The legend and significance of the Amarnath Yatra

Subject: Geography

Section :Mapping

Context:

After a hiatus of two long years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Amarnath Yatra in South Kashmir will begin from 30 June.

What is the legend behind Amarnath yatra?

The annual yatra to the shrine of Lord Shiva in the Himalayas is among the most revered Hindu pilgrimages as hundreds of devotees take up the arduous journey each year.
According to legend, the Amarnath cave was chosen by Lord Shiva when he decided to tell his consort Parvati the secret of his immortality (Amar Katha).
Located at the altitude of 3,888 metres above the sea level, the cave is only accessible by foot or on a pony through a steep path in Sonmarg in Kashmir.
To reach the shrine, pilgrims have to travel 46 km from Pahalgam or 16 km from Baltal.
As per the lore, a Muslim shepherd named Buta Malik had accidently discovered the cave in 1850. It is said that Malik was herding his animals high up in the mountains, when a Sufi saint gave him a bagful of coal.
Back home, when Malik opened the bag he found it to be full of gold. The ecstatic shepherd returned to the spot to thank the saint, but he could not find anyone. He instead found the ice lingam in the cave.
The ice lingam represents Lord Shiva and is formed by a trickle of water from a cleft in the roof of the cave.
The Shivling reaches its full shape in May every year, before beginning to melt again. By August, it is only a few feet in height.
Two smaller ice shapes near the Shivling represent Parvati and Lord Ganesh.

Security threats and natural calamities

The geographic location of the Amarnath cave shrine in South Kashmir makes it vulnerable to terror attacks.
Apart from terror attacks, natural tragedies have also claimed the lives of pilgrims.