AMARNATH THE ICE LINGA

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above for Darshan of the famous AMARNATH ICE SHIVA LINGA

 

(You may need top copy and paste link address)

CLICK LINK BELOW TO HAVE DARSHAN OF AMARNATH AS HE APPEARED ON JUNE

14TH 2004

vediculture/

 

There is famous Rigvedic Verse that says "Ekam Sat " that is "There is

one Being ,the sages call Him by many names." The God (Parmeshwar)

has three deities who carry on the world .This is Known as Holy

Trinity. Brahma- the creator, Vishnu - the perpetuator of life and

Shiva (Mahesh ) -the purifier and perpetuator of good and destroyer of

evil. Rig Veda refer Shiva as Rudra as in its following verse . "We

Worship Tryambaka (Rudra) , Who spread Fragrance and Increases

Nourishment , May He release me ,like the cucumber from its stem ,

>From Mortal Life , But not From Immorality . "(Rig Veda Mandal VII

Sukta 59 and Mantra 12)

The Yajurveda describes Shiva as ascetic warrior Whose robe is of

Deer Skin and He carries Trishul .

According to the verse Satyam, Shivam ,Sundaram ,the life is described

as having three facets Truth (Satyam), Good (Shivam) and the Beautiful

(Sundaram).

Shiva is a living God. The most Sacred and ancient books of

India, the Rig Veda narrates His presence in the hymns. Vedic myths,

rituals and even astronomy testifies to His existence from the dawn of

time .The Mohindaro and Harapa findings confirm Shiva worship in the

ancient India. According to the older scriptures, He has three places

of His residence. One is Kailash Parvat another is Lohit Giri under

which Brahamputra flows and third is Muzwan Parvat .

The Amarnath Cave has special significance .

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).

 

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 overwelmed 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 .

 

Amarnath

Temples of the Himalayas

 

 

This is one of the revered pilgrimage sites of India tucked

away in the mighty Himalayas. Open only for a few months during the

year, Amarnath enshrines a natural Shivalingam of ice, and is reached

after an arduous trek through the mountains of Kashmir.

 

Amarnath is an ancient pilgrimage center. The Amarnath cave is

located at a distance of 86 miles north east of Srinagar, at a height

of 13000 feet above sea level. Shiva is worshipped here in the form of

a Shivalinga shaped ice block, made by drops of water oozing naturally

in the cave.

 

To the left of the Shivalingam is another ice block

representing Ganesha, and to the right of the Shivalingam are blocks

representing Parvati and Bharirava. The cave faces south. Inside the

Amarnath cave is another small cave on the left of the image, from

which a chalk like substance is given out to pilgrims as Vibhuti.

Amarnath is surrounded by snow clad mountains.

 

Legend has it that Shiva made the Gods immortal by providing

them with the celestial nectar, and resided here upon their request.

This boon of immortality lent the name Amarnath.

 

Kashmir was a great Saivite center in the 1st millennium CE.

Kashmiri Saivism is referred to as Trika Mata and it dates back to the

eighth century CE. The three components of Kashmiri Saiva literature

are Agama Sastra, Spanda Shastra and the Pratyabhijna Shastra.

Kalhana, a contemporary of King Jayasimha of Kashmir of the 12th

century describes Kashmir as Parvati incarnate. Legend has it that

there was once a lake by name Sati-Saras named after Shiva's consort

Sati. The demons residing here were destroyed by Sage Kashyapa, the

grandson of Bhrama. It is believed that Kashyapa then converted this

lake into Kashmira Mandala.

 

Tradition has it that in every lunar month, the icy

Shivalingam begins to form, on the first day of the bright half of the

month, and reachest its fullest size on the full moon day, and then

begins to wane and disappear on the new moon day. This process repeats

itself each month. Since it is believed that Shiva manifested himself

first on the full moon day in the month of Sravana (Leo), the only

summer month that permits travel in this mountainous area, it is

considered to be special to go on a pilgrimage to Amarnath during this

month.

 

The trek to Amarnath begins at Srinagar on the panchami day of

the bright half of the month. The next halt enroute is Pampur, 9

miles south east of Srinagar. Subsequent halts are at Avantipur,

Brijbihara and Martand. Martand is known for its ancient temple

dedicated to the Sun God - now in ruins. Enroute to Martand are Anant

Nag and Gautam Nag. Martand is known as the architectural lion of

Kashmir. It is a temple with a colonnade of 84 columns full of

artistic work. This temple dates back to Lalitaditya of Kashmir of the

8th century. The next halt is at Aishmukam, and the next is Pahalgam,

which is reached on the day of Dasami, the tenth day of the bright

half of the month. At Pahalgam is the confluence of the rivers Seshnag

and Liddar.

 

The next stop enroute is Chandanwadi, from where the

confluence of the rivers Asthan Marg and Seshnag. Further up is the

Pishu Ghati, believed to be the site where the demons were crushed by

the Gods. Further up is the Seshnag lake at a height of about 12000

feet above sea level. The Seshnag river flows out of this lake. The

next halt is at Wavjan before the steep climb to the Mahagunus Pass at

a height of 14000 feet, after which there is a down slope leading to

Panchatarni. From here, the Amarnath cave is reached on the full moon

day, and the pilgrimage is complete.

 

Amarnath

 

The Pilgrimage

 

 

 

Situated in a narrow gorge at the farther end of Lidder valley,

Amarnath stands at 3,888 m and is 44.8 km from Pahalgam and 141 km

from Srinagar. Though the original pilgrimage s that the

yatra be undertaken from Srinagar, the more common practise is to

begin journey at Pahalgam, and cover the distance to Amarnath and back

in five days. Pahalgam is 96 km from Srinagar.

 

Legend has it that Shiva recounted to Parvati the secret of creation

in a cave in Amarnath. Unknown to them, a pair of mating doves

eavesdropped on this conversation and having learned the secret, are

reborn again and again, and have made the cave their eternal abode.

Many pilgrims report seeing the dove-pair when they trek the arduous

route to pay obeisance before the ice-lingam (the phallic symbol of

Shiva).

 

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.

 

According to an ancient 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 and

overcome, 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. To date, a

percentage of the donations made by pilgrims are given to the

descendants of Malik and the remaining to the trust which manages the

shrine.

 

Yet another legend has it that when Kashyap Reshi drained the Kashmir

valley of water (it was believed to have been a vast lake), the cave

and the lingam were discovered by Bregish Reshi who was travelling the

Himalayas. When people heard of the lingam, Amarnath for them became

Shiva's abode and a center of pilgrimage.

 

Whatever the legends and the history of Amarnath's discovery, it is

today an extremely crucial centre of pilgrimage, and though the route

is as difficult to trespass as it is exciting, every annum, millions

of devotees from the subcontinent come to pay homage before Shiva in

one of his Himalayan abodes.

The Pilgrimage

 

The trek from Pahalgam to Amarnath cave is on an ancient peregrine

route. The 45-km distance is covered in four days, with night halts at

Chandanwari, Sheshnag (Wawjan) and Panchtarni. The distance from

Pahalgam to Chandanwari (12.8 km) is covered in about five to six

hours, and the trail runs along the Lidder river. Pilgrims camp here

on the first night out. A major attraction here is a bridge covered,

year round, with ice even though the surroundings are free from it.

 

The next day's trek, of 13 km, is through spectacular, primeval

countryside, and the main centre of attraction is Sheshnag, a mountain

which derives its name from its seven peaks, resembling the heads of a

mythical snake. The journey to Sheshnag follows steep inclines up the

right bank of a cascading stream and wild scenery untouched by

civilization. The second night's camp at Wawjan overlooks the deep

blue waters of Sheshnag lake, and glaciers beyond it.

 

There are legends of love and revenge too associated with Sheshnag,

and at the camp these are recounted by campfires, to the stillness of

a pine-scented, Himalayan night.

 

The third day's 13 km trek steadily gains height, winding up across

Mahagunas Pass at 4,600 m and then descending to the meadow-lands of

Panchtarni, the last camp enroute to the holy cave.

 

>From Panchtarni to Amarnath is only 6 km, but an early morning's start

is recommended for there is a long queue awaiting entrance to the

cave. The same day, following darshan, devotees can return to

Panchtarni in time for lunch, and continue to Wawjan to spend the

fourth night out; or continue further to Zojibal, returning to

Pahalgam on the fifth day.

 

The devotees sing bhajans, chant incantations, and priests petform

aarti and puja, invoking the blessings of Shiva, the divine, the pure,

the absolute. For those who journey with faith, it is a rewarding

experience, this simple visitation to a cave-shrine, the home of the

Himalayan mendicant who is both destroyer and healer, the greatest of

the Hindu deities.

 

Of all the pilgrimages, the pilgrimage to the holy cave of Amarnath, a

shrine of Lord Shiva, high up in the ranges of the Himalayas, is

considered as one of the most sacred and captivating practice. It is

an event that tends to awaken the divinity embedded in the deep

recesses of man's mind, and he feels a soft and serene impact of the

Great Spirit.

 

Recalling Swami Vivekananda's experience at the holy cave, sister

Nivedita wrote: "Never had Swami felt such a spiritual exaltation. So

saturated had he become with the presence of the Great God that for

days after he could speak of nothing else. Shiva was all in all;

Shiva, the eternal one, the great monk, rapt in meditation, aloof from

the world." Later on, Swami Vivekananda himself recounted: "I have

never been to anything so beautiful, so inspiring."

 

Such is the impression that the Amarnath Yatra leaves on the minds of

most of the yatris. After traveling on foot or horse on one of the

most enchanting and enthralling routes in the world, which itself

transmits a feeling of being "upward and divine," the yatri sees the

"ice-lingam" in all its shining glory and greatness, and experiences

the impact of an invisible, yet all-pervading, an incomprehensible,

yet all-conveying, force of "what was, is and will be."

 

In a state of heightened sublimity and with his faith fully surcharged

and the awe and majesty of the sights around him, the yatri perceives,

with his mind's eye, Lord Shiva, sitting calmly underneath an

imperishable, canopy, provided by the "mount of immortality" and

conveying in hushed silence the message of inseparability of the

processes of creation and destruction; of "every beginning having an

end, and every end having a beginning."

 

"Amarnath" means Deathless God Lord Shiva. He is the God of gods,

Mahadeva, about whom Bhishma says in the Mahabharat "I am incapable of

enunciating the attributes of the wise Mahadeva, who is ubiquitous but

nowhere visible; who is the creator of Brahma, Vishnu, and Indra and

their lord as well; whom all the deities from Brahma to the Pisachas

worship; who transcends all natural phenomena as well as the absolute

spirit whom the rishis who practice discipline and have arrived at

truth contemplate; who is indestructible, supreme, the Brahman

himself; who does not exist and yet exists."

 

The holy cave is located in one of the "purest and firmest' peaks of

the Himalayas which, in the Hindu tradition, is itself a symbol of

sublimity, serenity and strength. And there is a very close

relationship between these "silvery mountains" and Lord Shiva. This

relationship finds best expression in the words of Sankara, when

overwhelmed by the physical and spiritual beauty of the white peaks,

he reflected: "Oh Shiva. Thy body is white, white is Thy smile, the

human skull in Thy hand is white. Thy axe, Thy bill, Thy earrings all

are white. The Ganga flowing out in foams from your matted locks, is

white. The crescent moon on Thy brow is white. Oh all-white Shiva,

give us the boon of complete sinlessness in our lives."

 

Kalidas described the Himalayas as "the laughter of Shiva." Sri

Krishna also said in the Bhagavad Gita: "Of the mountains, I am the

Himalayas." When asked why India had so many gods and goddesses, Swami

Vivekananda replied: "Because we have the Himalayas."

 

The cave is accessible only during a short period of a year, usually

in the months of July and August. At that time, inside the cave, a

pure white ice-lingam comes into being. Water trickles, somewhat

mysteriously, in slow rhythm, from the top of the cave and freezes

into ice. It first forms a solid base and then on it a lingam begins

to rise, almost imperceptibly, and acquires full form on Purnima. It

is believed that on that day, Lord Shiva revealed the secrets of life

to his consort Parvati, the beautiful daughter of the Himalayas.

 

It is a mystery how the ice-lingam is formed on the ice-base, how it

attains its full formation and maximum height on the Purnima day and

how a pair of pigeons appears on the scene. Even the most skeptic mind

is persuaded to believe that all these occurrences could not be a mere

coincidence.

 

The present Kashmir valley, according to Nilamata Purana, was once a

huge lake, known as Satidesa. It was surrounded by high mountains. To

kill a demon, called Jalodhbava, who was "indestructible under water."

Rishi Kashyap, with the blessings of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, made a

cut in the mountains and drained off water. The land that emerged

began to be inhabited and came to be called Kashmir, after Rishi

Kashyap. At a few spots of rare beauty and seclusion, saints and gods

carved out their hermitages, for meditation.

 

The Yatra, in its present religious form, commences with the ceremony

of "Chari Mubarak," at the Dashnami temple, Akhara, Srinagar. After

the prayers, the yatri acquires a sort of walking stick. It has both

physical and religious significance; physically, it helps the yatri in

steadying himself on a snowy and slippery path; and, spiritually, it

reminds him of his resolve at the temple if and when his faith begins

to waver in the face of a long and arduous journey.

 

After the ceremony, the yatris proceed in groups to Pahalgam, from

where a small road leads to Chandanwari, along thick and green

woodlands of breathtaking beauty, perched on pretty rocks and little

hills, with the playful stream of Lidder meandering and dancing

in-between, showing its white-foam sparkle with the pride and purity

of a maiden descending directly from the lap of the perennial

Himalayas. From Chandanwari, there begins a steep ascent to Pishu

Ghati (3,171 meters), reminding the yatris that the path to salvation

involves superhuman struggle and stamina. A feeling of having been

lifted to a heavenly spot dawns upon the yatris when they reach

Seshnag (3,570 meters)so striking is the beauty, the setting and the

color of this great lake.

 

Seshnag symbolizes the cosmic ocean in which Lord Vishnu, the

preserver of this universe, moves, reclining on a seven-headed

mythical snake. After getting refreshed with the bath of ice-cold

water of Seshnag, the yatri takes a steep climb to the most difficult

spot. Mahagunna (4,350 meters). Thereafter, a short descent begins to

Poshpathan festooned with wild flowers. From there, the yatris move to

Panchtarni, a confluence of five mythical streams, and then to the cave.

 

A strange sense of fulfillment seizes the yatris, and all fatigue is

forgotten. Even in the temperature touching zero degrees Celsius, the

yatris are driven by their faith to take bath in the almost freezing

rivulet of Amravati.

The unique Yatra satisfies the individual's urge to take his soul to

soaring heights, to experience spiritual passions of the highest order

and see Mahadeva in His greatest image and in His finest abode.

 

 

 

Amarnath Yatra

Location: 145-km From Srinagar, Kashmir

Region Altitude: 4,175m (13,700ft).

Darshan Season: July To August

» Take a tour of Amarnath Yatra. Contact us.

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.

 

Amarnath Yatra

The of the most important event during July/ August, is Amarnath Yatra

to the Holy Pilgrimage. This is an annual event when thousands of

Hindus from different corners of the Globe visit Amarnath caves. The

pilgrims trek from Pahalgam to these caves and worship the great ice

Lingam. Legend has it that Shiva recounted to Parvati the secret of

creation in a cave in Amarnath. Unknow to them, a pair of mating doves

eavesdropped on this conversation and having learned the secret, are

reborn again and again, and have made the cave their eternal abode.

Many pilgrims report seeing the doves-pair when they trek the arduous

route to pay obeisance before the ice-lingam (the phallic symbol of

Shiva). This is an event you certainly will talk about for the rest of

your life.

 

The Legend

There is famous Rigvedic Verse that says "Ekam Sat " that is "There is

one Being ,the sages call Him by many names." The God (Parmeshwar) has

three deities who carry on the world .This is Known as Holy Trinity.

Brahma- the creator, Vishnu - the perpetuator of life and Shiva

(Mahesh ) -the purifier and perpetuator of good and destroyer of evil.

Rig Veda refer Shiva as Rudra as in its following verse . "We Worship

Tryambaka (Rudra) , Who spread Fragrance and Increases Nourishment ,

May He release me ,like the cucumber from its stem , From Mortal Life

, But not From Immorality . "(Rig Veda Mandal VII Sukta 59 and Mantra 12)

 

The Yajurveda describes Shiva as ascetic warrior Whose robe is of Deer

Skin and He carries Trishul .

 

According to the verse Satyam, Shivam ,Sundaram ,the life is described

as having three facets Truth (Satyam), Good (Shivam) and the Beautiful

(Sundaram). Shiva is a living God. The most Sacred and ancient books

of India, the Rig Veda narrates His presence in the hymns. Vedic

myths, rituals and even astronomy testifies to His existence from the

dawn of time .The Mohindaro and Harapa findings confirm Shiva worship

in the ancient India. According to the older scriptures, He has three

places of His residence. One is Kailash Parvat another is Lohit Giri

under which Brahamputra flows and third is Muzwan Parvat .

 

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).

 

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 .

 

When To take up Yatra

The Amarnath Yatra is organised every year by the J &K Govt. during

the month of Shravan ( July and August); the dates however , vary

every year looking at the weather conditions and according to Purnima

(Raksha Bandhan) in the month of Sharavan (Vikrama Samwat). This year

Yatra will be taken up from 08 July, 2003 to 08 August, 2003.

 

Yatra to Baba Amarnath Holy Cave for which one has to trek a height of

about 14,500 ft is full of thrill and joy .The feeling of divine which

is always beneath ones' heart , burst out and one realises 'Moksha' as

one attends the Cave and perform the prayer before the Shivlinga .

Surrounded by beautiful valleys, mountains , one will always feel His

presence on the paradise of the earth, the memory of which hardly

vanishes with time A journey which will rediscover the nature and its

love which is always inside but one has never felt.

 

Climate

The climatic conditions are very uncertain . Rain or snowfall may take

place at any time or place during the Yatra . It is to be particularly

noted that abrupt changes in temperature might occur . Sunny weather

may turn into rain / snow fall in a short time . The temperature may

fall up to -5 degree C.

 

How to travel

 

* Air

Indian Airlines had daily flights to Delhi and Srinagar. There

are also flights to Bombay, Calcutta, Chandigarh, and Leh. The Indian

Airlines office(542-735) is at the Tourist Reception Centre on Vir Marg.

* Train

The Shalimar Express departs from Delhi at 4.10 pm and arrives

in Jammu at 7 am. There are other trains to and from Delhi. From Jammu

there are direct trains to Bombay, Calcutta (Jammu Tawi Exp # 3152,

daily, 6.15 pm, 46 ½ hr). Most buses leave between 6 and 7 am, in

order to arrive before night. A ticket to Srinagar should be booked in

advance. There are buses to Delhi (14 hr), Amritsar (5hr), and

Pathankot (3 hr). From Pathankot you can get a bus to Dharamshala and

Dalhousie. Deluxe buses depart from the railway station, usually

between 6 and 7 am.