Amarnath

 

The Amarnath yatra is definitely not for those looking for comfortable journey and Darshan.  For a trekker it is good opportunity to track either from batlal which is close to Sonmarg.  The other trek route is from Pahalgam.  These  routes are also for those who want to walk.  It takes 2- 3 days to complete the trip.  But the route has good pathway for trekking and is more scenic and beautiful 

Baltal route has the availability of horses and dholi or palki.  But the route is quote tough is Also crowded. It is only 10 kms but it will take 7-8 hours to reach

The helicopter option is available from neelgrath near sonmarg.  The ride time is less than 10mts to panchtarni.  Ftom there to Amarnath is 6 kms.  The options available are  trekking horse ride and parking.  The approximate time is 1 1/2 to 2 hours.  At sangam the route from batlal and panchtarni.    There is so much traffic and the time to reach increases.  

For those wanting to 

History 

Centuries ago Maa Parvati asked Shivji to let her know why and when he started wearing the beads of heads (Mund Mala), to which Bhole Shankar replied, “whenever you are born I add more heads to my bead”. Parvati said, “I die again and again, but you are Immortal. Please tell me the reason behind this”. "Bhole Shankar replied that for this you will have to listen to the Amar Katha"

Shiv agreed to narrate the detailed story to Maa Parvati. He started for a lonely place where no living being could listen to the immortal secret and ultimately chose Amarnath Cave. In the hush-hush, he left his Nandi (the Bull which He used to ride) at Pahalgam. At Chandanwari, he released Moon (Chand) from his hair (Jataon). At the banks of Lake Sheshnag, he released the snakes. He decided to leave his Son Ganesha at Mahagunas Parvat. At Panjtarni, Shivji left the Five Elements behind (Earth, Water, Air, Fire and Sky) which give birth to life and of which he is the Lord. After leaving behind all these, Bhole Shankar entered the Holy Amarnath Cave along with Parvati Maa and took his Samadhi. To ensure that no living being is able to hear the Immortal Tale, he created 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 a pair of pigeons eggs were under the deer skin inside the cave.  Shiva had brushed aside the deer skin without realizing the  presence of the eggs.  These 2 overhead the story whe the hatched which was the same time Parvati started falling asleep.  These continued listening and saying mmmm... at right places.    Since it was not supposed to be heard by anyone Shiva cursed the pigeons that the live and die in the cave itself.

Many pilgrims report seeing the pair of pigeons at the Holy Shrine even today and are amazed as to how these birds survive in such a cold and high altitude area.

The Holy Cave

Discovery of Holy Cave

Although the existence of the Holy Cave has been mentioned in the Puranas, the popular story narrated by people about the re-discovery of this Holy Cave is of a shepherd Buta Malik. Story goes like this: 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 overwhelmed him with joy. He ran to thank the Saint. But the Saint had disappeared. Instead, he found The Holy Cave and the Ice Shiv Lingam there in. He announced this discovery to the Villagers. Then onwards this became a sacred place of Pilgrimage.  

The Eternal Shiva

The ancient epics narrate another story. The valley of Kashmir was under water. It was all a big lake. Kashyap Rishi drained the water through a number of rivers and rivulets. In those days Bhrigu Rishi came that way on a visit to The Himalayas. He was the first to have Darshan 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 achieve 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 is believed to wax and wane with the Moon's cycle. By its side are fascinating, two more Ice Lingams, that of Maa Parvati and of their son, Ganesha.