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Amarnath Cave Temple is a Hindu shrine located in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir, India.

A cave situated at an altitude 9f 3,888 m , 12,756 ft.

About 168 km from Anantnag city , the district headquarters, 141 km from Srinagar.  the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir , reached through Pahalgam town .

A shrine represents an important part of Hinduism.

Amarnath  cave , located in Lidder Valley , is surrounded by glaciers .

Snowy mountains and is covered with snow most of the year , except for a short period in the summer, when it is open to pilgrims.

In 1989, pilgrims numbered between 12,000 and 30,000. 2011 the numbers reached a peak , crossing 6.3 lakh pilgrims .

In 2018 pilgrims numbered 2.85 lakh . The annual pilgrimage has varied between 20 and 60 days.

 

Shiva Lingam : The Shiva Lingam at the shrine is a Swayambhu lingam.

Lingam is natural stalagmite formation inside a 40m tall cave at an elevation of 3,888m on the Amarnath Mountain, which has a peak of 5,186 meters.

Stalagmite is formed due to freezing of water drops that fall from the roof of the cave onto the floor , resulting in an upward growth of an ice formation.

Here , the stalagmite considered as the lingam thus a physical manifestation of Shiva, forms a solid dome shape.

Two smaller stalagmites are thought to represent Parvati and Ganesha .

Himalayas Pilgrimages  are the oldest organized travel system , evolved over time by Hindu sages . And embodying the spirit of  wander, adventure and spirituality.

 

Amarnath Cave Temple History

 

The book Rajatarangini refers to Krishaanth or Amarnath . It is believed that in the 11th century CE.

Queen Suryamati gifted trishulas, banalingas and other sacred emblems to this temple .

Rajavalipataka, begun by Prajna Bhatta thus  contains detailed reference to the pilgrimage to Amarnath Cave Temple .

In addition, there are further references to this pilgrim in many other ancient texts.

According to legend thus sage Bhrigu was the first to have discovered Amarnath .

A long time ago it is believed that the valley of Kashmir was submerged underwater thus and Sage Kashyapa drained it through a series of rivers and rivulets.

As a result, when the waters drained , Bhrigu was the first to ha e darshan of Shiva at Amarnath .

Thereafter , when people of heard of the lingam thus it became an abode of Shiva for all believers and the site of an annual.

Pilgrimage, traditionally performed by lakhs of people in July and August during the Hindu Holy month of Savan.

 

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