Dr.Bharat Bhushan
The State of Jammu & Kashmir is famous for its unparallel beautiful valleys, snow capped mountains, murmuring streams, lakes, water bodies & variety of flora & fauna. It has world famous tourist resorts like Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Patnitop, Doodpathri, Sonamarg, Sanasar, Lolab, Bani, Sarthal, Gurez. Sinthon Top Bhaderwah & many more beautiful areas on one hand & has renowned shrines dedicated to all faiths on the other hand.Millions of tourists visit the State every year to enjoy its pleasing & soothing environs while even more number of pilgrims visit the State to pay obeisance to famous shrines of Shree Mata Vaishno Devi Ji & Shree Amarnath Ji.The shrines of Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah at Rajouri,Nangali Sahib Shrine of Poonch,Sukrala Mata Shrine,Billawar & Bala Sundri Mata Shrine ( located at Kathua & Billawar) Kali Mata Shrine at Babey,Jammu (adjoining Bagh-e-Bahu) & Kali Mata Shrine at Jasrota Kathua, Hazratbal Shrine, Srinagar,Charar-e-Sharief Shrine, Aish-e-Muqam Shrine near Pahalgam,Baba Reshi Shrine near Gulmarg and Shiv Khori Shrine near Reasi and scores of other Shrines located in Jammu and Kashmir are visited by millions of pilgrims throughout the year.
In the backdrop of these places, a place devoted to Lord Shiva near Kathua is fast catching the attention of Shiv devotees & a sizeable number of them are visiting the Place every year. The place is Maha Naal Caves near Kathua about 16 Kms away from Rajbagh on Jammu – Kathua National Highway.
It is about 45 minutes journey from Lakhanpur & thirty minutes journey from Rajbagh to village Jakhole.This stretch of 14 kms is connected by a motorable road & one can reach Jakhole by private vehicle .Regular buses & Mini-buses also ply on the route. The rest two kilometers stretch is under execution & only earth -work & rock- cutting has been done. Devotees cover this distance either on foot or by private vehicles which go upto the caves.
There is a big cave & inside the cave a natural lingum exists which as per legends dates back to Centuries. The cave opening is narrow and only one person can enter the cave at a time & have Darshan of Lord Shiva’s sanctum sanctorum .The idols of Ganesh,Nandigan & Kaal -Bhairav at the entrance of MahaNaal cave adds to the beauty of the area. Another small cave lies on other side of the main cave where the devotees have now constructed small temples dedicated to Nine Godesses. A seasonal waterfall lies in between both the caves where devotees can be seen bathing before offering prayers.However in summers, the waterfall dries up & devotees use water from the resultant water-body (Bowli) that exists.
Many legends are attached to this place.According to one legend; a sage meditated there for many years. He had prohibited locals from visiting the place as he wished to meditate in glory of Lord Shiva at a secluded place. However, after many years, a curious lady of the area went there only to find a human skelton in meditation posture chanting loudly “Om Namah Shivaye”.The lady got scared & fainted on seeing skelton meditating. After sometime ,she regained consciousness only to find that, the skelton turned into human being chanting Om Namah Shivaye, which after sometime disappeared & then changed into a Natural Shiva Lingum inside the cave- nearer to the meditation site.
According to another legend, milk used to ooze from rock & fall on the Natural Shiva lighum which was noticed by the villagers. They started worshipping the site since then.
Whatever may be the legends, it is true that the faith of the devotees of Lord Shiva at this site is fast touching heights. They often call it Chotta AmarNath(Mini AmarNath) out of respect, faith & reverence.
The devotees throng this place throughout the year. However, heavy rush is seen on Ist day of the year, Mondays & in the holy month of Shravan which coincides with the annual pilgrimage of Shree AmarNathji. Dr.B.R Dubb,Dr.Vishal Malagar,Raja Ram , & other devotees organize langers( Community kitchens )there every year. They told that Mahanaal Shiv caves is a very sacred Place of Lord Shiva and wishes of Pilgrims are fulfilledwho offer prayers there.
The Management Committee of Maha Naal Shiv Caves (Mini Amar Nath) is coordinating all the arrangements there but a lot needs to be done. Road Connectivity is most important.
The Lakhanpur Sarthal Development Authority on its part is also in the process of formulating a comprehensive Project Report to develop the area into a pilgrim spot. The Maha Naal Shiv Caves (Mini AmarNath), if properly developed, will be an ideal pilgrim destination in the times to come.
(The author, a KAS officer is presently Chief Executive Officer, Lakhanpur Sarthal Development Authority).
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