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Kashmir - An Ancient Shaivaite Centre
According to the legend, Shiva made the Gods immortal by providing them
with the celestial nectar, and resided here upon their request. This boon
of immortality lent the name Amarnath.
Kashmir was a great Shaivite center in the 1st millennium CE. Kashmiri
Shaivism is referred to as "Trika Mata" and it dates back to the
8th century CE. The three components of Kashmiri Shaiva literature are "Agama
Shastra", "Spanda Shastra" and the "Pratyabhijna
Shastra". "Kalhana", a contemporary of King Jayasimha of
Kashmir of the 12th century describes Kashmir as Parvati incarnate. Legend
has it that there was once a lake by name Sati-Saras named after Shiva's
consort Sati. Sage Kashyapa, the grandson of Bhrama, destroyed the demons
residing over here. It is believed that Kashyapa then converted this lake
into "Kashmira Mandala".
Tales Of the Cave Discovery
Legend has it that Lord Shiva recounted to Goddess Parvati the secret of
creation in a cave in Amarnath. Unknown to them a pair of mating doves
eavesdropped on this conversation and having learned the secret, are
reborn again and again, and have made the cave their eternal abode. Many
pilgrims report seeing the doves pair when they trek the arduous route to
pay obeisance before the ice-lingam.
According
to an ancient tale, there was once a Muslim Shepherd named Buta Malik who
was given a sack of coal by a Sadhu (saint). Upon reaching home he
discovered that the sack, in fact, contained Gold. Overjoyed and overcome,
Buta Malik rushed back to look for Sadhu and thank him. But on the spot of
their meeting discovered a cave, and eventually this became a place of
pilgrimage for all believers. To date, a percentage of the donations made
by pilgrims are given to the descendents of Malik, and the remaining to
trust which manages the shrine.
Yet, another legend has it that when Kashyap Rishi drained the Kashmir
valley of water the cave and lingam were discovered by Bregeish Rishi who
was travelling the Himalayas. When people heard of lingam Amarnath for
them it became Shiva's abode and a centre of pilgrimage.
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