Nestled in the majestic Amreshwari mountains of Pahalgam, the sacred Amarnath Cave holds the 51st position among the Shakti Peethas of the Indian subcontinent. It is renowned worldwide as one of the most significant pilgrimage destinations, especially for devotees of Lord Shiva.
Surrounded by Himalayan glaciers and towering mountains, this vast cave is awe-inspiring. Its entrance is about 40 yards wide, with a ceiling rising to 78 feet, and it extends nearly 80 feet deep into the mountain, giving it a timeless, historical presence.
During the months of June and July, water droplets drip from the cave’s ceiling. These drops gradually freeze on the cave floor, slowly forming a natural ice stalagmite, revered as the Shiva Lingam. This formation is considered a symbolic manifestation of Lord Shiva, and it is believed to wax and wane with the phases of the moon.
As the lingam forms completely, millions of devotees flock to the cave for darshan (divine sight). According to Hindu belief, the Shiva Lingam begins to melt slowly from mid-August until it eventually disappears.
Though many know about the lingam, few are familiar with the deeper historical and mythological context of this sacred cave.
The Amarnath Cave is located in the Pahalgam region of Anantnag district—a place often described as a land of dreams. Every traveler to Kashmir ensures a visit to Pahalgam, for it marks the beginning of the Amarnath Yatra, the spiritual journey toward this divine site. Surrounded by snow-clad mountains and nourished by ancient glaciers, the journey to the cave is arduous, yet the spiritual pull brings pilgrims from across India and beyond.
The Lingam, made of ice, forms naturally and is considered the physical representation of Shiva’s divine energy. Alongside the main lingam, ice formations symbolizing Goddess Parvati and Lord Ganesha also appear. This phenomenon adds to the cave’s spiritual significance.
According to Hindu mythology, this is the very place where Lord Shiva revealed the secret of immortality (Amar Katha) to Goddess Parvati. The legend says that Parvati once asked Shiva to explain the mystery of eternity. Shiva, after long hesitation, agreed—but only on the condition that no other being would hear it. To ensure absolute secrecy, he chose this remote cave, believing no mortal could reach it.
During their journey to the cave, Shiva discarded all his worldly symbols at various locations:
At Nandini, he left behind his bull (Nandi).
At Chandanwadi, he removed the moon from his hair.
At Sheshnag, he let go of the snake around his neck.
At Panchatarani, he abandoned the five essential elements (earth, water, fire, air, and sky).
Even Lord Ganesha was left behind at Mahaguna Top.
Only then did Shiva and Parvati proceed to the cave.
It is believed that before revealing the secret, Shiva created Kalagni, a destructive fire, to burn away any hidden listeners. However, beneath his seat, two pigeon eggs remained. These pigeons later hatched and became immortal after hearing the divine secret. To this day, some pilgrims claim to have witnessed the mystical pair of pigeons flying near the cave.
Thus, Amarnath is not just a site of spiritual reverence but also a location of divine revelation. Even if the ice lingam didn’t form, the cave would still be considered a sacred place due to the mythological events associated with it.
The pilgrimage route passes through all the significant places where Shiva stopped, each now a holy site:
Pahalgam, Chandanwadi, Sheshnag,
Mahaguna Top, Panchatarani
These places are now integral parts of the yatra.
It is said that the Amarnath Cave has existed for over 5,000 years. Ancient texts like those of Kalhana credit the creation of Kashmir to Rishi Kashyap, who drained a large lake to form the valley.
Another fascinating story tells of a Muslim shepherd named Buta Malik, who is believed to have rediscovered the cave. According to legend, he was given a bag of coal by a wandering sage. When he reached home, the coal had turned into gold. In search of the sage, he returned to the spot, but instead found the cave. Since then, his family reportedly remained caretakers of the site, until the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board took over in the year 2000.
