M S Nazki
But BSF has a role to play: How and why we will tell you in this story!
Yes, according to Hindu mythology and the Bhrigu Purana, Bhrigu Muni was the very first person to discover the Amarnath cave:
-Legend states that the Kashmir Valley was once submerged underwater. After Sage Kashyapa drained the waters through a series of rivers and rivulets……A myth that is true!
-Bhrigu Muni traveled to the Himalayas and was the first to have darshan of the sacred ice Shivlingam.
-Centuries later, as the cave was forgotten and the area became heavily forested, folklore recounts that a local shepherd named Buta Malik rediscovered the holy cave in the 15th century, reviving the revered Amarnath Yatra
-The Amarnath Cave is most famously known as the site where Lord Shiva recounted the Amar Katha (the secret of immortality) to Goddess Parvati.
-To ensure the divine secret remained hidden, Shiva ritually discarded his earthly possessions along the arduous route, an event reflected in the milestones of the modern-day Amarnath Yatra.
-The legends surrounding the sacred cave span several fascinating narratives:
-The Tale of Immortality (Amar Katha) Wanting to know the secrets of immortality, Goddess Parvati asked Lord Shiva to reveal them to her. Seeking complete seclusion, Shiva traveled to the remote Himalayan mountains.
- Along the journey, he progressively surrendered his attachments: he left his bull Nandi at Pahalgam, his crescent moon at Chandanwari, his serpents at Sheshnag Lake, his son Ganesha at Mahagunas Parbat, and the five natural elements at Panjtarni. He then ignited a sacred fire (Kalagni) around the cave to destroy all living beings, ensuring no one would overhear the discourse.
-The Immortal Pigeons: According to one version of the legend, a pair of mating pigeons (or a parrot in some texts) overheard the Amar Katha while Shiva was recounting it.
-Having learned the secret of immortality, they were granted the blessing of eternal life. Devotees believe this pair of pigeons still resides in the cave today, and sightings of these birds are considered a highly auspicious blessing.
- The Discovery by Buta Malik (Local Folklore)While the mythological origins are ancient, local Kashmiri folklore credits a Muslim shepherd named Buta Malik with modernly discovering the cave in the 15th century. According to the tale, a saint gave Malik a sack of coal which miraculously turned into gold. Overjoyed, he returned to thank the saint only to discover the sacred cave and the ice lingam instead, prompting him to spread word of the holy site.
-Kashyap Reshi and the Draining of Kashmir: Another regional legend from the Nilmata Purana suggests the entire Kashmir Valley was once a massive lake. The sage Kashyapa drained the water out through a series of rivers and rivulets. When the waters receded, Sage Bhrigu was one of the first holy men to explore the newly exposed valley and discover the cave and the naturally forming ice lingam.
-The modern day:
-Praveen Kumar, IPS, Director General, BSF reviewed the arrangements for the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra (SANJY), where BSF has a key role in ensuring the safety and security of pilgrims.
-During his visit to important locations along the Yatra route, DG BSF assessed operational preparedness, including anti sabotage measures, disaster response and mountain rescue capabilities, medical assistance for yatris and veterinary support.
-He also reviewed coordination mechanisms with other security forces and civil authorities. Speaking with the officers and personnel, DG BSF stressed upon the importance of synergy and coordinated efforts to ensure a safe and secure Yatra for all devotees.
-About Praveen Kumar:
-Praveen Kumar, a 1993-batch IPS officer of the West Bengal cadre, is the Director General (DG) of the Border Security Force (BSF).
-Assuming formal charge as the regular Director General in January 2026, he will lead India’s largest border-guarding force until his superannuation in September 2030.
-Key Background & Career Previous Roles: Prior to heading the BSF, Praveen Kumar served as the Director General of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
-He also has a strong background in national intelligence, having served as Special Director in the Intelligence Bureau (IB).
-Academic Credentials: He holds an impressive educational background with degrees in Civil Engineering (B.E. Honors), Law (LL.B. and LL.M.), and an M.Phil. from the University of Madras, in addition to graduating from the National Defence College (NDC).
-Recent Operations & Focus Shri Amarnath pilgrimage: DG Praveen Kumar has recently been on-site reviewing and overseeing the extensive security arrangements and disaster-response preparations for the Amarnath Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir.
-Border Infrastructure: He laid the foundation stone for critical patrolling track and bundh infrastructure at the Jammu Frontier Headquarters in Paloura.
-National Operations: He is responsible for safeguarding India’s sensitive borders, counter-terrorism, and managing bilateral security issues with neighboring forces.
-The holy Amarnath cave, a natural splendour is located at 3888 mts (13,500 ft.). The holy cave, in which “Ice Lingam” is formed, is 120x100x60 ft. in diameter and can accommodate thousands of worshipers.
-Although the holy Amarnath cave is located in the Sindh Valley besides Amarnath (Amravati) a small tributary of the Sindh River, it has been traditionally approached through Lidar Valley intersected by the Lidar nallah (riveulet).
- On this route the pilgrims approach the holy cave from Pahalgam in South Kashmir and cover around 46 kms while passing through Chandanwari, Pissu Ghati, Seshnag and Panchantarni.
-Another shorter oute is from Baltal located on Srinagar Leh highway. It is just around 15 kms with some stretches which rise and fall steeply.
- In the past this route was used in early summers but sometimes it became impossible to use this route due to melting of snow. However, with passage of time, things have improved and movement on either of the routes has become comparatively easy.
-Puranmashi is not normally related with Lord Shiva, but the association of Shrawan Purnamashi (July-August) with Amarnath pilgrimage is because of the glimpse of fully developed “Ice Lingam” and relatively a favorable weather during this period to trek through the mountains to reach the cave.
-Historians differ on the origin of Shri Amarnath yatra, while some say it was there from historic times with brief disruption, while others say it began with the discovery of the holy cave by Maliks or Muslim Shepherds in 18th or 19th century.
-One of the greatest Muslim rulers of Kashmir, Zain-ul-abdin (1420-70 A.D.), fondly remembered by Kashmiris as “Badshah”, visited the Amarnath cave which has been documented by his chronicler Jonaraja.
-Akbar’s historian Abul-Fazal (16th century) in Ain-i-Akbari” recorded, “Amarnath is considered a shrine of great sanctity. When the new moon rises from her throne of rays, a bubble as it were of ice is formed in the cave which daily increases little by little for 15 days till it is formed higher than two yards…… With waning of moon, likewise begins to decrease till no trace of it remains when the moon disappears………..
-The modern Baltal route to the Amarnath Cave was discovered and popularized by local shepherds and nomadic travelers as a shorter, alternative path to the traditional Pahalgam trail.
Key Facts About the Baltal Route Location: Starts from the Baltal base camp in the Ganderbal district, approximately 95 km from Srinagar.
-Distance: A 14–16 km trek that is much steeper and more physically demanding than the traditional Pahalgam path.
Travel Time: Many pilgrims complete the trek to the holy cave and return to the base camp on the same day.Modern Upgrades: The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) successfully widened the track from Dumail to the cave, achieving a historic milestone when the first set of motor vehicles reached the Amarnath Shrine.
-Disaster response and mountain rescue capabilities combine advanced search techniques, technical rope systems, helicopter operations, and emergency trauma care to handle multi-casualty incidents and wilderness emergencies.
- Because the Jammu region frequently experiences avalanches, landslides, and flash floods, local teams train continuously to operate effectively in these extreme terrains.
-Local and national agencies—such as the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the J&K Police Mountain Rescue Team (MRT)—undergo intensive, specialized courses to build rapid-deployment proficiencies.
-These capabilities are generally broken down into several operational pillars: Technical Rope and Extrication: Deployment of advanced climbing gear, pulleys, and techniques like jumaring and slithering to access casualties trapped in deep gorges, cliffs, or glacial crevasses.
-Air Support: The use of helicopters for rapid casualty evacuation, reconnaissance, and heli-slithering when ground transport is hindered by geographic isolation or debris.
-Medical First Responder (MFR) Capabilities: Stabilization of victims in austere environments with treatments focused on extreme trauma and accidental hypothermia prior to hospital transport.
-Avalanche and Landslide Operations: Deployment of trained K9 units and specialized probes to locate missing individuals beneath snow or debris.Structural and Wilderness Navigation: Systematic search methods and clue management to cover vast alpine perimeters safely without the aid of standard communication infrastructure.
-Massive health and veterinary arrangements are established for the annual Shri Amarnath Yatra. Over 70 healthcare facilities, 100+ ambulances, and specialized base hospitals operate along the routes. Simultaneously, the Animal Husbandry Department and security forces set up emergency medical camps and veterinary teams to treat ponies and pack animals.
- Medical Assistance for pilgrims Pre-requisite: It is mandatory to obtain a Compulsory Health Certificate (CHC) from an authorized doctor. Locate an authorized medical professional via the SASB Authorized Doctors Portal.
-On-Route Facilities: Emergency aid centers, oxygen booths, and mobile medical units are stationed every 2 km along the trek.Base Hospitals: Dedicated 70-bedded and 100-bedded base hospitals are fully operational in Baltal, Chandanwadi, Nunwan, and Pahalgam.
-During the annual Amarnath Yatra, the Border Security Force (BSF) works alongside the Army, CRPF, and Jammu and Kashmir Police to provide a multi-layered security grid.
-Their core responsibilities include:Border Dominance & Anti-Infiltration: Guarding the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border to prevent militant infiltration, particularly in border-adjacent sectors like Kathua, Samba, and R S Pura.
-Route Protection: Conducting area domination, sanitization, and intensive patrolling along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and other sensitive transit routes.
-Anti-Sabotage & Disaster Response: Deploying specialized anti-sabotage teams and mountain rescue squads to handle extreme weather, medical emergencies, and any untoward incidents along the high-altitude yatra tracks.Medical & Logistical Aid: Providing emergency medical assistance, veterinary support, and logistical aid to pilgrims in distress.
-Anti-sabotage measures are proactive and reactive protocols deployed to secure infrastructure, transport routes, and public spaces from intentional disruption, explosive devices, or malicious tampering.
-These typically involve K9 sniffer dog sweeps, bomb detection, technical surveillance, and strict perimeter access controls.Effective anti-sabotage operations require a layered defense strategy, spanning several core domains:
- Physical Security & HardeningAccess Control: Utilize strict biometrics, multi-factor authentication, and ID verification to prevent unauthorized entry to restricted areas.Perimeter Hardening: Install anti-ram barriers, fencing, and reinforced locking mechanisms on doors and gates to deter forced entry.
-Structural Upgrades: Use blast-resistant materials, shatterproof glass, and reinforced barricades for critical infrastructure.
- Surveillance & DetectionTechnical Surveillance: Deploy high-resolution CCTV with continuous monitoring, coupled with AI-driven behavioral analytics to spot suspicious loitering or tampering in real time.
-Screening Equipment: Use Door Frame Metal Detectors (DFMDs), Hand Held Metal Detectors (HHMDs), and X-ray body scanners at all entry and exit checkpoints
-K9 & Bomb Squad Sweeps: Conduct random, routine sanitization using trained K9 units (sniffer dogs) and bomb disposal squads to detect explosives, flammable substances, or toxic materials.
The final lines: Swami Vivekananda undertook pilgrimage to Amarnath cave on 8th August in 1898 and later recounted, “I thought the Ice Lingam was Shiva himself and there were no thievish Brahmins, no trade, nothing wrong. It was all worship. I have never seen anything so beautiful, so inspiring and enjoyed any religious place so much”.
The historians supporting the historicity of Amarnath pilgrims say that the Yatra may have been discontinued for a period for about three hundred years from the middle of 14th century owing to turbulence following foreign invasions of Kashmir valley and migrations of Hindus from there. Some historians say the cave was rediscovered in the summer of 1869 and the first formal pilgrimage to the holy cave was organized three years later in 1872 accompanied by the Maliks.
Whatever the historians may have to say about the historicity of Amarnath Yatra, the fact is that it not only a great bondage between the Hindu pilgrims and local Muslims who facilitate the Yatra, but has maintained a deep relationship in thought and aspiration between Kashmir and other parts of India that has existed for thousands of years. Nationally revered Tamil poet Subramanya Bharathi was so much inspired by this bondage that he proclaimed Kashmir as the Crown of Mother India and Kanyakumari as lotus at her feet…
