Amarnath is an important place of worship for devotees of Shiva, located in Lidder Valley, Jammu and Kashmir.

LOCATION

Located at an altitude of 3888 metres in the northernmost union territory of India, Jammu and Kashmir, Amarnath is a Hindu shrine very important to devotees of Lord Shiva. It is 141 kilometres away from Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. The caves, located in Lidder Valley, experience snow almost all year round.

MYTHOLOGY

It is said that Bhrigu Muni was the first person who got to see Amarnath. It is said that Kashmir was once ages ago submerged in water. Kashyap Muni drained the water – which forms rivers today, and as the water drained, it was Bhrigu Muni who first witnessed the rise of Amarnath. This makes it a very sacred place of worship and pilgrimage for Shivabhakts, who perform this pilgrimage during the Hindu month of Saavan.

The route of the Yatra is also planned according to mythology. It is believed that Lord Shiv left his bull Nandi at Pahalgam – where the journey starts, the Moon at Chandanwari, his snake at the Sheshnag lake, Ganesh at Mahagun Parvat, and the five elements at Panjtarni, after which he reached the Amarnath Caves where he and Parvati took a new physical form as the stalagmites in the cave.

This temple is one of the 51 sacred spots where parts of Sati’s body have been said to have fallen.

SIGNIFICANCE

Every year, devout Hindus perform the Amarnath Yatra, to the Shivling in Amarnath caves. The Shivling is a stalagmite made of ice, which is best observed during the monsoon months of July – August, due to which the Amarnath Yatra happens in that season. Two other smaller stalagmites present around it are said to be the physical manifestation of Parvati and Ganesh. The Yatras that take place during Saavan are approximately 45 days long, beginning at Pahalgam. It takes 3-5 days to reach Amarnath cave from the base of the trek.

DIFFERENT TIME PERIODS

Aurangzeb visited the Amarnath cave during the 1600s, an account of which was found in the works of a French physician – Francois Bernier, who accompanied him on this journey. Pilgrimages to Amarnath have been going on since the 1800s. The pilgrimage lasted 60 days from 2004 to 2009, after which the number of days reduced again.

DEMOGRAPHY

The number of pilgrims visiting Amarnath peaked at a whopping 634000 during 2011. Many deaths and severe injuries occur on this Yatra every year due to difficult terrain and weather conditions. There have also been several terrorist attacks at Amarnath due to its proximity to the Indo – Pakistan border.

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