YATRA 21 JUNE TO 31 JUNE 09

JAI BHOLE NATH, BAM-BAM-BHOLE

Amarnath Cave is named after Mount Amarnath (5,486m a.s.l.), where it is located nearly 4000 m high. Because of this height, the cave is covered with snow for most of the year. Only for a short period in sommer, the entrance is accessible. The cave is an ice cave, it contains a certain amount of ice stalagmites. What does Shiv ling means? The word Ling in shiv ling has come from two words that is Leen and Gati. Leen means dissolve and Gati means grow. It means man should dissolve(Leen) in shiva then he should grow(Gati). (leen+ga)= ling. Most people around the globe think that meaning of ling in concerned with gent's sex point but this is totally wrong theory. These are my views. Rajesh Chopra The cave is a holy place for Hindu pilgrims, because of its ice content. One very characteristic pilar of ice is believed to be an ice lingham, the phallic symbol of Lord Shiva. Two smaller ice stalagmite represent Parvati, his wife, and Ganesha, his son. The Hindu pilgrims also believe, that the height of the lingham increases and decreases with the phases of the moon. In the month of Shravan, on the full moon in August, thousands of Hindus go on a pilgrimage up to the cave. At this time the lingam reaches its biggest size. The pilgrimage is somewhat dangerous. The big height and the low temperature, combined with the under-nourished state of many people, cost a yearly toll. Sometimes, like in 1996, bad weather increases the number of fatalities dramatically. A legend tells, that Shiva explained the secret of creation to Parvati in the cave. Two mating doves heard this and now live in the cave for eternity, being reborn again and again. This legend is confirmed (at least in the eyes of believers) by flocks of doves near the cave, with no vegetation around. Another legend tells that Kashyap Reshi drained a big lake, which became then the Kashmir valley of today. The cave was discovered by Bregish Reshi AUG-1996 260 people died on their pilgrimage in the wake of a storm. One 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 ardous 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.