The Directorate of Tourism, Jammu, in collaboration with the Divisional Administration Jammu, organizes the annual “Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2024” to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Legend has it that the discovery of the Holy Shrine of Amarnath is steeped in a fascinating tale. Centuries ago, Maa Parvati queried Lord Shiva about the significance of the beads of heads (Mund Mala) adorning his neck. Lord Shiva replied that with each new birth of Maa Parvati, he added a new head to the beads. Intrigued, Maa Parvati implored Lord Shiva to elucidate further, to which he suggested listening to the Amar Katha.
Lord Shiva embarked on a journey to find a secluded place where he could narrate the immortal secret to Maa Parvati without any other living being overhearing. He chose the Amarnath Cave for this sacred purpose. Along the way, he left behind significant aspects of himself: he left his Nandi, the bull he rode, at Pahalgam; he released the moon from his hair at Chandanwari; he set free the snakes at the banks of Lake Sheshnag; he left his son Ganesha at Mahagunas Parvat; and at Panjtarni, he relinquished the Five Elements – Earth, Water, Air, Fire, and Sky – from which life derives and over which he presides.
Having shed all earthly connections, Lord Shiva entered the Amarnath Cave with Maa Parvati and took his Samadhi. To ensure absolute secrecy, he summoned Kalagni and commanded him to spread fire to eliminate any living creature nearby. Despite these measures, a pair of pigeons overhead happened to hear the tale of immortality and thus became immortal themselves. Pilgrims to the Holy Shrine of Amarnath still report sightings of these pigeons, marveling at their endurance in the cold, high-altitude environment.
This sacred pilgrimage continues to draw devotees seeking spiritual fulfillment and a connection to the divine through the ancient, mystical journey undertaken by Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati.
Prime Minister Narendra Modiji greets pilgrims on the start of the Amarnath Yatra, saying the ‘darshan’ of Lord Shiva is known to infuse immense energy in his followers. Har Har Mahadev.
