Guest guest Posted July 31, 2008 Report Share Posted July 31, 2008 Om Namah Sivaya Darsan of Holy Siva Lingam What do you think a pilgrimage is? Pilgrims are one thing: everyone knows about the ancestors of so many Americans, the Pilgrim Fathers and Mothers who came from Europe on the Mayflower and other ships. But a pilgrimage is a journey, made to a place which is special for some reason. It may be to some place where there was a great event in your own life, or which reminds you of some great emotion you felt there. Or it may be to a holy place, a sacred place, as in our story today. In most of the countries of the world there are special spots which have been "colored", so to say, with an air of the holy and sublime. Such places often get to be that way due to the presence of a saint, living in or near it. Or, from one who lived there before. It is also "built up" by the repeated visits of sages, saints and worshipers, over many years. Some persons can feel that atmosphere even miles before they arrive at the place.One of our Swamis tells this story of his pilgrimage to such a spot in the Himalayas of India, famous for its holiness; famous, too, because it is so difficult to reach. The place is called Amarnath, literally Chief of the Gods, i.e., Siva. But let us begin his story.About 180 years ago a Muslim shepherd discovered the large cave in the side of this mountain and told local Hindus about it. Thousands of pilgrims, have visited it, in groups or alone, ever since. The mountain we were climbing is 18,000 feet high. We left our horses below and went on foot over a path of worn-out stones, till we came to a swift river called Amaravati which is always covered with snow. There we put on hobnail boots and with staff in hand crossed carefully over a snow bridge. At last we arrived at the famous mountain cave of Amarnath, at a height of 13,000 feet. Some birds and pigeons were flying around and out of the cave when we entered there. Inside the cave, water dripping from the cave roof has formed pillars of ice here and there. One of them is larger than all the rest. It changes in size from season to season, but when we saw it, it was about ten feet in circumference and about five feet tall. Huge!Regarded as the God Siva this pillar is worshipped by Hindu and other pilgrims. They gather wild flowers from the nearby slopes and lay them and other offerings at the foot of the ice Siva. In this way a feature nature-born has been made into a "shrine," a form of the Formless, Eternal and Infinite God.Like other pilgrims we took a bath in the freezing-cold river (can you imagine it?!) before approaching the Lord to do his worship. First we walked clockwise all around the pillar by way of honoring Him. Each of us offered whatever we had brought at the foot of the ice image. There were guides, priests among the mountain people, who recited hymns and prayers in the cave. Afterward we made our way back down the mountain trail. (If you have climbed any mountains, you probably remember that to go down is often more troublesome and tiring than to climb up; one has to step so carefully.) At our base camp the guides had hot water ready on a stove for us and we had a welcome bath. A simple meal of rice and curry, and then we could rest our weary bones. That night the chief guide read to us from a holy book called Amara Purana which tells of the wonderful features of God Siva, hermit of the mountains, who is also known as Mahadeva, Giriraj and Amarnath. Journey into Kashmir and Tibet, by Swami Abhedananda Sivaya Namah Not happy with your email address? Get the one you really want - millions of new email addresses available now at Unlimited freedom, unlimited storage. Get it now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 3, 2008 Report Share Posted August 3, 2008 Hi Aavesh Sir, Does Swami Abhedananda ji belongs to Ramkrishna order, pls. post more such mails. regards, Lalit Vedic Astrologyandhealing , aavesh t <aavesh_s wrote: > > > > > > > > > Om Namah Sivaya > >  > > > >  > Darsan of Holy Siva Lingam >  >  >  > >  > > What do you think a pilgrimage is? Pilgrims are one thing: everyone knows about the ancestors of so many Americans, the Pilgrim Fathers and Mothers who came from Europe on the Mayflower and other ships. But a pilgrimage is a journey, made to a place which is special for some reason. It may be to some place where there was a great event in your own life, or which reminds you of some great emotion you felt there. Or it may be to a holy place, a sacred place, as in our story today. In most of the countries of the world there are special spots which have been " colored " , so to say, with an air of the holy and sublime. Such places often get to be that way due to the presence of a saint, living in or near it. Or, from one who lived there before. It is also " built up " by the repeated visits of sages, saints and worshipers, over many years. Some persons can feel that atmosphere even miles before they arrive at the place. > > One of our Swamis tells this story of his pilgrimage to such a spot in the Himalayas of India, famous for its holiness; famous, too, because it is so difficult to reach. The place is called Amarnath, literally Chief of the Gods, i.e., Siva. But let us begin his story. > > About 180 years ago a Muslim shepherd discovered the large cave in the side of this mountain and told local Hindus about it. Thousands of pilgrims, have visited it, in groups or alone, ever since. The mountain we were climbing is 18,000 feet high. We left our horses below and went on foot over a path of worn-out stones, till we came to a swift river called Amaravati which is always covered with snow. There we put on hobnail boots and with staff in hand crossed carefully over a snow bridge. At last we arrived at the famous mountain cave of Amarnath, at a height of 13,000 feet. Some birds and pigeons were flying around and out of the cave when we entered there. Inside the cave, water dripping from the cave roof has formed pillars of ice here and there. One of them is larger than all the rest. It changes in size from season to season, but when we saw it, it was about ten feet in circumference and about five feet tall. Huge! > > Regarded as the God Siva this pillar is worshipped by Hindu and other pilgrims. They gather wild flowers from the nearby slopes and lay them and other offerings at the foot of the ice Siva. In this way a feature nature-born has been made into a " shrine, " a form of the Formless, Eternal and Infinite God. > > Like other pilgrims we took a bath in the freezing-cold river (can you imagine it?!) before approaching the Lord to do his worship. First we walked clockwise all around the pillar by way of honoring Him. Each of us offered whatever we had brought at the foot of the ice image. There were guides, priests among the mountain people, who recited hymns and prayers in the cave. > > Afterward we made our way back down the mountain trail. (If you have climbed any mountains, you probably remember that to go down is often more troublesome and tiring than to climb up; one has to step so carefully.) At our base camp the guides had hot water ready on a stove for us and we had a welcome bath. A simple meal of rice and curry, and then we could rest our weary bones. > > That night the chief guide read to us from a holy book called Amara Purana which tells of the wonderful features of God Siva, hermit of the mountains, who is also known as Mahadeva, Giriraj and Amarnath. >  > Journey into Kashmir and Tibet, by Swami Abhedananda >  >  > Sivaya Namah                                                 > > > Not happy with your email address? > Get the one you really want - millions of new email addresses available now at > > > > > > > > > Download prohibited? No problem. CHAT from any browser, without download. Go to http://in.webmessenger./ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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