Amarnath Yatra
Amarnath cave is a Hindu shrine located in Jammu and Kashmir, India. The cave is situated at an altitude of 3,888 m (12,756 ft), about 141 km (88 mi) from Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir and reached through Pahalgam town. The shrine forms an important part of Hinduism, and is considered to be one of the holiest shrines in Hinduism. The cave is surrounded by snowy mountains. 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. Hundreds of thousands of Hindu devotees make an annual pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave across challenging mountainous terrain.This religious Yatra is organized every year to the great Himalayas, by the government of Jammu and Kashmir. The Yatra can be undertaken along two routes- Baltal to Amarnath Cave and Pahalgam to Amarnath cave.
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 .It is considered to be a Shiva Linga by Hindus. It is mentioned in the ancient Hindu texts of Mahabharata and Puranas that Lingam represents Lord Shiva.As per religious beliefs, it has been claimed that the lingam grows and shrinks with the phases of the moon reaching its height during the summer festival, although there is no scientific evidence for this belief.According to a Hindu legend, this is the cave where Shiva explained the secret of life and eternity to his divine consort, Parvati.
History
According to legend, Bhrigu Muni was the first to have discovered
Amarnath. Long time ago it is believed that The Valley of Kashmir was
submerged under water and Kashyap Muni drained it through a series of
rivers and rivulets. Therefore, when the waters drained, Bhrigu Muni was
the first to have Darshan of Lord Amarnath. Thereafter, when people
heard of the Lingam, it became an abode of Lord Bholenath for all
believers and a pilgrimage which is done by lakhs of people each year.
Preparation for Amarnath Yatra
Special care needs to be taken during the preparation for Amarnath tour.
Complete documentation and Medical fitness are paramount before
embarking on the Amarnath yatra.
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