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Amarnath Yatra - The Legends

-R M Nair

          What is there in Amarnath Cave? It's a Shiva linga. Shiva is one of the holy Trinity of the Indian mythology. And linga? Well, that is the phallic symbol of Shiva. Shiva lingas are a common sight everywhere and worshipped in every nook and corner of India.

          Then what is so special about the one in Amarnath? Here it is a natural formation of snow seen only during July-August every year. And it waxes and wanes with the moon. There is not just one. There are two more ice stalagmite, close to the main one. These represent Parvathi, Shiva's consort, and their son, Ganesha.

          There is a legend associated with Amarnath: It's that Shiva disclosed the secret of creation to Parvathi in a cave at this place. That was overheard by a pair of doves. Once the secret was known, they could be reborn and reborn. Doves can, therefore, be sighted at Amarnath cave even today.

          There is another on the creation of the cave. That the Amarnath cave and the lingam were discovered when Kashyap rishi drained the Kashmir valley, which was a lake at that time, of all waters.

          A third one has a little historical anecdote underlying Amarnath cave. It is that once upon a time a sadhu gave Buta Malik, a Muslim shepherd, a bag of coal which on his reaching home turned gold. The spot where the bag got changed hands became a pilgrim centre. A part of the donations received at the Amarnath temple is given to the descendants of Malik Saab every year even today.

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