Know about the Famous Amarnath Cave in Jammu and Kashmir!

• The Amarnath Cave is a popular pilgrimage in Jammu and Kashmir
• Founded by Buta Malik, a Muslim shepherd, whose family is offered donations even today
• Amarnath as its name came later after the name Amareshwara was used for many years

Jammu and Kashmir, July 21, 2017: Jammu and Kashmir's Amarnath Cave is among the most popular pilgrimage sites in the region. Devotees believe it to be a sacred place because according to Hindu mythology, it was chosen by Lord Shiva to reveal the secrets of immortality to his wife, Goddess Parvati. Amareshwara was the first name of the tirtha, but later the name Amarnath became popular.

There are multiple references to the Amarnath caves in the Rajatarangini written by Kalhana. Rajatarangini book VII, V.183 states that Queen Suryamati "conceded under her significant other's name agraharas at Amareshwara, and masterminded the sanctification of trishulas, banalingas and other [sacred emblems]"

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Jonaraja in his Chronicles of Kashmir (which is a continuation of Rajatanganini) explores that Sultan Zainu'l-abidin also visited the tirtha of Amarnath while waterway to the left bank of Lidder valley was being developed. Today, the trench is known as Shah Kol.

The melting of the ice lingam and the journey to the Amarnath was also mentioned in Rajavalipataka. Yusuf Khan, Kashmir's legislative leader at the time, mentioned these things to Akbar, who added Kashmir to his empire in 1586.

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During Shah Jahan's reign too, the Amarnath yatra was a famous pilgrimage destination. Panditraj Jagannath, in his tribute to Shah Jahan's son in law, wrote in 'Asaf Vilas' that Indra (the king of divine beings) himself visits the Amarnath to come see Lord Shiva.

Emperor Aurangzeb visited Kashmir in 1663 with a French doctor Francois Bernier, who mentioned the Amarnath cave in his book "Goes in Mughal Empire" Another voyager Vigne, in his book "Goes in Kashmir, Ladakh and Iskardu" describes the Amarnath as a spot for explorers and pilgrims from all over India.

The cave was first discovered by Buta Malik, a Muslim shepherd.

– by Saksham Narula of NewsGram. Twitter @Saksham2394