Amarnath temple, and the Amarnath Yatra, is one of the four major pilgrimages of the country. the temple is famed for seeing the ice image of Lord Shiva that is formed in the shape of Shiva Lingam. The Lingam waxes and wanes with the sight of the Moon. In the Hinduism faith, this religious journey is one of the major pilgrimages yatras of their life to show the path to heaven.
Amarnath temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is mainly located in Jammu and Kashmir at a height of 12,760 feet. Devotees visit the Amarnath cave every year to witness the ice Lingam which is formed by the nature, meanwhile naturally formed of ice. The temple is only open for a few months in the summer and closes in winter times. As seen from the top of the cave, the water slowly trickles down which freezes to form ice and then forms the shape of Shiva Lingam, it acquired the complete shape of Purnima. It is said that Lord Shiva was explaining to his wife Parvati the secret of life.
Let me tell you the story, once upon a time, Devi Parvati asked Lord Shiva why he wore a Mund Mala or Beads of the head, and shiva replied, every time you are born, he wears a new head and adds it to his Mund Mala. Then Devi Parvati asked, why it is that he is immortal and she died every time. Then Shiva said, it is because of the Amar Katha. To answer the questions of her all Lord chose a place where no one can listen to the talk between them and he found the most suitable place that is Amarnath cave.
Also visit: Manyamkonda Venkateshwara Temple (Palamoor Tirupathi) – History Significance and Other Complete Details
And he left Nandi at Pahalgam, he left his moon at Chandanwari, at the bank of Sheshnag he left his snake, and his Son Ganesha at the Mahagunas Parvat and at Panjtarni he left all the fiver elements behind, water, air, earth, sky, and fire which are the five basic elements building blocks of human beings. Even Lord Shiva and devi Parvati performed a Tandav as a symbol of sacrificing the earth and reached the Amarnath cave. No being could listen to the story he created a Rudra room which he names Kalagni. Lord Shiva sat on the Samadhi on to the skin of the deer and an egg was lying under the skin of the deer, which got protected but it is said that the pair of pigeons were born out of this egg and became immortal having listened to the story of the Amarkatha.
When the cave was discovered, one such story said by the people is that of Shepherd Buta Malik. A saint gave Buta a bag of coal and after receiving a bag full of coal went back to his home when he opened it, he found the bag is packed with gold coins. He was very happy to receive this gift from the saint and immediately went on to thank him. But he found the holy cave and the Shiva Linga instead of the saint at that place. Since that time, people started considering it as a holy place of pilgrimage. Now the cave is managed by the Shri Amarnath ji Shrine board.
How to reach-
By air- The closest airport is Srinagar, which is 72 kilometers away from Amarnath Cave.
By Train- Jammu Tawi is the nearest railway station which is 176 kilometers from the Amarnath Cave.
By Road- The State Transport and Private Operators provide bus services from Jammu to Pahalgam and Baltlal.
