Story behind Holy Amarnath Shrine.

Centuries ago Maa Parvati asked Shivji to let her know 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. He left his Nandi (the Bull which He used to ride) at Pahalgam.( That is the reason this place got the name"Pahlgam"

Next station  is Chandanwari- 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, (All these places are seen enroute to Holy cave- and one gets the feelings as if he/she has reached Heaven on reaching these places)

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 overhead the story and became immortal.

Holy Cave

Situated in a narrow gorge at the farther end of Lidder Valley, Amarnath Shrine stands at 3,888 m, 46 Km from Pahalgam and 14 Kms from Baltal. Though the original pilgrimages was undertaken from Srinagar, the more common practice is to begin journey at Chandanwari, and cover the distance to Amarnathji and back in five days. Pahalgam is 96 Kms from Srinagar.

Amarnathji is considered to be one of the major Hindu Dhams. The holy cave is the abode of Lord Shiva. The guardian of the absolute, Lord Shiva, the destroyer, is enshrined in the form of an ice-lingam in this cave. This lingam is formed naturally, which is believed to wax and wane with the moon.

Discovery of Holy Cave

 The existence of the Holy Cave has been mentioned in our Puranas. But popular story being narrated is that Holy Cave was rediscovered by a shepherd Buta Malik. Story goes that while grazing his cattle Buta Malik met a Saint who gave him a bag full of coal. On reaching home when Buta Malik opened the bag, he found it to be full of Gold coins. Overwhelmed with joy, he ran to thank the Saint but Saint had disappeared. Instead, he found the Holy cave and the Ice Shiv Lingham in the cave. He narrated his discovery to all the villagers. Since then, this has become a sacred place for pilgrimage.

Om Namah Shivaye