The Truth behind Holy Amarnath
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Mediaman
Aug 12, 2008, 11:10:36 PM8/12/08
to Kashmiri Pandits Worldwide, in...@avtarkaul.com
The Truth behind Holy Amarnath
Nilamata Purana: Ka means "water" and Shimir means "to desiccate".
Hence, Kashmir stands for "a land desiccated from water".
The Nilamata Purana gives the name Kashmira to the Valley considering
it to be an embodiment of Uma.
In the Rajatarangini, a history of Kashmir written by Kalhana in the
12th century, it is stated that the valley of Kashmir was formerly a
lake. This was drained by the great rishi or sage, Kashyapa, by
cutting the gap in the hills at Baramulla (Varaha-mula). When Kashmir
had been drained, Kashyapa asked Brahmans to settle there.
The name of Kashyapa is by history and tradition connected with the
draining of the lake, and the chief town or collection of dwellings in
the valley was called Kashyapa-pura.
The Amarnath Fact Sheet
The biggest lie being circulated - Amarnath was discovered by Malik’s
– The Muslim Shepherd Family.
• The reference to Amarnath can be seen in the Nilamata Purana (v.
1324).
• The pilgrimage to the holy cave has been described with full
topographical details in the Bhringish Samhita and the Amarnatha
Mahatmya, both ancient texts said to have been composed even earlier.
• References to Amarnath, known have also been made in historical
chronicles like the Rajatarangini.
• Several Western travellers’ accounts also leave no doubt about the
fact that the holy cave has been known to people for centuries.
• “The lake of dazzling whiteness [resembling] a sea of milk
(Sheshnag), which he created [for himself as residence] on a far off
mountain, is to the present day seen by the people on the pilgrimage
to Amareshwara.”(Rajatarangini, Book I v. 267.Translation: M. A.
Stein).
• Rajatarangini (Book II v. 138): Kalhana says that King Samdhimat
Aryaraja (34 BCE-17CE) used to spend “the most delightful Kashmir
summer” in worshiping a linga formed of snow “in the regions above the
forests”.
• Chronicle of Kashmir, a sequel to Kalhana’s Rajatarangini, Jonaraja
relates that that Sultan Zainu’l-abidin (1420-1470) paid a visit to
the sacred tirtha of Amarnath while constructing a canal on the left
bank of the river Lidder (vv.1232-1234).
• The great Sikh Guru Arjan Dev granted land in Amritsar for the
ceremonial departure of Chari, the holy mace of Lord Shiva which marks
the beginning of the Yatra to the Holy Cave
The Land in Question
• The shrine and the Yatra is maintained and organized by Shri
Amarnath Shrine Board. Shrine Board was constituted by an Act of the
State Legislature in 2000
• On board request , the J&K Government transferred nearly 40
hectares of forest land in Baltal area to the Shri Amarnath Shrine
Board on lease for Rs. 23.1 million (Rs.2.3 crore)
• The transfer was approved by the Government of Jammu & Kashmir and
signed by the cabinet
The Land Controversy
• The land was required to create temporary structures to provide
facilities to the pilgrims. More than 300 people die every year
performing the Yatra, for want of required medical health and support.
No time is given to the pilgrims to acclimatize to the high altitude
climb.
• The structures were to be in place only for two months every year.
• The area is prone to rain, snow, landslide and extreme bad weather.
• There was no ecological damage or tree cutting was planned.
• Kashmiri Muslims especially the separatist elements launched a
protest against the land transfer.
• Security forces were attacked and National Flag was burnt Pakistani
Flag was hoisted at Lal Chowk.
• The entire valley shouted “Hindustan Hai-Hai”, “We want Freedom”,
“We will share land with Hindus over our dead bodies” and “Pakistan
Zindabad”
• As usual the Congress government succumbed to the separatists.
• The order which was passed by the assembly was revoked by a minority
government. (The order was revoked after PDP withdrew support)
• Kashmiri Muslims Protesting against Land Allocation
Haj Subsidy
• There are multiple Haj Terminus and 16 embarkation points in the
country
• The Haj subsidy in 2006 was Rs.348 crore
• The Muslim pilgrim to Jeddah pays Rs.12, 000 for a return ticket.
The actual cost of the ticket is Rs. 46,000. The difference is funded
by the Union Government
• The Indian government has a Haj Office in the Indian Consulate in
Jeddah, runs a hospital in Mecca and dispensaries in Mecca and Medina,
and sends doctors, nurses and para-medical staff to run these medical
establishments during the pilgrimage
• In addition, the Government has sanctioned eight ambulances and
medicines for pilgrims who fall ill.
• Though Jammu & Kashmir is one of the less-populated States in the
country, it sent the fifth biggest contingent of pilgrims for Haj in
2006.
• The Congress Government in Andhra Pradesh has taken this policy of
minorityism a step further and announced subsidy for Christians who
wish to visit Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus.
The Double Standards….
• However in India, Hindu pilgrims to the Amarnath Shrine do not
qualify for grant of a few acres of land along the Yatra route for
provision of basic amenities.
• The population of the Hindus may be 100 crore. But in India, Hindu
pilgrims are not entitled to even 100 acres
• The Kashmiri politicians claim that by allocating land to the Sri
Amarnath Shrine Board, the State Government has harmed the cause of
'Kashmiriyat'. What happened to the Kashmiriyat when hundreds of
Hindus and Sikhs were killed in Valley and most of the Hindus and
Sikhs were forced to leave the valley?
• The whole world is aware of how Hindus were driven out of the
Valley. Yet, we have this disgusting spectacle of politicians like Mr
Omar Abdullah from the Valley stating publicly on television channels
that they oppose the transfer of 100 acres to the Sri Amarnath Shrine
Board because they fear that through the transfer of these few acres
of land "the demographic character of Kashmir is being altered".
Join the protest against communalist J&K Govt……
• If we lose this battle, we will lose the country to Islamic forces
• Support the movement. Forward this presentation to all your friends
and people you know.
• Water, electricity, media, SMS all blocked in Jammu from 34 days as
of 3rd August.
• Minority Hindu refugees and locals dragged from homes and beaten
mercilessly by Muslim fundamentalist Police force of JK.
• Kuldeep Dogra who sacrificed his life not by killing others but by
consuming Poison in front of Police against Land transfer was followed
by arrest of 1500 people, Injuring of 700,seriously injured 475, 5
killed in Police Firing.
Let truth prevail
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Released by Koshur Samchar Ahmedabad*
And All Gujarat Kashmiri Welfare Trust (Regd.)
with inputs from Shri Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti Jammu
*Koshur Samchar is an Association of Kashmiris in Ahmedabad &
Gandhinagar
Kashmir Bhavan, E Sector, Sterling City, Bopal, Ahmedabad
Nilamata Purana: Ka means "water" and Shimir means "to desiccate".
Hence, Kashmir stands for "a land desiccated from water".
The Nilamata Purana gives the name Kashmira to the Valley considering
it to be an embodiment of Uma.
In the Rajatarangini, a history of Kashmir written by Kalhana in the
12th century, it is stated that the valley of Kashmir was formerly a
lake. This was drained by the great rishi or sage, Kashyapa, by
cutting the gap in the hills at Baramulla (Varaha-mula). When Kashmir
had been drained, Kashyapa asked Brahmans to settle there.
The name of Kashyapa is by history and tradition connected with the
draining of the lake, and the chief town or collection of dwellings in
the valley was called Kashyapa-pura.
The Amarnath Fact Sheet
The biggest lie being circulated - Amarnath was discovered by Malik’s
– The Muslim Shepherd Family.
• The reference to Amarnath can be seen in the Nilamata Purana (v.
1324).
• The pilgrimage to the holy cave has been described with full
topographical details in the Bhringish Samhita and the Amarnatha
Mahatmya, both ancient texts said to have been composed even earlier.
• References to Amarnath, known have also been made in historical
chronicles like the Rajatarangini.
• Several Western travellers’ accounts also leave no doubt about the
fact that the holy cave has been known to people for centuries.
• “The lake of dazzling whiteness [resembling] a sea of milk
(Sheshnag), which he created [for himself as residence] on a far off
mountain, is to the present day seen by the people on the pilgrimage
to Amareshwara.”(Rajatarangini, Book I v. 267.Translation: M. A.
Stein).
• Rajatarangini (Book II v. 138): Kalhana says that King Samdhimat
Aryaraja (34 BCE-17CE) used to spend “the most delightful Kashmir
summer” in worshiping a linga formed of snow “in the regions above the
forests”.
• Chronicle of Kashmir, a sequel to Kalhana’s Rajatarangini, Jonaraja
relates that that Sultan Zainu’l-abidin (1420-1470) paid a visit to
the sacred tirtha of Amarnath while constructing a canal on the left
bank of the river Lidder (vv.1232-1234).
• The great Sikh Guru Arjan Dev granted land in Amritsar for the
ceremonial departure of Chari, the holy mace of Lord Shiva which marks
the beginning of the Yatra to the Holy Cave
The Land in Question
• The shrine and the Yatra is maintained and organized by Shri
Amarnath Shrine Board. Shrine Board was constituted by an Act of the
State Legislature in 2000
• On board request , the J&K Government transferred nearly 40
hectares of forest land in Baltal area to the Shri Amarnath Shrine
Board on lease for Rs. 23.1 million (Rs.2.3 crore)
• The transfer was approved by the Government of Jammu & Kashmir and
signed by the cabinet
The Land Controversy
• The land was required to create temporary structures to provide
facilities to the pilgrims. More than 300 people die every year
performing the Yatra, for want of required medical health and support.
No time is given to the pilgrims to acclimatize to the high altitude
climb.
• The structures were to be in place only for two months every year.
• The area is prone to rain, snow, landslide and extreme bad weather.
• There was no ecological damage or tree cutting was planned.
• Kashmiri Muslims especially the separatist elements launched a
protest against the land transfer.
• Security forces were attacked and National Flag was burnt Pakistani
Flag was hoisted at Lal Chowk.
• The entire valley shouted “Hindustan Hai-Hai”, “We want Freedom”,
“We will share land with Hindus over our dead bodies” and “Pakistan
Zindabad”
• As usual the Congress government succumbed to the separatists.
• The order which was passed by the assembly was revoked by a minority
government. (The order was revoked after PDP withdrew support)
• Kashmiri Muslims Protesting against Land Allocation
Haj Subsidy
• There are multiple Haj Terminus and 16 embarkation points in the
country
• The Haj subsidy in 2006 was Rs.348 crore
• The Muslim pilgrim to Jeddah pays Rs.12, 000 for a return ticket.
The actual cost of the ticket is Rs. 46,000. The difference is funded
by the Union Government
• The Indian government has a Haj Office in the Indian Consulate in
Jeddah, runs a hospital in Mecca and dispensaries in Mecca and Medina,
and sends doctors, nurses and para-medical staff to run these medical
establishments during the pilgrimage
• In addition, the Government has sanctioned eight ambulances and
medicines for pilgrims who fall ill.
• Though Jammu & Kashmir is one of the less-populated States in the
country, it sent the fifth biggest contingent of pilgrims for Haj in
2006.
• The Congress Government in Andhra Pradesh has taken this policy of
minorityism a step further and announced subsidy for Christians who
wish to visit Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus.
The Double Standards….
• However in India, Hindu pilgrims to the Amarnath Shrine do not
qualify for grant of a few acres of land along the Yatra route for
provision of basic amenities.
• The population of the Hindus may be 100 crore. But in India, Hindu
pilgrims are not entitled to even 100 acres
• The Kashmiri politicians claim that by allocating land to the Sri
Amarnath Shrine Board, the State Government has harmed the cause of
'Kashmiriyat'. What happened to the Kashmiriyat when hundreds of
Hindus and Sikhs were killed in Valley and most of the Hindus and
Sikhs were forced to leave the valley?
• The whole world is aware of how Hindus were driven out of the
Valley. Yet, we have this disgusting spectacle of politicians like Mr
Omar Abdullah from the Valley stating publicly on television channels
that they oppose the transfer of 100 acres to the Sri Amarnath Shrine
Board because they fear that through the transfer of these few acres
of land "the demographic character of Kashmir is being altered".
Join the protest against communalist J&K Govt……
• If we lose this battle, we will lose the country to Islamic forces
• Support the movement. Forward this presentation to all your friends
and people you know.
• Water, electricity, media, SMS all blocked in Jammu from 34 days as
of 3rd August.
• Minority Hindu refugees and locals dragged from homes and beaten
mercilessly by Muslim fundamentalist Police force of JK.
• Kuldeep Dogra who sacrificed his life not by killing others but by
consuming Poison in front of Police against Land transfer was followed
by arrest of 1500 people, Injuring of 700,seriously injured 475, 5
killed in Police Firing.
Let truth prevail
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Released by Koshur Samchar Ahmedabad*
And All Gujarat Kashmiri Welfare Trust (Regd.)
with inputs from Shri Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti Jammu
*Koshur Samchar is an Association of Kashmiris in Ahmedabad &
Gandhinagar
Kashmir Bhavan, E Sector, Sterling City, Bopal, Ahmedabad
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