AMARNATH YATRA 1898 to 1955
Amarnath cave is a Hindu shrine located in Jammu and Kashmir, India. The cave is situated at an altitude of 3,888 m (12,756 ft),about 141 km (88 mi) from Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir and reached through Pahalgam town. The shrine forms an important part of Hinduism, and is considered to be one of the holiest shrines in Hinduism The cave itself is covered with snow most of the year except for a short period of time in summer when it is open for pilgrims. The Amarnath temple is one of 18 Maha Shakti Peethas, or "Grand Shakti Peethas" – highly revered temples throughout South Asia that commemorate the location of fallen body parts of the Hindu deity Sati.
The Amarnath Cave has a special significance in the Hindu religion. As per legend, Lord Shiva had chosen this cave to describe the secrets of immortality and formation of the universe to Maa Parvati.
Maa Parvati asked – why are you immortal and I keep on dying again and again? Lord Shiva said that this is due to the Amar Katha. Maa Parvati insisted to hear that Amar Katha and after convincing Lord for a long time, Lord Shiva decided to narrate that story to Maa Parvati.
To narrate the story, Lord Shiva started looking for an absolutely lonely place so that no living being can hear that Amar Katha except for Maa Parvati. He finally found the Amarnath Cave. To reach there, He left all his belonging on the way like His bull Nandi at Pahalgam, His Moon at Chandanwari, His snakes at the banks of Lake Sheshnag, His son Ganesha at Mahagunas Parvat and at Panjtarni, He left his Five Elements (Earth, Fire, Water, Air and Sky).
After this, Lord Shiva entered in this holy Amarnath Cave with Maa Parvati. Lord Shiva sat on the Deer Skin and took a samadhi. To further make sure that not even a single living being could hear the secret Amar Katha, He created a rudra named Kalagni and ordered him to set fire around the cave so that everything living around that place could be destroyed. He then started narrating the story of immortality to Maa Parvati. But in spite of all these efforts, one egg remained protected under the deer skin on which the Lord was sitting. But it was considered as non-living. A pair of pigeons was born out of that egg and supposedly became immortal. Pilgrims can still see the pigeon pair while going towards the Amarnath Cave.
Discovery of Holy Cave
According to legend, Bhrigu Muni was the first to have discovered Amarnath. Long time ago it is believed that The Valley of Kashmir was submerged under water and Kashyap Muni drained it through a series of rivers and rivulets. Therefore, when the waters drained, Bhrigu Muni was the first to have Darshan of Lord Amarnath. Thereafter, when people heard of the Lingam, it became an abode of Lord Bholenath for all believers.
With the passage of time devotees did not take much effort to undergo this arduous and dangerous pilgrimage and the pilgrimage stopped altogether.
According to folklore the cave was rediscovered by a Shepherd named Buta Malik who was a Muslim, in 1850s. He had been grazing his cattle in the mountains when a Sufi Saint gave him a bag of charcoal , which turned out to be gold later. He went back to thank the saint but instead found the cave and the Shiva Linga . He informed all and the authorities that be . Maharaja Ranbir Singh a devote Hindu after learning about the scared holy cave performed yatra and from then onwards Amarnath Yatra became a yearly ritual. The descendants of Buta Malik had been the custodian of the shrine since. Priests of Dashnami Akahra and Purohit Sabah Mattan have been taking care of the holy cave till 2000AD. Thereafter that Malik Family and other organisations were evicted and the The Amarnath Shrine Board was formed to look after the affairs of the shrine.
Photographs have been uploaded according to the important location enroute the yatra from Pahalgam to the Holy Cave.
We have also included a few photograph of the northern route of the Yatra from Baltal Side, which Maharaja Partap Singh under took in the year 1908.
Photograp taken by Dewan Alim Chand in 1898 at Pahalgam showing yatra camp.
PAHALGAM
According to legend Lord Shiva took Parvati to the cave to tell the story of Amarkatha, he first left Nandi, his vahana at this place which was later called as Pahalgam. It is 92 kilometres from Srinagar and is surrounded by mountain peaks
PAHALGAM
According to legend Lord Shiva took Parvati to the cave to tell the story of Amarkatha, he first left Nandi, his vahana at this place which was later called as Pahalgam. It is 92 kilometres from Srinagar and is surrounded by mountain peaks
A Kashmiri Pandit lady serving food to Kashmiri Muslim Porters at the Yatra Camp Pahalgam in 1955
Photograph taken by R.R.Stewart in 1915 showing the Yatra Camp Pahalgam
Photograph taken by R.R.Stewart in 1915 showing the Holy Mace (CHADDI MUBARAK) at Pahalgam
Photograph
taken in 1955 showing Kashmir porters carrying a hindu lady pilgrim in
a dandi during annual yatra just outside Pahalgam
CHANDANWADI
It is 16 kms away from Pahalgam. According to beliefs, Lord Shiva did a very unique thing here. This place is also known as Chandramoli because Lord Shiva sacrificed the moon from his head here. The moon then waited for the Lord Shiva to return here. That is why the name of this place became Chandanwadi.
Photograph
taken by Dewan Alim Chand in 1898 showing Maharaja Partap Singh and His
Brother Raja Amar Singh and their courtiers paying their respects to
the Mahant of the Yatra at Chandanwari
Photograph
taken by Dewan Alim Chand in 1898 showing Maharaja Partap Singh being
carried in a Royal Dandi / palanquin up the treacherous Pissu Gati
towrads its top.
PISSU TOP
Pissu Top is slightly ahead of Chandanbadi. The importance of this place is related to Amarnath's philosophy. According to this, for Darshan of Amarnath, there was a huge fight between the Gods and demons. At that time with the help of Lord Shiva, the gods i.e. Devas defeated the demons. A mountain was formed w
PISSU TOP
Pissu Top is slightly ahead of Chandanbadi. The importance of this place is related to Amarnath's philosophy. According to this, for Darshan of Amarnath, there was a huge fight between the Gods and demons. At that time with the help of Lord Shiva, the gods i.e. Devas defeated the demons. A mountain was formed w
ith the dead bodies of the demons. Since then this place is known as
Pissu Top.
Photograph
taken by Dewan Alim Chand in 1898 showing Sheshnag Stream at Zojibal
with Koh-i-Nur Mountains (17000 ft ASL) in the background
Photograph taken by R.C.Mehta in 1945 showing a panoramic view of Sheshnag Lake.
SHESHNAG LAKE
The next destination after the Pissu top is Sheshnag. Lord Shiva had dropped the snake from his neck here. There is a lake of blue water, which proves that this is the place of Sheshnag. It is 12 kms away from Chandanwadi. Devotees take a customary holy dip in the ice cold water of the lake before proceeding towards the holy cave.
Photograph taken by Dewan Alim Chan in 1898 showing a group of Sadhus at Sheshnag Camp
Photograph taken by Dewan Alim Chan in 1898 showing a group of Sadhus at Sheshnag Camp.
CAMP at Sheshnag showing Yatris taking the ritual bath in the ice cold water of the lake in 1955
Photograph
taken by Dewan Alim Chand in 1898 showing Yatris ascending Nagpal near
Panchtarani Ghat known as Bairagi Ghat or Barou Bal on way to Amarnath
cave
Photograph taken in 1952 showing the Yatra Camp at Mahagunas Pass
MAHAGUNAS TOP
This place is about 4 to 5 kilometers from Sheshnag. It is at an altitude of 14,000 feet. It is believed that Lord Shiva had left his beloved son Ganesha here. There are many waterfalls and beautiful scenes at this place.
MAHAGUNAS TOP
This place is about 4 to 5 kilometers from Sheshnag. It is at an altitude of 14,000 feet. It is believed that Lord Shiva had left his beloved son Ganesha here. There are many waterfalls and beautiful scenes at this place.
Photograph taken in 1898 by Dewan Alim Chand showing a panoramic view of the Panchtarni Peaks & Glacier.
PANCHATRANI
It is 6 kms from Mahagunas Mountain. It is at a height of 12,500 feet. It is believed that Lord Shiva sacrificed the five Panchabhutas here, that is, earth, water, air, space and fire. There is a confluence of five rivers here. It is believed that the five rivers flowing here which emerges out from the tangles of Lord Shiva hair.
PANCHATRANI
It is 6 kms from Mahagunas Mountain. It is at a height of 12,500 feet. It is believed that Lord Shiva sacrificed the five Panchabhutas here, that is, earth, water, air, space and fire. There is a confluence of five rivers here. It is believed that the five rivers flowing here which emerges out from the tangles of Lord Shiva hair.
Photograph taken in 1898 by Dewan Alim Chand showing the Yatra Camp at Panchtarni
Photograph taken in 1952 showing yatris in Dandis crossing a bridge over a rivulet at Panchtarni for onward journey
Photograph taken by R R Stewart in 1915 showing the Yatra Camp at Panchtarni
Photograph showing the Holy Mace (CHADDI MUBARAK) at Panchtarni in 1952
Photograph taken by R.C.Mehta in 1945 showing the sacred shivaling inside the cave
Along with Shivalinga in Amarnath cave, two more ice lingams are formed, each one representing Goddess Parvati and Lord Ganesha. Every year the devotees visit Amarnath for the entire month of Sawan from Aashadh Purnima till Raksha Bandhan. According to the legends, Lord Shiva himself visits in the Amarnath cave on the full moon day of Raksha Bandhan.
Along with Shivalinga in Amarnath cave, two more ice lingams are formed, each one representing Goddess Parvati and Lord Ganesha. Every year the devotees visit Amarnath for the entire month of Sawan from Aashadh Purnima till Raksha Bandhan. According to the legends, Lord Shiva himself visits in the Amarnath cave on the full moon day of Raksha Bandhan.
Photograph showing devotees inside the cave having darshan in 1951
Photograph taken by Georges Bourdelon & Bernard Daillencourt in 1955 stating
"The Amarnath cave is surrounded by streams of ice which, in summer, partially melt; they then affect strange forms which evoke for the pilgrims the lingam of the god Shiva, the womb of the goddess Parvati, and the lingam of the son of Shiva and Parvati, namely Ganesh, the baby elephant. The lingam of Shiva, & the full Au... See more
"The Amarnath cave is surrounded by streams of ice which, in summer, partially melt; they then affect strange forms which evoke for the pilgrims the lingam of the god Shiva, the womb of the goddess Parvati, and the lingam of the son of Shiva and Parvati, namely Ganesh, the baby elephant. The lingam of Shiva, & the full Au... See more
Photograph taken by Georges Bourdelon & Bernard Daillencourt in 1955 stating
"The Amarnath cave is surrounded by streams of ice which, in summer, partially melt; they then affect strange forms which evoke for the pilgrims the lingam of the god Shiva, the womb of the goddess Parvati, and the lingam of the son of Shiva and Parvati, namely Ganesh, the baby elephant. The lingam of Shiva, & the full August moon, measures about three meters high. The monks decorate it with flowers. The pilgrims throw at his foot quantity of offerings, especially fabrics and clothes because the tradition wants that One presents itself naked before the Almighty. A third of the offerings thus collected are attributed to the Muslims of Batkot in memory of the ancestor shepherd who, having discovered the cave, had shown it to the Hindus. These resources allow them to assume the maintenance of the path. A small contingent of police monitors the pilgrimage. He opposes the spectacular suicides of the faithful who, desiring to anticipate death in a sacred place, would throw themselves - like those of former times - into the abysses close to Amarnath cave. The cave, whose volume is about one hundred and fifty cubic meters, shelters a pair of pigeons."
"The Amarnath cave is surrounded by streams of ice which, in summer, partially melt; they then affect strange forms which evoke for the pilgrims the lingam of the god Shiva, the womb of the goddess Parvati, and the lingam of the son of Shiva and Parvati, namely Ganesh, the baby elephant. The lingam of Shiva, & the full August moon, measures about three meters high. The monks decorate it with flowers. The pilgrims throw at his foot quantity of offerings, especially fabrics and clothes because the tradition wants that One presents itself naked before the Almighty. A third of the offerings thus collected are attributed to the Muslims of Batkot in memory of the ancestor shepherd who, having discovered the cave, had shown it to the Hindus. These resources allow them to assume the maintenance of the path. A small contingent of police monitors the pilgrimage. He opposes the spectacular suicides of the faithful who, desiring to anticipate death in a sacred place, would throw themselves - like those of former times - into the abysses close to Amarnath cave. The cave, whose volume is about one hundred and fifty cubic meters, shelters a pair of pigeons."
Photograph
taken in 1908 showing the Yatra Camp at Baltal. This year Maharaja
Partap Singh went for the yatra through the Baltal Route.
View
of The Pilgrim Camp of Maharaja Partap Singh at the 'Base of Panjtarni.
The five pointed peak of Panjtarni a dazzling citadel of Snow facated
jewel can be seen. "Beside it another Double Pointed peak of almost
equal Grandeur and Beauty can also be seen in the photograph taken by
V.C.Scott O'Conner in 1908.
Photograph
of Maharaja Partap Singh praying as a pilgrim at the Sangam
(Confluence) of Amravati & Panjtarni streams taken by V C Scott
O'Conner in 1908. This year Maharaja Partap Singh took the Baltal Route
for the annual pilgrimage.
A Kashmiri Pandit lady serving food to Kashmiri Muslim Porters at the Yatra Camp Pahalgam in 1955
Photograph taken by R.R.Stewart in 1915 showing the Yatra Camp Pahalgam
Photograph taken by R.R.Stewart in 1915 showing the Holy Mace (CHADDI MUBARAK) at Pahalgam
R.R.Stewart photographing Sadhus at Pahalgam Yatra Camp in 1915
Photograph
taken by R R Stewart in 1915 showing Yatra Doctor namely Dr. Sadiq who
was appointed by the Maharaja flanked by a Sadhu and a team memer of R R
Stewart namely Mr. Roger Dick
Photograph
taken in 1955 showing Kashmir porters carrying a hindu lady pilgrim in
a dandi during annual yatra just outside Pahalgam
Photograph
taken by Dewan Alim Chand in1898 showing Maharaja Partap Singh (middle)
flanked by Raja Amar Singh (right) and the Mahant of the Yatra at
Chandanwari Camp.
CHANDANWADI
It is 16 kms away from Pahalgam. According to beliefs, Lord Shiva did a very unique thing here. This place is also known as Chandramoli because Lord Shiva sacrificed the moon from his head here. The moon then waited for the Lord Shiva to return here. That is why the name of this place became Chandanwadi.
CHANDANWADI
It is 16 kms away from Pahalgam. According to beliefs, Lord Shiva did a very unique thing here. This place is also known as Chandramoli because Lord Shiva sacrificed the moon from his head here. The moon then waited for the Lord Shiva to return here. That is why the name of this place became Chandanwadi.
Photograph
taken by Dewan Alim Chand in 1898 showing Maharaja Partap Singh and His
Brother Raja Amar Singh and their courtiers paying their respects to
the Mahant of the Yatra at Chandanwari
Photograph taken in 1915 by R R Stewart showing the Holy Mace (CHADDI MUBARAK ) outside the head Mahants tent at Chandanwari
Photograph taken by Dewan Alim Chand in 1898 showing the Royal Pilgrims being carried in Palanquins towards Pissu Top.
Photograph
taken by Dewan Alim Chand in 1898 showing Maharaja Partap Singh and His
Brother Raja Amar Singh and their courtiers paying their respects to
the Mahant of the Yatra at Chandanwari
SHESHNAG LAKE
The next destination after the Pissu top is Sheshnag. Lord Shiva had dropped the snake from his neck here. There is a lake of blue water, which proves that this is the place of Sheshnag. It is 12 kms away from Chandanwadi. Devotees take a customary holy dip in the ice cold water of the lake before proceeding towards the holy cave.
Photograph taken by Dewan Alim Chan in 1898 showing a group of Sadhus at Sheshnag Camp.Photograph taken by Dewan Alim Chan in 1898 showing a group of Sadhus at Sheshnag Camp.
CAMP at Sheshnag showing Yatris taking the ritual bath in the ice cold water of the lake in 1955
Photograph
taken by Dewan Alim Chand in 1898 showing Yatris ascending Nagpal near
Panchtarani Ghat known as Bairagi Ghat or Barou Bal on way to Amarnath
cave
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