Amarnath Yatra in jeopardy - Shiva Lingam melts

Bhaswaran · Jul 2nd, 2007, 15:36

Authorities on Monday suspended the Amaranth yatra, which had commenced on Sunday, due to rains and slippery tracks on traditional Pahalgam and shorter Baltal routes.

The two-month-long pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas was suspended temporarily as heavy rains on Monday morning rendered 46-km Pahalgam-cave and 14-km Baltal-cave routes slippery and dangerous, a spokesman of Shree Amarnathji shrine board said.

He said no pilgrim was allowed from either side to the cave on Monday as a precautionary measure.

It has been raining heavily enroute the cave shrine with extreme cold weather prevailing in the region, he said.

The two-month pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath commenced on Sunday with nearly 13,000 devotees leaving for the 3,880 metre high cave shrine from the twin routes amid tight security arrangements.

Originally scheduled to commence on June 30, the yatra started from the twin routes of Pahalgam and Baltal in the wee hours following improvement in the weather on Sunday.

Shiva lingam, symbol of lord Shiva, has completely melted, officials of the board said.

the link: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/A...ow/2166537.cms

deepsea · Jul 2nd, 2007, 15:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bhaswaran

Shiva lingam, symbol of lord Shiva, has completely melted, officials of the board said.

I guess that is why there was the panic over the alleged tampering of lingam. Very sad...

But I hear the ones for Parvathi and Ganesha are still there?

Bhaswaran · Jul 2nd, 2007, 16:26

The melting of the lingam is said to be due to rise in temperature, which is almost everywhere now (Global warming??). I think the pilgrims who visit Amarnath or are likely to visit should take notice of this and protect plants, or should sow plants some in their backyards....Lord Shiva will be happier.

Sadanand Kamath · Jul 2nd, 2007, 17:59

Apart from global warming, the height and width of ice lingam is also affected by a record number of pilgrims visiting the caves every day since last couple of years. Imagine the heat generated by the continous streams of pilgrims visiting the cave.

Few years back, a vast majority of pilgrims would visit the holy cave around full moon days of Ashadha and Shravan which were regarded as auspicious days for Darshan of ice lingam. That also gave enough time for the ice lingam to recoup on the days when the pilgrim traffic will be very low.

Sadanand

Sadanand Kamath · Jul 3rd, 2007, 22:18

One of the TV News Channels just reported that there were many people who made unauthorised visit to Amarnath cave during April-May 2007. In fact I saw on the Channel showing people touching ice-lingam, putting flower petals on ice-lingam, lighting sticks. Some were even seen embracing the ice-lingam!
If it is reportedly going on for two months, how can any one expect ice-lingam to remain intact?

Sadanand

Jul 2nd, 2007, 15:36	#1
Bhaswaran Landscape Photographer Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Kolkata. INDIA bhaswaran@redifmail.com Posts: 954	Amarnath Yatra in jeopardy - Shiva Lingam melts Authorities on Monday suspended the Amaranth yatra, which had commenced on Sunday, due to rains and slippery tracks on traditional Pahalgam and shorter Baltal routes. The two-month-long pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas was suspended temporarily as heavy rains on Monday morning rendered 46-km Pahalgam-cave and 14-km Baltal-cave routes slippery and dangerous, a spokesman of Shree Amarnathji shrine board said. He said no pilgrim was allowed from either side to the cave on Monday as a precautionary measure. It has been raining heavily enroute the cave shrine with extreme cold weather prevailing in the region, he said. The two-month pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath commenced on Sunday with nearly 13,000 devotees leaving for the 3,880 metre high cave shrine from the twin routes amid tight security arrangements. Originally scheduled to commence on June 30, the yatra started from the twin routes of Pahalgam and Baltal in the wee hours following improvement in the weather on Sunday. Shiva lingam, symbol of lord Shiva, has completely melted, officials of the board said. the link: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/A...ow/2166537.cms

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Jul 2nd, 2007, 16:26	#3
Bhaswaran Landscape Photographer Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Kolkata. INDIA bhaswaran@redifmail.com Posts: 954	The melting of the lingam is said to be due to rise in temperature, which is almost everywhere now (Global warming??). I think the pilgrims who visit Amarnath or are likely to visit should take notice of this and protect plants, or should sow plants some in their backyards....Lord Shiva will be happier.

Jul 2nd, 2007, 17:59	#4
Sadanand Kamath Maha Guru Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 822	Apart from global warming, the height and width of ice lingam is also affected by a record number of pilgrims visiting the caves every day since last couple of years. Imagine the heat generated by the continous streams of pilgrims visiting the cave. Few years back, a vast majority of pilgrims would visit the holy cave around full moon days of Ashadha and Shravan which were regarded as auspicious days for Darshan of ice lingam. That also gave enough time for the ice lingam to recoup on the days when the pilgrim traffic will be very low. Sadanand

Jul 3rd, 2007, 22:18	#5
Sadanand Kamath Maha Guru Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 822	One of the TV News Channels just reported that there were many people who made unauthorised visit to Amarnath cave during April-May 2007. In fact I saw on the Channel showing people touching ice-lingam, putting flower petals on ice-lingam, lighting sticks. Some were even seen embracing the ice-lingam! If it is reportedly going on for two months, how can any one expect ice-lingam to remain intact? Sadanand

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