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About Shri Amarnathji Shrine
Board
Out of all Hindu deities, Lord Shiva is extremely popular not only
amongst Indians but also amongst the people of other nationalities.
To get closer to their revered God, who appears on this earth in the
unique form of an Ice Lingam, millions of devotees trek through the
daunting mountains to Shri Amarnathji Shrine in South Kashmir every
year in the summer months to pay obeisance. The Shrine is managed by
Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), that was constituted by an Act
of the Jammu & Kashmir State Legislature in 2000 with His Excellency
the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir as its ex-officio Chairman. The
Amarnathji Shrine Board is responsible for the better management of
the Shri Amarnathji Yatra, upgradation of facilities for holy
pilgrims and matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
Assisted by a Chief Executive Officer who is a senior IAS officer
and eight distinguished Board Members, the board is constantly
working towards making this journey the most cherished one.
Role of the Board:
The following roles and responsibilities have been assigned to Shri
Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) as per section 16 of the Act:
To arrange for the proper performance of worship at the Holy Shrine.
To make arrangements for the safe custody of the funds, valuable and
jewelry and for the preservation of the Board Fund.
To undertake developmental activities concerning the areas of the
shrine and its surroundings.
To make provision for the payment of suitable emoluments to the
salaried staff.
To make suitable arrangements for the imparting of religious
instruction and general education to the pilgrims.
To undertake for the benefit of worshippers and pilgrims:
The construction of buildings for their accommodation
The construction of sanitary works; and
The improvement of means of communication
To make provision of medical relief for worshippers and pilgrims
To do all such things as may be incidental and conducive to the
efficient management, maintenance and administration of the Holy
Shrine and the Board Funds and for the convenience of the pilgrims.
More Detail :
http://www.shriamarnathjishrine.com/about_shrine_board.html
The Legend
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 Amarnath Cave has special significance .
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 .
CLIMATE
The climatic conditions are very uncertain . Rain or snowfall may
take place at any time or place during the Yatra . It is to be
particularly noted that abrupt changes in temperature might occur .
Sunny weather may turn into rain / snow fall in a short time . The
temperature may fall upto -5 degree C .
How to Reach
One can reach the first part of journey through ;
Air:
The nearest aerodrome is Srinagar. Srinagar is a beautiful valley
having world famous sights to see, such as Dal Lake, Nagina Lake,
Shankaracharya Temple, Mughal Gardens and what not. It is the most
sought after tourist place. It is also known as "Paradise on earth".
Srinagar is summer capital of Jammu & Kashmir. There are daily
flights to Srinagar from Delhi and Jammu. On some week days flights
also pickup passengers from Chandigarh and Amritsar .
Rail:
Jammu is the nearest Railway Station . Jammu is winter Capital of
Jammu & Kashmir. Jammu is a beautiful city and is also known as
"CITY OF TEMPLES". One may visit old temples such as Raghunath
Temple , Mahadev Mandir and other temples . It is well connected
with all stations of India. The various trains coming to Jammu are
listed here below.
Road :
Jammu and Srinagar are also connected through road. Buses and Taxies
are also available for this part of the journey .These can be hired
on daily as well as full tour basis.
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