Amarnath cave is one of the main attractions of Hinduism. Kashmiri separatists opposed the move citing reasons that it will jeopardize the article 370 that gives separate identity to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and prevents any Indian citizen to settle in Kashmir. A section claims that the “cave was lost for a very long time… till it was ‘rediscovered’ in 1775”. The mountain resembles a Shiva lingam when viewed from certain angles, especially when travelling or trekking from Gangotri to Gomukh as part of a traditional Hindu pilgrimage. 1000's of people come to see Amarnath Baba every day and yearly people are available huge quantities to see the idol of Baba Barfani inside the cave. There are a number of ancient texts, historical chronicles and research works which throw ample light on the history/origin of the Amarnath pilgrimage. It is usually mentioned within the history that the good ruler Aryaraja used to worship the Shivling made of snow in Kashmir. Then, finally, Lord Shiva entered the Holy Amarnath Cave along with Mata Parvati. [3] The cave is surrounded by snowy mountains. The most important reason obviously is that this view is not based on some authentic or reliable source. The iconic Amarnath Yatra, the annual Hindu pilgrimage to a Jammu and Kashmir shrine, will not take place this year because of the coronavirus pandemic, the … Even otherwise, it is an established fact that the Amareshwara tradition has all along remained very strong in Kashmir. There are others, who say that the cave was “rediscovered in 1600”. [46], The yatra was suspended in August 2019 after the state government stated there was a threat of possible terrorist attacks. Shakti Mahakali is Energy. The pilgrimage however passed off mostly peacefully. Of the 130 deaths, 88 were due to purported health reasons and 42 in road accidents. Shiva made an appearance with a bright countenance and enquired about the cause of their distress. Even when we are offering puja or worshipping our Gods and Goddesses, there is some scientific reason or mythological belief behind it. But the highly unpredictable weather of the mountains should be more obliging before Guru Purnima as rains would not start. Take a bus or taxi from Jammu to reach … In response to the question in Lok Sabha (Lower house of the Indian Parliament) then Minister of State for Finance, S.S. Palanimanickam clarified that tax is levied on all India Tourist Vehicles entering the state and is therefore not correct to say that Government of Jammu & Kashmir is levying any additional tax on vehicles going to Amarnath and Vaishno Devi. Every year more than 50,000 pilgrims from Gujarat visit the holy shrine in Amarnath to pay obeisance to ‘Barfani Baba’ (ice shivling). This ice stalagmite waxes and wanes with the waxing and waning of the moon. When Governor NN Vohra visited the holy cave shrine of Amarnath, the natural Shivling stood at seven inches. It starts on Vyas Poornima and concludes on the day of Sharavan (Rakhi) Poornima. The National Green Tribunal has refused to review its order directing devotees to maintain silence while standing in front of the Amarnath ‘shivling’ in the cave shrine. [16] The yatra is both a way of earning revenue by the state government by imposing tax on pilgrims,[17][18] and making living by the local Shia Muslim Bakarwal-Gujjars by taking a portion of revenue and by offering services to the Hindu pilgrims, and this source of income has been threatened by the Kashmiri militant groups who have harassed and attacked the yatra numerous times,[19][20][21] [9] It is situated at an altitude of 12,720 feet in south of Kashmir. The Beautiful View Of The Ice Linga At The Amarnath Temple. [28][22], The pilgrimage suffered another setback with the massacre at Nunwan base camp in Pahalgam of at 32 people (including 21 unarmed Hindu pilgrims, 7 unarmed Muslim civilians and 3 security force officers) in a two hour long indiscriminate shoot out by Kashmiri separatists on 2 August 2000. [24][43] Then Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee blamed Lashkar-e-Taiba for the killings. Inside the 40 m (130 ft) high Amarnath cave, a stalagmite is formed due to freezing of water drops that fall from the roof of the cave on to the floor and grows up vertically from the cave floor. Amarnath yatra एक अनसुलझा रहस्य ही रह गया, न जाने कैसे बनता है Amarnath Shivling और फिर क्यू घटने लग जाता,Science भी फेल,परन्तु पारवती जानती थी इस रहस्य. The most famous Amarnath Ice Linga is formed by dropping water through the mountain crevices. The book Rajatarangini (Book VII v.183) refers to krishaanth or Amarnath. While moving with Parvati over the Himalayas, Shiva rested in a cave and revealed the secrets of life to Parvati and got himself transformed into the ice linga. The cave itself is covered with snow most of the year except for a short period of time in summer when it is open for pilgrims. There is a bus service from Jammu to Pahalgam (7,500 ft.). The leaves of Tulsi - a sacred plant is offered to all Gods and Goddess except Lord Ganesh, Shivling and Goddess Durga. This is nature’s work of art. Amarnath Temple was a Art and architecture good articles nominee, but did not meet the good article criteria at the time. Pilgrims Walking To Amarnath Cave. It is situated at an altitude of 12,720 feet in south of Kashmir. India's central political party the Bhartiya Janata Party expressed its ire over imposition of entry fee and accused the then UPA led central government to direct the Jammu and Kashmir dispensation to desist from making attempts to "discriminate" between followers of various religions. [28] The Amarnath pilgrimage was suspended in July 2016 due to the Kashmir unrest. Amarnath yatra एक अनसुलझा रहस्य ही रह गया, न जाने कैसे बनता है Amarnath Shivling और फिर क्यू घटने लग जाता,Science भी फेल,परन्तु पारवती जानती थी इस रहस्य. Sadhus chant religious slogans while standing in a queue to get themselves registered for the Amarnath Yatra, at a base camp, in Jammu (File) Only 724 pilgrims left Jammu for the Amarnath cave shrine Monday, a month before the yatra officially concludes. Nowadays, Amarnath Yatra Package by Helicopter is more popular among the devotees for being easy and time saving. Some also died in road accidents before reaching the base camp from where the yatra starts. Up to 1990, the number of pilgrims, who used to visit the holy shrine, ranged between 10,000 and 15,000 annually. Over one lakh people visited the shrine before the yatra had been officially flagged off, many of them carrying cooking gas. Snowfall ensures higher Amarnath Shivling, but communications a challenge. Around three lakh … According to Hindu religious belief, the size of Shiva lingam at Amarnath Cave increases and decreases with the different phases of the moon. [33], Devotees travel on foot, either from Srinagar or from Pahalgam. Back of the Book With Barfani Baba.., the author fulfills her long awaited dream to make the pilgrimage to the Amarnath Cave, to pray at the shirne if the ice Shivling . It is covered with snow most of the year except for a short period of time in summer when it is open for pilgrims. It is 16 km long and passes through Brari Marg and Sangam. It is said that, Shiva narrated the story of the creation of the universe and the secret of … PTI The BJP had in the past objected to a shortened yatra, and in 2012 had protested when the yatra was limited to 39 days. It is usually named Amarnath or Amareshwar in the book Rajatarangini. What is the scientific reason behind the famous Shivling of Amarnath, India? Sightseeing In Amarnath Picture. [37], Officially, the Yatra is organised by the government in collaboration with the Shree Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB). Do read: The Legend behind Amarnath shivling Becoming a Patron or a subscriber for as little as Rs 999/year is the best way you can support our efforts. Sightseeing In Amarnath Picture. It is mentioned in the ancient Hindu texts of Mahabharata and Puranas that Lingam represents Lord Shiva. Sheshnaag Jheel At The Amarnath Temple. It is difficult to endorse the view. The green panel said there was no "patent error" in its last year order and the direction was passed in the interest of the environment as well as shrine. According to Bhrigu Samhita, a person who bathes in the waters of Amur Veth (Amuravati) and rubs himself with the ashes gets moksha. The Amarnath temple is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas, temples throughout South Asia that commemorate the location of fallen body parts of the Hindu deity Sati. A pair of snow pigeons overheard Shiva’s discourse and became immortal. "Reports claim that over 40% of holy Shivling at Amarnath cave has melted even before yatra that begins June 28, raising questions over how the thousands of p..." Updated : 29 June 2013, 08:22 PM. All Rights Reserved. The major cause was attributed to people who were not physically fit for the arduous climb, high elevations, and adverse weather undertook the yatra. Near the shrine, hundreds of tents which are erected by locals can be hired for a night's stay. It is via Sonamarg. This is nature’s work of art. A peep into such historical sources clears all the cobwebs of confusion and establishes that the origin of the pilgrimage to the holy cave of Amarnath is not shrouded in mystery. Various agencies provide necessary facilities all along the route during the Yatra period, which includes provision of ponies, supply of power, telecommunication facilities, firewood and setting up of fair price shops. The legend goes that during the month of Sawan or Shravan (July and August), the ice stalagmite forms a natural Shivling or ice-lingam which waxes and wanes with the phases of the moon at Amarnath. Shivlinga At The Amarnath Temple, Jammu And Kashmir. This Cave is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. [48][49][50][51], On 22 April 2020, the Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board announced the suspension of the Yatra because of the COVID-19 pandemic in India. One is of Parvati, wife of Shiva, and the other is of their son, Ganesha. One of the most sacrosanct places in India as considered by the followers of Hindu religion, Amarnath temple is dedicated to worshipping Lord Shiva. [29] A section of Sufis and Shias later demanded resumption of the Yatra. Amarnath Cave Temple us located in Jammu and Kashmir and dedicated to Lord Shiva at an altitude of 3,888 m and considered to be one of the holiest shrines in Hinduism. Shiva appeared in the form of an ice linga, and, hence, began the pilgrimage (to) and prayers at Amreshvara”. [44], On 20 July 2001, a terrorist threw a grenade on a pilgrim night camp at Sheshnag near the Amarnath shrine in which at least 13 persons, including 3 women, were killed in two explosions and firing by militants, 2 were security officials and 3 of the killed person were Muslim civilians. It would not be out of place to make a brief reference here to what the noted researcher on the historiography of Amarnath cave, M M Munshi, wrote about the Amarnath pilgrimage (Kashmir Sentinel, Jammu, Volume 13 July 2008), (as also what the website Wikipedia tells about the origin/history of the Amarnath pilgrimage). Nearly 17,000 pilgrims on Thursday paid obeisance at the naturally formed ice lingam in the holy cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir Himalayas. Today, the Shivling has melted completely, reports Arun Joshi. A reference to what was written by Munshi and what Wikipedia tells has become imperative as both were based on authentic sources and can be corroborated without any difficulty. When Governor NN Vohra visited the holy cave shrine of Amarnath, the natural Shivling stood at seven inches. The shrine forms an important part of Hinduism, and is considered to be one of the holiest shrines in Hinduism. [11] The July–August popular annual Hindu pilgrimage, undertaken by up to 600,000 or more pilgrims to the 130 feet (40 m)-high glacial Amarnath cave shrine of iced stalagmite Shiv linga at 12,756 feet (3,888 m) in the Himalayas, is called Amarnath Yatra. So much so, it says that, according to the Jonaraja’s Zaina Rajatarangini (vv.