Read all about the ancient origins of the Amarnath yatra and the mythological significance of the holy shrine
The annual Amarnath Yatra was flagged by J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday (2nd July) from Jammu. The 38-day-long yatra, which will continue till 9th August, commenced amid tight, multi-tier security arrangements.
The first batch of 5,485 pilgrims, who left for the holy shrine of Lord Shiva yesterday under the protection of security forces, has returned safely. A second group of pilgrims left for the journey on Friday morning.
Yatra taking place amid hightened security arranegements
In the wake of the Pahalgam terrorist attack, the government has ramped up security arrangements for the Amarnath Yatra. From the base camps in Anantnag and Ganderbal districts till the holy cave shrine, the yatra is being closely guarded. The government has augmented the existing security arrangements comprising the Indian Army, BSF, CRPF, SSB, and local police. 180 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) have been added to enhance security. A total of 581 CAPF teams have been deployed for the security of the yatra. Out of which 219 teams are from the CRPF and the rest are from the BSF, ITBP, CISF, and SSB. The entire stretch of the yatra is under constant surveillance to prevent any untoward incident. The CRPF has also deployed a team of all-women personnel at the Baltal route to assist female yatris during their journey.
Considering the cold temperatures and the challenging terrain, authorities have made arrangements for medical teams, air ambulances, and emergency evacuation to ensure the safety of all pilgrims during the yatra. Additionally, a team of 30 personnel from the CRPF’s mountain rescue team (MRT) has been deployed along the two routes of the yatra. They will attend to any medical emergency that may arise. The pilgrims will face high altitudes, about 3,888 metres, and low temperatures.
Image via Shrineyatra.in
There are two routes to the Amarnath Cave, one is the traditional 48-km-long Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag district, and the other is the 14-km shorter but steeper Baltal route in Ganderbal district.
Image via Shrineyatra.in
This year’s Amarnath yatra is expected to attract around 8 lakh pilgrims. Last year’s number was 5 lakh, the highest in the last 12 years. The holy journey to the shrine of Lord Shiva in the Amarnath cave holds immense religious significance in Hinduism.
Ancient origins of the Amarnath Cave
The Amarnath Cave is located in the Lidder valley of the Pahalgam tehsil of the Anantnag district, J&K. It is one of the most popular pilgrimage sites of the Sanatan Dharma. Since it is located at a high altitude, the shrine is covered in thick snow for most of the year, except for a brief period during the months of July-August. This period coincides with the holy month of Shravan as per the Hindu calendar. This is when devotees from across the country flock to visit the holy shrine for darshan of Baba Amarnath.
Image via X
Inside the cave is a Swayambhu (formed on its own) Shiva Lingam. It is a stalagmite formation is formed when water drops fall from the cave’s roof onto the floor and freeze, resulting in an upward vertical development of the Lingam. The pilgrimage to the Amarnath caves is an ancient custom mentioned in Kalhana’s Rajtaringini, Nilamata Purana, Francois Bernier’s memoirs, and many others. Different stories have been associated with the pilgrimage
Mention of the Amarnath yatra in ancient scriptures
As per Hindu scriptures, the Amarnath cave was first discovered by Rishi Bhrigu. It is said that for centuries, the Kashmir valley was immersed in water, and Rishi Kashyap drained it by creating rivers and tributaries. As the water receded, Rishi Bhrigu, who was on his way to the Himalayas, discovered the Amarnath cave. The Amarnath Cave also finds mention in texts like the Bhringish Samhita and the Amarnath Mahatmy. These describe the topographical details of the cave.
Folklore related to the Amarnath Yatra
According to folklore, Lord Shiva narrated the secret of immortality to his consort Devi Parvati in the Amarnath cave. When Devi Parvati requested Lord Shiva to reveal the secret of immortality, he agreed to her request but said that he would narrate the secrets at an isolated place where no living being is able to hear the secrets. And, so Lord Shiva, along with Devi Parvati, left for the Amarnath Cave. On their way to the cave, Lord Shiva left his Nandi at Pahalgam. He left the moon on his head at Chandanwari, the snake (Sheshnag) around his neck at Lake Sheshnag, his son Ganesha at Mahaguna Parvat, and the Five Elements (Earth, Water, Air, Fire and Sky) at Panjtarni. He performed the Tandav dance as he kept leaving his belongings behind.
Image via X
Thereafter, Lord Shiva entered the Amarnath cave with Devi Parvati and sat in Samadhi. Before that, he created Kalagni and ordered him to spread fire around the holy cave to ensure that no living being was able to hear him narrate the secrets of immortality. However, a pair of pigeons overheard the secrets of immortality. It is said that pilgrims often see pigeons around the Amarnath cave, surviving in such high altitudes and low temperatures, which affirms their belief in the folklore.
The fake story of Buta Malik
The Amarnath Cave has existed since time immemorial, but a fake, recent story related to the discovery of the cave by a Muslim shepherd from Batakot, named Buta Malik, became quite popular over time. According to the story, Malik took shelter in the cave after his flock strayed in the mountains, where a Sufi saint gave him a Kangri, a small pot filled with burning coal that is held close to the body to keep it warm. When he went home, he saw that the pot of coal had turned into a pot of gold. Overjoyed, he went back to the cave to thank the saint. But instead, he found only the cave and the Shiva Linga.
The folklore of Buta Malik is told by his descendants and local Kashmiris, as the legend is an amalgamation of Hindu religious traditions and its relation to the local Kashmiri Muslim population. The fake story is also peddled by left liberals and historians as an example of ‘Ganga-Jamuni Tehzib’. However, even a cursory search on the internet can expose the falsehood of the Buta Malik story.
Terrorists attacks on the yatra
The holy Amarnath Yatra is conducted under strict security arrangements due to the threat it faces from Islamic terrorists. In the last three decades, the Amarnath Yatra has been attacked by terrorists around 40 times. The yatra has been the target of Islamic terrorists since 1990. The first terrorist attack on the yatra took place in 1993. After that, the terrorists kept attacking the yatra for four consecutive years, till 1996.
The biggest attack on the yatra happened in 2000. Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists opened indiscriminate fire at the Pahalgam base camp, in which 32 people died and about 60 people were injured. After this, there was another attack in 2001.
This was followed by another terrorist attack on the yatra in 2001. In this terrorist attack, grenades were thrown at the pilgrims’ camp near Sheshnag Lake, leaving 12 people dead and 15 injured. Similar terrorist attacks on the yatra took place in 2002 and 2006. In these attacks, buses carrying pilgrims were attacked with grenades. There was another terrorist attack on the yatra in 2017. After this, the government strengthened security arrangements for the Amarnath yatra, and as a result, no major terrorist attack took place on the yatra.
For the peaceful completion of Amarnath yatra this year, the government made all the security arrangements well in advance.
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