolated place far from any
living being, he chose this spot. In preparation, Shiva left
his Nandi (the Bull), which he rode at Pahalgam. At Chandanwari, he
released the moon from his hair, and on the banks of Lake
Sheshnag, he set free the snakes. Son Ganesha was left at Mahagunas Parvat
and at Panjtarni, Shiva left the Five Elements
behind - earth, water, air, fire and sky
- that make life possible. As a final precaution,
Shiva created a Rudra named Kalagni and ordered him to set a fire and eliminate
every living thing in and around the Holy Cave. Finally,
Shiva and Parvati entered the Amarnath Cave where he began meditating on a
deerskin. He then narrated the Amar Katha to Parvati.
Unknown to them, a pair of mating
pigeons overheard their conversation and having learned the secret, are reborn
again and again, and have made the cave their eternal abode. In fact many
pilgrims report seeing the pigeons-pair when they trek the
arduous route to pay respects before the ice. The trek to Amarnathji,
in the month of Shravan (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, and which waxes and wanes with the moon. By its side
are, fascinatingly, two more ice - lingams, that of Parvati
and of their son, Ganesha.
The origin of Amarnath Yatra dates back to
the year 1850 A.D, when a Muslim shepherd
from Batakot, named Buta Malik first discovered the cave in which
lay enshrined the naturally formed Shivling made of
ice. According to tale, there was once a Muslim shepherd named Buta
Malik who was given a sack of coal by a sadhu.
Upon reaching home he discovered that the sack, in fact, contained gold. Overjoyed,
Buta Malik rushed back to look for the sadhu and thank him, but on the spot
of their meeting discovered a cave, and eventually
this became a place of pilgrimage for all believers. So pleased was the Dogra
king Maharaja Gulab Singh by this discovery
that he proclaimed that a representative of the Malik family would always
be present at the holy shrine, together with the other priests
during the period of the pilgrimage each year. Further, one third of all
the offerings made at the shrine each year were to be given to the Malik family
as reward. Till date, a percentage of the donations made by pilgrims are given
to the descendants of Malik, and the remaining
to the trust, which administers the shrine.
Amarnath Yatra:- The trek to Amarnath, in the month of Shravan (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, and which waxes and wanes with the moon. By its side are, fascinatingly, two more ice-lingams, that of Parvati, and of their son, Ganesha.
