Divine Eavesdropping: The Amarnath Pigeon’s Story

The story of Amarnath and its holy Shivling has captivated devotees for centuries. But did you know that the legend also involves a pair of Amarnath pigeons with a divine secret? Lord Shiva revealed the secret of immortality to his wife, Parvati, in a cave at Amarnath, but not before he made sure that no one else was listening in. Little did he know there was someone else present in the cave other than them. Sounds captivating, right? But wait! We won’t tell you the whole Amarnath pigeons story right here. What was the divine secret that Lord Shiva gave to Parvati? Who was present in the cave other than Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati? Let’s find out! 

Join us as we dig into the amazing story of Amarnath’s immortal pigeons and investigate their significance in Hindu mythology. From their relationship with the god of death to their involvement in divine eavesdropping, these Amarnath pigeons have a fascinating history that will capture your attention. 

Legends Behind the Amarnath Pigeons 

Long ago, in the mystical land of India, there lived Lord Shiva, the god of destruction and regeneration and his beloved wife, Parvati. This is the story of Parvati’s curiosity and her quest for Amar Katha. 

Stage 1: Parvati’s Curiosity 

Once upon a time, Goddess Parvati got curious about the Mundamala (the garlands of a human’s head). She asked Lord Shiva the reason why he always wore this mala around his neck. Putting a stop to her curiosity Lord Shiva answered that every time when Lord Parvati took a reincarnation to meet him in the next life, he added a head to the Narmund. He also added the representation of human existence’s continuous creation and destruction.

But Lord Shiva’s answer could not satisfy her inquisitiveness, and she put another question in front of Lord Shiva. She asked why Lord Shiva was blessed with immortality while she took several births to meet him in the next life. To which Lord Shiva replied that the only reason he is immortal is that he knows about the Amar Katha, which keeps a person lives forever. 

Also Read: Why Does Lord Krishna Wear A Peacock Feather?

Stage 2: The Quest for Amar Katha 

When Lord Shiva mentioned the story of Amar Katha in front of Goddess Parvati, now her attention shifted to knowing the Amar Katha. She kept on insisting Lord Shiva tell her the story of immortality, but Lord Shiva declined her request saying the story was a secret and no one else knew about it except the Trimurtis (Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Mahesh). But no answer satisfied the quest of goddess Parvati as she propelled Lord Shiva to reveal the secret to her. In the end, Lord Shiva is left with no option but to share the Amar Katha (the ultimate secret to immortality).   

Stage 3: The Journey to Amarnath Cave 

But wait! Here was a little twist in the story. The Amar Katha was nothing like a random story our grandmothers used to recite to us in our childhood. Instead, this was something meant to be told in a secluded place away from the attention of everyone. As a result, Lord Shiva chose the Amarnath Cave as the perfect spot for this since no other human being could know the story about immortality. 

Stage 4: The Revelation of Amar Katha 

This stage of the story would interest more those who have ever been to the holy caves of Amarnath as it explains a lot more about the phases that include an Amarnath yatra. Now, the journey from Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati’s native place to the holy Amarnath cave begins. Since the story of immortality, aka Amar Katha, was something to be kept confidential or secret, Lord Shiva had to leave all of his disciples in the way. For instance, first, he left his bull, Nandi, at Pahalgam (also known as Bail gaon).

And it would not take long to guess this is why Pahalgam is considered the first phase or step for an Amarnath yatra. Next, he left his moon from the hair at Chandanwari. As the name suggests, the place he left the moon later became known as Chandanwari. Now, it was time to leave his snake, which he used to wrap around his neck on the way.

Interestingly, the place where the snake no longer accompanied Lord Shiva and stayed there later came to be known as Lake Shehshnag. Then, at Mahaganesh Parvat, he left his son Lord Ganesh and instructed him to stay there. After leaving all of his disciples one by one on the way, it was time to leave behind all the five elements: Air, Water, Earth, Fire and Sky. 

Also Read: Is Ravana The Father Of Sita?

Stage 5: The Significance of Amarnath’s Immortal Pigeons 

Here comes the last stage, yet the most interesting part of the story. After sacrificing the earthly world, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati reached the Amarnath cave alone. Finally, the moment came that Goddess Parvati had been longing for. Since the place was secluded and a safe spot to reveal the secret of Amar Katha, Lord Shiva started narrating the story to his wife, Parvati, with no fear. But in the middle of the story, Parvati cannot win from her tiredness and sleeps since the story is too long.

Lord Shiva was unaware of all this, and he kept on narrating the story to her. Little did he know that beside them was someone else in the cave. When Lord Parvati slept, the Amarnath pigeons name already present; there started making cooing sounds. He thought it was Parvati making the sounds, and both Amarnath cave pigeons became privy to the secret of immortality. When the story ended, Lord Shiva came to know that the secret of immortality had been revealed to the two pigeons present there instead of Goddess Parvati. 

Angry that the secret had been leaked, he tried to kill the pigeons. But they pleaded with him, pointing out that killing them would prove his story a lie. Moved by their argument, Shiva spared their lives and granted them the boon of eternal life. And making them the symbols of Shiva and Parvati in the Amarnath Cave. And so, to this day, the immortal Amarnath pigeons reside in the Amarnath Cave, bearing witness to the sacred story they overheard long ago. The legend behind the Amarnath pigeons is a reminder of the power of secrets and the consequences of their revelation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

Also Read: Significance Of Bel Patra: Why Is It Offered To Lord Shiva?

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