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
.
| Jammu | Kashmir | Ladakh | Srinagar | Gulmarg | Phalgham | Sonmarg | Amarnath Yatra | Mata Veshnodevi | Dal Lake | Nigin Lake | Manasbal Lake | Maps |
Copyright © 2008 Kashmir Travels ePowered by Kashmir eServices
The charm of staying on a Kashmiri houseboat in a cedar-panelled bedroom with all the conveniences of a luxury hotel is truly irresistible. Fancifully bedecked and romantically named, these houseboats vary in their degree of luxury, quite like hotels. Houseboat stays have long been in fashion in Kashmir and have been attracting travelers for years. Keeping houseboats is a family business and you are treated much like family members during your stay. Apart from luxurious bedrooms, dining rooms, lounge and attached bathrooms, you also have balconies where you can spend your time eye feasting. Travelers can easily choose from a wide range and categories of houseboats. Some of these houseboats also offer tourists free shikara rides on Dal Lake.
| Jammu
| Kashmir
| Ladakh
| Srinagar
| Gulmarg
| Phalgham
| Sonmarg
| Amarnath
Yatra
| Mata Veshnodevi
| Dal Lake
| Nigin Lake
| Manasbal Lake