Know the holy cave of Shiva near Vaishno Devi Shrine

New Delhi: Khori means cave and Shiv Khori means Shiva's cave. This holy cave is situated in Ransoo - a village in the Pouni block in Reasi district ,which is 140 km north of Jammu, 120 km from Udhampur and 80 km from Katra.It attracts lakhs of devotees annually. People have to traverse about 3 km on foot on a track recently constructed by the Shiv Khori Shrine Board. The first entrance of the cave is so wide that 300 devotees can be accommodated at a time. The cave roof is etched with snake formations, the water trickles through these on Shiva Lingam. Pigeons are also seen here like Amarnath cave which presents good omens for pilgrimages.There are numerous legends linked to this cave. According to one, 33 crores deities in the Hindu pantheon reside in this cave in shape of pindis and natural milky water falls on them from the top of the cave.It is said, there is a path leading from this cave which goes up to Amarnath cave. Another legend is that of a demon named Bhasmasura who got a boon from Lord Shiva to reduce any living being into ashes but placing his palm on the other's head. The demon lastly tried to reduce Shiva to ashes, and Shiva went inside this cave to save himself. Ultimately, Lord Vishnu in the guise of Mohini enticed the demon to put his palm on his own head killing himself. Another modern legend attributes the discovery of this cave to a Muslim shephered who stumbled upon while in search of his missing goat. He was startled to see a number of saints inside the cave.Impressed by Lord Shiva's divine power, he too started pooja there. Later on the shepherd disclosed this to a number of other people in spite of his promise made to the saints not to disclose about them or this cave. It is said that the shepherd after narrating it to other people, died.