A multitude of worshippers will be observed at the cave of Barfani Baba starting today during the Amarnath Yatra 2024. The pilgrimage has commenced today, on the 29th of June 2024, Saturday, and will culminate on Rakshabandhan. In Amarnath, a significant Hindu religious site, devotees must traverse a challenging path to catch a glimpse of Bholenath as this journey is renowned for its difficulty. Pandit Hitendra Kumar Sharma, an astrologer and Vastu consultant from Bhopal, is elaborating on the significance and narrative of this sacred location.
Story of Amarnath cave:
According to the popular legend, it is said that Lord Shiva resides in the Amarnath cave. The story goes that when Mother Parvati expressed her curiosity about the secret behind Lord Shiva’s immortality, Bholanath informed her that she must listen to an immortal tale to find out. In search of a secluded spot where no one else could overhear the story, Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati eventually arrived at the Amarnath cave.
On their way to the cave, Lord Shiva left his Nandi in Pahalgam, then released the moon from his matted hair in Chandanwadi, followed by freeing the snake from his neck at the shores of a lake called Sheshnag. He then left his son Ganesh on the Mahagunas mountain, and abandoned the five elements – earth, water, air, fire, and sky – at a place known as Panchtarni.
Having left everything behind, Lord Shiva entered the Amarnath cave with Mata Parvati and entered a state of deep meditation. To ensure that only Mata Parvati could hear the Amar Katha, Lord Shiva created Kalagni to destroy any living beings in the vicinity by spreading fire.
Lord Shiva then began revealing the secret of immortality to Mother Parvati. Unexpectedly, a pair of pigeons happened to be nearby and overheard the secret. As a result, the pigeons were granted immortality. Many pilgrims still claim to have witnessed this pair of pigeons, despite the harsh cold and high altitude of the area.
Importance of Amarnath Yatra
The Amarnath cave, a Hindu religious pilgrimage site, is situated in the Himalayan mountain ranges. In ancient times, this cave was known as ‘Amreshwar’ and it is here that a Shivling is formed from ice, earning it the name ‘Baba Barfani’. It is believed that devotees who see the Shivling in this holy cave with a pure heart will attain salvation.
According to the Puranas, visiting Baba Amarnath yields 10 times more virtue than visiting the Linga and worshipping in Kashi, 100 times more than Prayag, and 1000 times more virtue than Naimisharanya Tirtha. It is also believed that there is Shri Ram Kund on the mountain above the Amarnath cave, and the Parvati Shaktipeeth located in the cave is one of the 51 Shaktipeeths.