The Myth and History of Amarnath Temple

Amarnath

A Temple

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The Amarnath Temple, nestled in the majestic Himalayas of Jammu and Kashmir, India, is one of Hinduism's most revered pilgrimage sites. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, this ancient shrine is renowned for its natural ice lingam, a symbol of Shiva that forms annually in the Amarnath Cave. Every year, thousands of devotees undertake the challenging pilgrimage to pay homage to the deity, braving rugged terrain and high altitudes. The Amarnath Yatra, as this pilgrimage is known, holds profound spiritual significance, drawing worshippers and adventurers alike to experience its unique blend of natural beauty and deep religious devotion.

Amarnath Yatra

Amarnath yatra is one among the four major pilgrimages of India, and flock of devotees treck through the south Kashmir Himalayas to the Holy Cave Temple of Shri Amarnathji every year. The temple is opened for devotees only during summers, in the month of July to August. People rush to see the ice model of Lord Shiva that is formed in the shape of Lingam.

The model incredibly waxes and wanes with the sight of moon. People of Hindu Faith in India consider this religious journey as one of the major tasks of their life that can fairly

show them the path to heaven. 1500 pilgrims are allowed per day and they should fall in the age of 14 to 74 years. 

Amarnath temple is dedicated to worshipping Loed Shiva. It is located in the state of Jammu and Kashmir at a height of about 12,760 feet. Devotees visit the Amarnath cave every year for getting a pious glimpse of Ling of Lord Shiva which is believed to be formed naturally from ice.

The Myth

The story about Amarnath starts with Goddess Parvati asking her husband, lord Shiva about the beads (Rudra) that he donned on his head. Lord Shiva explains to her that he first started wearing the beads as a symbol of her birth. Every time she borns, a bead Is added. 

To which the Goddess replies "why do I die and reborn every time whereas you are immortal ?" 

Shiva discloses to her the truth about his immortality, which is called Amar Katha. Parvati being very intrigued, asked her husband to narrate the story to her. And it is for the reason, lord Shivafinds an isolated cave, so that no one else can listen to the story. On his way, he gives up all his Ornaments, Elements and his companion Nandi.

After reaching the cave, on his command, Kalangi burns the place around the cave, so that no living creature survives and sneaks on the story. In the cave Shiva undergoes and narrate the story to his wife parvati, but she fall asleep between the story and Accidentally, underneath a bed made of deerskin, a single egg remains unharmed and twin pigeons pop off the shell and one of them becomes Sukhdev the son of Rishi Ved Vyas.

THE HISTORY

According to the local folk tales, it is said that a poor Muslim shepherd named, Buta Malik found the cave in 1850. 

Going by the legend, the shepherd was given a bag of coal by a saint which later turned into Gold. To sincerely thank him, the shepherd went back but instead of finding the saint he ended up finding The Cave and Shiva Linga. 

Another story of the discovery of shrine is that Brighu Muni  was the first to discover the cave on the valley pf Kashmir and it was he who informed the existence of the divine

Ice Shrine to the local villagers.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Amarnath Temple stands as a testament to enduring faith and spiritual devotion, with a rich history that spans centuries. The sacred site, dedicated to Lord Shiva, has been a focal point of pilgrimage since ancient times, drawing devotees who brave the arduous journey to witness the miraculous ice lingam. Historical texts, folklore, and religious traditions highlight the temple's significance in Hinduism. Despite challenges over the ages, the Amarnath Yatra continues to thrive, symbolizing the unwavering commitment of the pilgrims and the timeless allure of this holy shrine.

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