During the summer of 1899, Tirthram set out for hills on pilgrimage to Amarnath cave. He reached Pahalgam, a tired man. He was part of a group. The group decided to rest for a few days before resuming onward journey.
But Tirthram was getting impatient to see the Shivalingam. So, he broke away from the group and started climbing the hills in a devotional trance, unmindful of pain and the inclement climate.
He reached Panchtarni where he took bath in the holy stream. In wet clothes he stared at the beauty of snow capped summits of Himalayas bewitched.
He automatically sang prayers to Shiva and started running up the hills in excitement. He came upon a small low ground. From there Amarnath cave was visible. His body trembled with feverish devotion to Shiva.
He ran towards the cave and did not stop till he was inside before the ice lingam. Overwhelmed with devotions Tirthram lay prostrate before the lingam and offered prayers. Then, he picked himself up and sat in a corner to meditate.
After sometime he opened his eyes and mumbled, “This world is all Shiva. A supreme joy sweeps everything. Shiva is getting into me as well. How wonderful!”
He spent several days in the cave. Food was no consideration. After returning from Amarnath, Tirthram wrote an ode to Shiva—which reveals the state of his devotional frenzy stormed mind.
It literally meant—‘How wonderful Shivaful I am! Sun sheds light scared of me. The moon goes by timidly afraid of me. Winds blow at my wish. How do I admire my omnipotence…’
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