Situated at a towering height of 3,888 m (12,760 ft.) in the picturesque state of Jammu and Kashmir, Amarnath or Amarnath Gufa is one of the iconic pilgrimage sites of India believed to be more than 5000 years old. The cave itself is 40 m (130 ft.) in height and a shiva lingam formed naturally from ice rests peacefully inside it.An interesting feature of the ice lingam is that it increases and decreases in size with the waxing and waning of the moon respectively. It attains its full length form on the night of Shravan Purnima.
Along with the ice lingam, there are two more ice formations in Amarnath Cave which is worshipped as the ice lingams of Maa Parvati and Ganesha.
Amarnath Yatra starts normally in July and concludes in August. Lakhs of pilgrims undertake the pilgrimage during Shravani Mela which is held in the month of Shravan between July and August.
The weather in summers is ideal between 10°C to 24°C. Winters are quite cold with temperature averaging between -2°C to 8°C.
The formation of the ice lingam is miraculous in its own way. Water droplets from the top of the cave trickle down slowly and freezes to form ice. The ice forms a solid base and then starts taking the shape of Shiva Lingam. The ice shivling attains its full length on the night of Shravan Purnima.
Amarnath Yatra is a significant pilgrimage for Hindus as it is believed that it was here, in the secluded location of Amarnath Cave that Lord Shiva explained the creation of universe and secrets of immortality to Maa Parvati. Visiting the temple and worshipping the pious ice shiva lingam is said to provide moksha.
Every year thousands of devotees take the arduous pilgrimage to Amarnath Gufa Temple to get a glance of the pious ice lingam and worship Lord Shiva. Amarnath Cave Temple has located 141 km from Srinagar, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir. Amarnath Yatra begins in the month of July and concludes in the month of August, the months when ice lingam is formed. Due to the short duration of yatra too, Amarnath trek sees a large number of pilgrims who undertake the pilgrimage with great zeal.
Originally, the Amarnath Yatra is to be undertaken from Srinagar. However, these days it has become more common to begin the journey from Pahalgam and complete the journey in 5 days.
The route is as follows: Pahalgam – Chandanwari – Pissu Top – Sheshnag –Panchtarni – Amarnath Cave Temple
If you wish to complete Amarnath Yatra in one day, then helicopter services are also available from Pahalgam to Panchtarni.
There is also another route to Amarnath Cave from Baltal. You can either travel by foot or hire ponies to Amarnath Temple cave from Baltal. The journey will take just one day. However, the route from Baltal is much steeper than that from Pahalgam.
To the Amaranath temple
Dear Sir,
The question is the symbol of the holy Shiva at the Amaranath temple which is the incarnation of the holy Shiva at adjustment at time again
Kalaranji Maheswaran
Management Consultant in book keeping and in accounts clerical
Friday,16th September 2022