Amarnath Yatra – Unique Example of Religious Interdepen​dence & Confluence

Amarnath Holy Shrine, one of the highly religious & pious pilgrimage points for Hindu Devotees. This is the place where Lord Shiva has narrated Bhagwad Gita or the secrets of Immortality and creation of Universe to Mata Parvati, Lord Shiva’s Wife. Story goes like this Mata Parvati insisted that she may be told secret of being immortal. For long Lord Shiva continued postponing. Finally on persistent demand from Mata Parvati, he made up his mind to tell the immortal secret .He started for lonely place where no living being could listen to it . He chose Amarnath Cave . In preparation to that He left Nandi (The Bull which He used to ride ) at Pahalgam (Bail gaon) .At Chandanwari He released Moon from his hairs (Jataon). At the banks of Lake Sheshnag, He released his snake. At Panjtarni, Lord Shiva left the Five Elements behind (Earth , Water, Air , Fire and Sky) which makes the living being . Subsequently Lord Shiva entered the Holy Amarnath Cave along with Mata Parvati. While narrating the story Lord Shiva takes his Samadhi on the Deer Skin but one egg which was lying beneath the Deer skin remained protected. Rest of the area around his Asan is burnt by Lord Shiva through fire to ensure there is no living being present their in the cave. It is believed to be non living and more over it was protected by Shiva -Parvati Asan (Bed). The pair of pigeons which were born out of this egg became immortal having listened the secret of immortality (Amar Katha) & can still be seen at Amarnath ji.

Amarnath is in the land of Kashmir (in the state of J&K) which is an integral part of India. India is a secular state with maximum inter religious violence and Kashmir is one of the places which has witnessed this more often than any other state since independence. Kashmir is active with all political parties and fundamental groups seeking autonomy and religious independence. There lies Amarnath 75 Kms + 16 Km of trek from Srinagar ( capital of J&K) where every year Lord Shiva abode (Shivling) is formed with Ice and Snow. There are 2 ways to reach Amarnath through Palagham – a trek of 26 Kms or through Baltal a rough hilly steep, slopy terrain of 16 km.

99% of the devotees visiting Amarnath Shrine are Hindus. The journey can be covered in four modes, on foot, on horse, on a Palaki (a steel chair tied in bamboo carried by 4 people on their shoulders) and through helicopter. Helicopter booking is not easily available and has to be followed by minimum of 6 Km of steep trek. Thus most pilgrims use first 3 modes to finish their Yatra to Amarnath. As mentioned in earlier part, that Lord Shiva chose a place where no living being can reach forget a human, one can imagine how arduous the journey to reach Holy cave is. It needs mental strength apart from physical fitness and most important support of Muslim brethren. There Kashmiri Muslim men, act as Pittos to carry luggage and children of pilgrim who prefer walking. Devotees who go on horses, donkeys and Kacchars, get these owners (Ghodawala) walk all the way up and come back down at the speed of the horse. Palakiwalas have the toughest job of walking in 3 feet broad muddy and rocky road along with horses and foot Yatris coordinating with three other colleagues of theirs maintaining the same speed ensuring same walking rhythm carrying 70 Kg to 130 Kg individuals on their shoulders. The path or the road is so narrow that one wrong step and one would meet death instantly. Thus dependence becomes all the more high on the Yatris facilitators.

Due to environmental issues and High Court order, there are no permanent structures near or on the way to Amarnath and thus these Kashmiri muslim people sell all essentials including water, juice, biscuits, tents on rent, bedding and linen on rent etc.
Amarnath Yatra is generally open for a period of 1.5 months to 2 months starting from June end of Mid August. Every year approx 5 lacs pilgrims visit the Holy Cave of Amarnath and each of these 5 lac Yatris in one way or the other take help, support or depend on those Kashmiri Muslim brethren to enable them in completing their Yatra Peacefully and with convenience. These Kashmiris do these jobs for their livelihood with no hang ups of going to Hindu’s Pilgrimage place. Infact most of them have equal or higher regard for the Shiva’s Shrine and listen keenly on the story behind the same.
In all our sacred books we have given importance to Karta (doer) as well as to the medium (enabler), which in this case is our Kashmir brethren without whose help, the Yatra would never have been complete.