Since ancient times, Lord Shiva has enchanted the people of this nation. Representations of Lord Shiva have been found on the carved seals discovered in Mohenjo-Daro and are among the oldest Gods of the Indian civilization. Jammu has several Lord Shiva cave shrines and one such natural cave is exists in a delightful natural setting in Jakhole Panchayat of Kathua District. To reach the cave shrine, you leave the National Highway (Jammu–Pathankot) at Rajbagh (Ujh) and approximately 12 Km north eastern drive away, crossing Jasrota, Dhanni and Bakhta villages, you arrive at Jakhole village after which it is approximately 5 km on foot along a scenic pathway to reach the famous natural Shiva cave shrine, known as Mahanal, which is 150 years old. It is approximately a fifty min journey from Lakhanpur and thirty five mins from Rajbagh to Jakhole village.
Shiva is recognized for truth (satyam), goodness (shivam) and beauty (sundaram), who has his supernatural determination-abode in a cave at Mahanal. The most important thing about this abode is that it does not have a man-made idol. On the contrary, the sacred image situated in this cave is svayambhu Shiva lingam. The devotees have such attachment to this natural cave that this sacred place is called as Chotta Amarnath (Mini Amarnath) by sages and people alike. The natural cave of Shiva at Mahanal is full of legendary stories. According to one such legend about 150 years back, milk was coming down from the rocks and falling on the natural Shiva lingam which was seen by the villagers who began to worship the cave. One day, a woman of a nomadic community took milk from this holy spot and used it. After that day milk stopped coming down from the roof of the cave, but was replaced with water dripping over the lord Shiva's sanctum sanctorum.
In another version, a sage came to meditate in that area and had forbidden the locals from accessing that place, as he wanted to meditate in honor of Lord Shiva in a remote place. After many years, a lady from the area found her way to the site and saw only a human skeleton in a meditative posture, chanting “Om Namah Shivaye” loudly. When she saw the skeleton meditating, she was frightened and fainted. When she came to after some time, she found the skeleton had transformed into a person again chanting Om Namah Shivaye, who then transformed again into a Natural Shiva Lingam inside a cave, closer to the meditation site. The locals, not to be outdone in their love for the Immortal God (Amarnath), called it Chotta Amarnath (Mini Amarnath), because it resembled the very famous Amarnath shrine by the same name in Kashmir.
In 1980, Baba Hari Giri Ji, a hermit, made this place his residence and meditated here, at which point many natives began to come to see him. The place began to be noticed during this time. He remained there for a period of ten years, and in 1991, he attained Samaadhi. Sarai Tribe Region, devotees from within and across various states in the country visit this site throughout the year. Nevertheless, a heavy throng can be seen on the first day of the New Year, Mondays, Maha Shivratri, Naag Panchmi, and during the holy month of Shravan, which overlaps with the duration of the pilgrimage each year of Shree AmarNathji. Each year, the local residents and other devotees will host langars (open kitchens) there. The devotees revere this place as a holy Place of Lord Shiva that fulfills the aspirations of the Pilgrims who make prayers to the shrine.
Mahanal has a big cave with a natural lingam, we are told by the locals, is hundreds of years old. At the entrance, the cave's opening is narrow and is only wide enough for a person to walk through and enter into the sanctum sanctorum to have darshans of Lord Shiva. Outside the Mahanal cave, additions of three idols of Ganesh, Nandigan and Kaal-Bhairav only offer to enhance the sanctity of the place. A small cave is carved out on the opposite side of the main cave and is adorned with small temples, as pilgrims have converted the area to worship nine goddesses. Robbing the seasonal waterfall that entwines both caves, pilgrims can be seen bathing in preparation to offer prayers at the temples. It is noted, that when summer arrives the waterfall dries up and devotees turn to offer cleansing prayers from a resultant water-body (Bowli) located nearby. There is a need for improved Road Connectivity, Drinking Water facility and Electricity supply.
To ensure that the intrinsic pilgrim potential of the place is explored and utilized to the greatest extent, it is crucial to advertise this sacred cave in the state's religious tourism map similar to the Jasrota Mata Temple at Jasrota, Sukrala Mata Temple at Billawar, Mata Bala Sundri at Nagri, and Jorian Mata Temple at Bani.
(Vivek Koul)
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