Amarnath Cave Temple Shiv Lingam made of Ice Legend behind Amarnath Cave

The greatest fear man can have, is the fear of losing God's love.

Amarnath

Immortal Shiva

Amarnath is considered to be one of the major Hindu Dhams. The Amarnath Cave was where Lord Shiva narrated the secret of immortality, the Amar Katha, to his wife Parvati. It is the abode of the holy trinity, Lord Shiva. He is enshrined in the form of an ice-lingam in this cave located at farther end of the Lidder Valley. This lingam is formed naturally of an ice stalagmite which waxes and wanes with the moon.

THE LEGEND
This is The Cave which was chosen by Bhole Shankar for narrating the secrets of immortality and creation of Universe to Maa Parvati. Once Parvati said to Lord Shiva, " 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. "
Parvati insisted that she may be told that secret. Shiva hesitated at first but finally gave in. He wanted to reveal the secret in an isolated place far from any living being and thus chose the Amarnath Cave.

In preparation to that He left His Nandi ( The Bull which He used to ride ) at Pahalgam. At Chandanwari He released Moon from his hairs. 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 , Shiva and Parvati had Tandav Dance.
Finally Bhole Shankar entered the holy Amarnath Cave along with Parvati Maa. He then created a 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 Amar Katha to Parvati. Unknown to them, a pair of doves eavesdropped on this conversation and learned the secret. Reborn again and again, they have made the cave their eternal abode. Today, pilgrims claim seeing the pair of doves when they trek the arduous route to the 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 by that time 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. Since then Lacs of devotees perform the pilgrimage through tough terrain and avail eternal happiness.

This incredible shrine has the devout flock in the month of sharavan ( July-August) when 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 .

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