The chest of the Himalayas covered with snow. There is a miraculous cave. Every year at the end of Asadha, hordes of devotees throng here. Amarnath Yatra of 2026 is going to start as usual. This journey will start from July 3 and continue till August 28. Lakhs of devotees will participate in this pilgrimage of 57 days. Why do people run across this difficult path to the Amarnath cave? What is his greatness?
Deep in the eternal silence of the Himalayas lies a mythic narrative. According to Hindu belief, the ultimate secret of creation and immortality is hidden in this Amarnath cave. It was here that Devadidev told Mother Parvati the secret of immortality, known as ‘Amarakatha’.
Why did Shiva choose this secluded cave?
It is said, Goddess Parvati once asked Mahadev, why is he immortal? But the goddess has to die again and again? On Parvati’s repeated request, Shiva agreed to tell her the secret of immortality or ‘Amarakatha’. But Mahadev did not want anyone else in the universe to hear this supreme secret knowledge. So he set out in search of a secluded place. Shiva renounces all his ornaments and companions one by one to maintain secrecy. At Pahalgam he left his vehicle Nandi. Chandra is kept from the head in Chandanbari. At last he freed the serpent in his throat. He left Panchabhuta in Panchatarani. He even left his son Ganesha on the Mahaganesh hill. Finally he entered this secluded cave with Parvati.
Immortality of pigeon couple
Entering the cave, Shiva kindled all the fires around, so that no living creature remained there. He then started narrating immortality to Parvati. Goddess Parvati once fell asleep listening to the words. But Shiva did not notice it.
At that time a couple of pigeons somehow remained inside the cave. Instead of Goddess Parvati, the two pigeons started humming the story of immortality from Shiva’s mouth. Shiva thinks it is Parvati who is responding.
When the story ends, Shiva’s gaze goes to the sleeping Parvati. He realizes that someone else has known this absolute truth without his knowledge. When Shiva became angry, the two pigeons took refuge in him. Mahadev then gave them refuge.
Mythologically, the pigeon couple is immortal even today after getting married to Shiva. Many pilgrims still see the pair of pigeons inside the cave.
A miraculous Shivlinga of ice is formed by the natural accumulation of water in this cave. The size of this linga also changes with the waxing and waning of the moon. Every year people rush to Amarnath after crossing all obstacles due to the pull of this original and eternal faith.
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