Do not tamper with Shivalingam: J

Srinagar, Jun 15 (UNI) The Jammu and Kashmir government has asked the devotees intending to undertake pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath this year not to touch or tamper with the ice 'Shiva lingam (phallic symbol of Lord Shiva)'.

The Directorate of Tourism has issued dos and don'ts for the devotees to ensure smooth conduct of the pilgrimage.

Subject to the weather conditions, the annual two-month-long pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir would commence simultaneously from both traditional Pahalgam and shorter Baltal routes on June 30 to end on August 28.

In its advertisement, the Directorate asked the pilgrims not to touch or tamper with the holy 'Shiva lingam'. It has also asked the devotees not to place or throw anything on the ice-lingam.

The appeal comes in the wake of a religious controversy over the alleged tampering with the 'ice-lingam' at the holy cave shrine last year which forced the authorities to order a judicial inquiry into the matter and also resulted in the resignation of a senior member from the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, headed by Jammu and Kashmir Governor Lt Gen (Retd) S K Sinha.

Mahant Deependra Giri, the custodian of Charri-Mubarak Swami Amarnath (holy mace of Lord Shiva), had resigned from the SASB on September 15 last year following the controversy.

A public interest litigation was also filed in the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, seeking directions against the Board for allegedly raising an artificial ice 'Shiva lingam' at the holy cave.

The one-man judicial commission of Justice (Retd) K K Gupta later gave a clean chit to the Board and absolved it of all the charges.

The High Court later dismissed for want of evidence the writ petition with directions to the SASB to take all the necessary measures to protect and safeguard the 'Shiva lingam'.

According to an official statement here recently, the ice 'Shiva lingam' at the holy cave shrine has formed fully till now.

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