SARE JAHAN SE ACCHA HINDUSTAN HAMARA......
FROM KASHMIR TO KANYAKUMARI VIA KERALA
While annual pilgrimage to Amarnath takes place from June till Raksha Bandhan, the pilgrimage to Ma Vaishnodevi in Katra, Jammu can be undertaken during any part of the year. These are famous pilgrimage sites in J&K....besides the lovely and much sought after Srinagar....which is now of less importance due to political strikes and clashes...no one could compete the charm of this place.
During my visit to Amarnath via Srinagar in June 2014, I had the great opportunity to visit Shivkhori
Kindling my interest in less known pilgrim sites, my driver Syed Basha suggested me to go here..
Shivkhori(शिव खोड़ी) is a famous ancient cave shrine of Hindus devoted to lord Shiva, situated in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir state in India.
Siad Baba. Shiv Khori is one of them located in Ransoo a village in the Pouni block in Reasi district, which attracts lakhs of devotees annually. Shiv Khori is situated in between the hillocks about 140 km north of Jammu, 120 km from Udhampur and 80 km from Katra. Buses and light vehicles go up to Ransoo, the base camp of pilgrimage. People have to traverse about 3 km on foot on a track recently constructed by the Shiv Khori Shrine Board,
Khori means cave (Guffa) and Shiv Khori thus denotes Shiva's cave. This natural cave is about 200 metres long, one metre wide and two to three metres high and contains a self made lingam, which according to the people is unmeasurable..as most of the part is immersed beneath the ground. The first entrance of the cave is so wide that 300 devotees can be accommodated at a time. Its cavern is spacious to accommodate large number of people. The inner chamber of the cave is smaller.
The passage from outer to the inner chamber is low and small, at one spot it divides itself into two parts. One of these is believed to have led to Kashmir where Swami Amarnath cave is located. It is now closed. The passage on foot is through dense forest ,with deep ravine,,,lot of curbs...enclosed by tall mountains, pure air, flowing rivulets in the valley beneath...roaring noise of water falls...which falls from 500 ft above.....a scenic beauty unique to this trekking.
As we trek with the help of the local guide , upto the hill top, who helps us with narratives and local stories..it is very interesting and rejuvenating too. This rivulets emanate from the Divine feet of Lord Siva...and thus form a big river before entering the Patala....As this river flows through large rocks, it is quite exciting and mesmerising....
It is said that Padmasuran performed great penance here and obtained the boon, that if touches the head of anyone, they would be reduced to ashes and after granting the boon, Lord Siva was subjected to testing this boon, on himself by the demon Padmasuran.....so the legend...which I will reproduce as said to me by the guide who accompanied me.
" Padmasuran sat here and performed the penance..just like any asura, he doubted the bonafide of the boon Shiva granted to him, and so he tried to test the efficacy of the boon on Lord Shiva himself. It is said that Lord Shiva went into hiding. Then Lord Vishnu came to his rescue and appeared as Mohini and danced with Padmasuran ; he performed a Mudra..dance posture through which the asura had to touch his own head and got reduced to ashes. Then Lord Vishnu, called Shiva..showing the Kada...the bangle worn by the Asura , Shiva refused to come out, thinking the asura may be playing a trick on him. Then Lord Vishnu assumed His Viswaroopam only then Shiva came out of the hiding place. "
Entering inside the cave, you have to bend and walk for a long distance and in some places you will have place only to slide your body through. (similar experience I had in Bashita Asram in Assam)This experience also drives in certain amount of fear and the guide requests you to recite Om Namasivayah all the time....gasping for breath...you feel exhausted,..as if you will die..but just a fear of exhaustion and unknown....As you reach the end of the tunnel, you feel as if you have reached the Heaven....Lot of mountain bats fly here and there in group...
In the centre you find 50ft square stage...A tall lingam, as if protected by a snake holding its hood above it...They say it is Swayambu, originated on its own....You also find Ganeshji, Ram, Sita Lakshman statues there. From the rocks, water drips , as if it is Lord Shivas Jatamudi...During Shivratri, pilgrims, come to here watch this, despite bitter cold and unfriendly weather.
While you climb up, you have the fear, anxiety, curiosity shrouding your feelings. But while returning, you feel excited, a peaceful atmabodham....as if you discovered your Inner self.
It was painful to part with this hilarious divine experience.
Om Namah Shivayah
For a live show you may visit the follwoing link in You tube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPqbAPRoHAs
FROM KASHMIR TO KANYAKUMARI VIA KERALA
While annual pilgrimage to Amarnath takes place from June till Raksha Bandhan, the pilgrimage to Ma Vaishnodevi in Katra, Jammu can be undertaken during any part of the year. These are famous pilgrimage sites in J&K....besides the lovely and much sought after Srinagar....which is now of less importance due to political strikes and clashes...no one could compete the charm of this place.
During my visit to Amarnath via Srinagar in June 2014, I had the great opportunity to visit Shivkhori
Kindling my interest in less known pilgrim sites, my driver Syed Basha suggested me to go here..
Shivkhori(शिव खोड़ी) is a famous ancient cave shrine of Hindus devoted to lord Shiva, situated in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir state in India.
Siad Baba. Shiv Khori is one of them located in Ransoo a village in the Pouni block in Reasi district, which attracts lakhs of devotees annually. Shiv Khori is situated in between the hillocks about 140 km north of Jammu, 120 km from Udhampur and 80 km from Katra. Buses and light vehicles go up to Ransoo, the base camp of pilgrimage. People have to traverse about 3 km on foot on a track recently constructed by the Shiv Khori Shrine Board,
Khori means cave (Guffa) and Shiv Khori thus denotes Shiva's cave. This natural cave is about 200 metres long, one metre wide and two to three metres high and contains a self made lingam, which according to the people is unmeasurable..as most of the part is immersed beneath the ground. The first entrance of the cave is so wide that 300 devotees can be accommodated at a time. Its cavern is spacious to accommodate large number of people. The inner chamber of the cave is smaller.
The passage from outer to the inner chamber is low and small, at one spot it divides itself into two parts. One of these is believed to have led to Kashmir where Swami Amarnath cave is located. It is now closed. The passage on foot is through dense forest ,with deep ravine,,,lot of curbs...enclosed by tall mountains, pure air, flowing rivulets in the valley beneath...roaring noise of water falls...which falls from 500 ft above.....a scenic beauty unique to this trekking.
As we trek with the help of the local guide , upto the hill top, who helps us with narratives and local stories..it is very interesting and rejuvenating too. This rivulets emanate from the Divine feet of Lord Siva...and thus form a big river before entering the Patala....As this river flows through large rocks, it is quite exciting and mesmerising....
It is said that Padmasuran performed great penance here and obtained the boon, that if touches the head of anyone, they would be reduced to ashes and after granting the boon, Lord Siva was subjected to testing this boon, on himself by the demon Padmasuran.....so the legend...which I will reproduce as said to me by the guide who accompanied me.
" Padmasuran sat here and performed the penance..just like any asura, he doubted the bonafide of the boon Shiva granted to him, and so he tried to test the efficacy of the boon on Lord Shiva himself. It is said that Lord Shiva went into hiding. Then Lord Vishnu came to his rescue and appeared as Mohini and danced with Padmasuran ; he performed a Mudra..dance posture through which the asura had to touch his own head and got reduced to ashes. Then Lord Vishnu, called Shiva..showing the Kada...the bangle worn by the Asura , Shiva refused to come out, thinking the asura may be playing a trick on him. Then Lord Vishnu assumed His Viswaroopam only then Shiva came out of the hiding place. "
Entering inside the cave, you have to bend and walk for a long distance and in some places you will have place only to slide your body through. (similar experience I had in Bashita Asram in Assam)This experience also drives in certain amount of fear and the guide requests you to recite Om Namasivayah all the time....gasping for breath...you feel exhausted,..as if you will die..but just a fear of exhaustion and unknown....As you reach the end of the tunnel, you feel as if you have reached the Heaven....Lot of mountain bats fly here and there in group...
In the centre you find 50ft square stage...A tall lingam, as if protected by a snake holding its hood above it...They say it is Swayambu, originated on its own....You also find Ganeshji, Ram, Sita Lakshman statues there. From the rocks, water drips , as if it is Lord Shivas Jatamudi...During Shivratri, pilgrims, come to here watch this, despite bitter cold and unfriendly weather.
While you climb up, you have the fear, anxiety, curiosity shrouding your feelings. But while returning, you feel excited, a peaceful atmabodham....as if you discovered your Inner self.
It was painful to part with this hilarious divine experience.
Om Namah Shivayah
For a live show you may visit the follwoing link in You tube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPqbAPRoHAs
