Inside the cave in the mountain, water drops trickle down from the top and freeze into ice, creating an ice stalagmite which Hindus believe is a phallic symbol of Hindu God, Lord Shiva, and is called Shiv Linga. The natural ice formation of Shiv Linga waxes from May to August and gradually wanes after that.
This lingam is said to grow and shrink with the moon’s phases, reaching its height during the summer festival of ‘Shravan,’ the fifth month of the Hindu calendar, i.e., July to August. During this time, lakhs of believers from every corner of India take the arduous journey to the shrine, braving harsh weather and rugged terrain motivated by what they call ‘God’s calling.’
The temple is a significant worship place, attracting pilgrims worldwide. It is said that the courtyard's spring is the same where Goddess Parvati used to take a bath and directed his son Ganesha to prohibit anyone's entry while she was inside. While safeguarding the entrance, Ganesha denied Shiva access, leaving him furious. In anger, Shiva decapitated Ganesha. Later upon Parvati's insistence, Lord Shiva restored his life.
