01Bhasmasura’s chase
The katha told at the cave mouth is the one of Bhasmasura. Pleased by his tapas, Mahadev granted him the boon that whoever’s head he touched would turn to ash; the asura then turned on Mahadev himself. Shiva withdrew into these hills and, the local telling says, opened this cave with his trishul and stayed hidden in it, until Bhagwan Vishnu as Mohini led Bhasmasura to place his hand on his own head. Pilgrims point out shapes in the rock along the passage, Sheshnag’s hood, Parvati, Ganesh and Nandi, and the white streaks where water has run for ages.
02Into the cave
From the base camp at Ransoo a paved path of about 3 km climbs to the cave. The passage is narrow in places and pilgrims stoop and squeeze through before it opens into the chamber of the linga. Mahashivratri brings the great mela, three days of crowds and bhajans. On 9 June 2024 terrorists fired on a bus carrying pilgrims back from Shiv Khori towards Katra; nine were killed. The yatra went on.
The life of this place
- 9 June 2024Terrorists attack a bus of Shiv Khori pilgrims near Reasi; nine are killed.
Ransoo is about 80 km from Katra by road; the walk from Ransoo to the cave is about 3 km. Ponies and palkis are available, and the shrine board runs the queue inside the cave.
