AMARNATH YATRA
Amarnath cave is a Hindu shrine located in Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The cave is situated at an altitude of 3,888 m (12,756 ft) about 141 km from Srinagar, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir and reached through Pehalgam town. The cave is surrounded by snowy mountains. The cave itself is covered with snow most of the year except for a short period of time in summer when it is open for pilgrims. Thousands of Hindu devotees make an annual pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave on challenging mountainous terrain to see an Ice - stalagmite formed inside the cave.
The trek begins in July-August. Despite being an extremely difficult trek, millions of devotees come to pay homage to Shiva in one of his Himalayan abodes. Devotees travel on foot, either from Baltal or from Pehalgam. The shorter northern route is just about 14 km long, but has a very steep gradient and is quite difficult to climb. It starts from Baltal and passes through Domial, Barari, and Sangam to reach the cave. The northern route is along the Amarnath valley and all along the route one can see the river Amaravathy (It is more like a tributary of Chenab) which originates from Amarnath Glacier.
Legend behind Yatra
This is The Cave which was chosen by Lord Shiva for narrating the secrets of immortality and creation of Universe to Goddess Parvati. The story goes like this. Centuries ago Goddess Parvati asked Shiva to let her know why and when He started wearing the beads of heads (Mund Mala). Lord Shiva replied whenever you are born I add one more head in my beads. Goddess 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 ." Shiva replied that it is due to Amar Katha. Goddess Parvati insisted that she may be told that secret. For long Shiva continued postponing. Finally on consistent demand from Goddess Parvati He made up his mind to tell the immortal secret. He started for lonely place where no living being could listen it.
It is believed that Lord Shiva left Nandi, The Bull, at Pahalgam (Bail Gaon). At Chandanwari, he released the Moon from his hair (Jataon). On the banks of Lake Sheshnag, he released his snakes. At Mahagunas Parvat (Mahaganesh Mountain), he left his son Lord Ganesha. At Panjtarni, Lord Shiva left behind the five elements - Earth, Water, Air, Fire and Sky. As a symbol of sacrificing the earthly world, Lord Shiva performed the Tandava Dance. Then, finally, Lord Shiva entered the Holy Amarnath Cave along with Parvati
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 Goddess 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).
