Amarnath
Located 145 km east of Srinagar in Kashmir, Amarnath is an icy legend whispered all over the world. Amarnath is different from many tourist locations in India because of its mysterious and religious history. The ice Shiva linga found in the cave changes size from season to season, and also as the moon waxes and wanes. On a full moon, the linga reaches 6 feet in height. Set in a valley of ice at a staggering 13,700 feet, the cave is 150 feet high and 90 feet long. Inside the cave are five different ice sculptures that are meant to resemble different gods. The largest is the eternal god, Shiva, the Amarnath.
The legend of Amarnath :
The legend of Amarnath says that Shiva told the secret of ongoing creation to Parvati, and two doves seeking refuge in the cave overheard their whispers and now have claimed the cave as their permanent home; gifted with the ability to be reborn again and again. Pilgrims have reported seeing the doves when they travel to pay their respects and meditate before Amarnath. Two other statues stand by Shiva’s side, completing the ice trinity; Parvati on Shiva’s left, and Ganesha on the right.
The journey :
The Amarnath Holy Cave is 363 km from Jammu via Pahalgam and around 414 km from Jammu via Baltal. There are two main routes to reach the Holy Cave, both being fairly difficult. They can be reached by air, road, or rail. The traditional route would be to travel from Jammu to Pahalgam; then from Pahalgam to the Holy Cave. The journey from Jammu to Pahalgam should prove fairly simple, due to the vast selection of transportation options located in Jammu. However, once Pahalgam is reached, the rest of the trip must be traveled by foot or by horseback, all the way to the Holy Cave. Travelers should be warned that the climate is very unstable in this area. Rain and snowfall can occur at any time during travel, and other sudden changes in the weather may happen. The temperature can fall as low as – 5 degrees celsius. To be able to perform a pilgrimage to Amarnath, one must be registered with the Jammu and Kashmir government.
The significance of Amarnath :
Although the trek is tedious and rough, many pilgrims flock to pay tribute at Amarnath. The legend is that the cave was discovered by a shepherd named Buta Malik. A saint was said to have given the shepherd a bag of coal, and when the shepherd reached his home the bag had miraculously been transformed into a bag of gold. When he ran back to thank the saint for his generosity, he found the Holy cave and the Shiva Lingam (statue) instead. When the news had been revealed to the villagers, the cave became a place of pilgrimage to those who carry the hope that miracles exist.
Other versions narrate that the valley of Kashmir was submerged beneath a large body of water. Kashyap Rishi had drained the water through a series of rivers. After the land had surfaced, Bhrigu Rishi stumbled upon the Holy Cave while attempting to visit the Himalayas. The cave then became Shiva’s domicile and a place of pilgrimage and worship.
The legend of Amarnath :
The legend of Amarnath says that Shiva told the secret of ongoing creation to Parvati, and two doves seeking refuge in the cave overheard their whispers and now have claimed the cave as their permanent home; gifted with the ability to be reborn again and again. Pilgrims have reported seeing the doves when they travel to pay their respects and meditate before Amarnath. Two other statues stand by Shiva’s side, completing the ice trinity; Parvati on Shiva’s left, and Ganesha on the right.
The journey :
The Amarnath Holy Cave is 363 km from Jammu via Pahalgam and around 414 km from Jammu via Baltal. There are two main routes to reach the Holy Cave, both being fairly difficult. They can be reached by air, road, or rail. The traditional route would be to travel from Jammu to Pahalgam; then from Pahalgam to the Holy Cave. The journey from Jammu to Pahalgam should prove fairly simple, due to the vast selection of transportation options located in Jammu. However, once Pahalgam is reached, the rest of the trip must be traveled by foot or by horseback, all the way to the Holy Cave. Travelers should be warned that the climate is very unstable in this area. Rain and snowfall can occur at any time during travel, and other sudden changes in the weather may happen. The temperature can fall as low as – 5 degrees celsius. To be able to perform a pilgrimage to Amarnath, one must be registered with the Jammu and Kashmir government.
The significance of Amarnath :
Although the trek is tedious and rough, many pilgrims flock to pay tribute at Amarnath. The legend is that the cave was discovered by a shepherd named Buta Malik. A saint was said to have given the shepherd a bag of coal, and when the shepherd reached his home the bag had miraculously been transformed into a bag of gold. When he ran back to thank the saint for his generosity, he found the Holy cave and the Shiva Lingam (statue) instead. When the news had been revealed to the villagers, the cave became a place of pilgrimage to those who carry the hope that miracles exist.
Other versions narrate that the valley of Kashmir was submerged beneath a large body of water. Kashyap Rishi had drained the water through a series of rivers. After the land had surfaced, Bhrigu Rishi stumbled upon the Holy Cave while attempting to visit the Himalayas. The cave then became Shiva’s domicile and a place of pilgrimage and worship.
