Amarnath

Amarnath

Amarnath also known as Amarnath Dham is a holy place for Hindu Shrines.

"For those who journey with faith , it is rewarding experience, this simple visitation to a cave -shrine , the home of the Himalayan medicant who is the destroyer and healer,the greatest of Hindu God"

    Anantnag District is famous for Amarnath Ji cave situated at Mount Amarnath whose altitude is about 5,486 m. above sea level. The world famous Shrine of Amarnath is situated about 48k.m. from Pahalgam and attracts devotees from all over India.

  

          The Himalayan pilgrimage are the oldest organised travel system , evolved overtime by Hindu Sages and embodying the spirit of wander, adventure and spirituality.

    One of the holy trinity , Shiva is a living God . The Most ancient and sacred book of India , the Rig Veda evokes his presence in its hymns. Vedic myths , rituals and even astronomy testify to his existence from the dawn of time.

History of Amarnath:

The name of this divine cave is comprised of two segment i.e. Amar which means immortal and Nath which means Lord.

The name only suggests that this is immortal place where Lord Shiva revealed the secret of life and death to his wife Goddess Parvati. The religious significance of Amareshwara or Amarnath can be reffered from Rajatarangini. There is a belief  that in the 11th century , Queen Suryamathi presented this temple with Trishula , various sacred emblems, and banalingas . There is a piece of very detailed information about historical accounts of this holy cave in Rajavalipataka which was started by Aryabhatta. There are several other religious texts where religious significance as been mentioned.

Discovery of Amarnath Cave:

According a Hindu belief , this divine cave was found by Buta Malik who was a shepherd . The story goes like this that the shepherd once met with a Saint here and that Saint sent him a bag full of coal . When he reached home and opened the bag he got surprised because the coal bag had been transformed into the bag filled with gold coins. He wanted to thank the Saint and went back to the same place where he had met with the Saint , but he couldn't find him and there was a Shrine established at that place . Since then the place has been named as Amarnath Shrine.

The 4 top attractions to visit in Amarnath are:
1. Amarnath Cave.
2. Botanical garden Kokernag.
3. Martand Sun Temple.
4.Aishmuqam Shrine.

Now let's know these places in detail and ask Baba Amarnath to bless each one of us.

1. Amarnath Cave:

Jai Bhole -This is what you will hear all the while when trekking up to the Holy Cave at Amarnath. Taking you to an altitude of 12,756 ft. the Amarnath Yatra is one of the most unforgettable of all my trips. The snow - clad mountains , the unpredictable weather and the simple yet tasty food offered by the langars are the just a few things that would experience enroute the trek. 
     Inside the main Amarnath cave is an ice stalgmite resembling the Shiva Linga , which waxes during May to August and gradually wanes thereafter. This Lingam is said to grow and shrink with the phases of the moon, reaching its height during the summer festival. According to the Hindu mythology , this is the cave where Shiva explained the secret of life and eternity to his divine consort Parvati. There are two other ice formations representing Parvati and Shiva's son , Ganesha. 
      

It is popular pilgrimage destination for Hindus - about 400,000 people visit during the 45 day season around the festival of Shravani Mela in July-August , coinciding with the Hindu holy month of Shravan . During the past fifty years , the ice Shivalingam has shrunk in size , many environmentalists blame global warming for the condition.

2.Botanical Garden Kokernag:

The pleasure garden of serence beauty against the backdrop of high and thick Pine forests existed earlier on about 0.8 ha. in front of the famous Springs of Pure , cool mineral water . In 1969 the garden was extended to an area of about 26 ha. and converted into a Botanical Garden besides being a pleasure garden . New Lawns have been laid and about One Lakh Ornamental plants , trees, bushes , roses , as well as flora from the wild niches of higher range has been planted. A separate section comprising of wild flora of the valley is maintained in this garden. Modern effects like rosary , Japanese bridges over the gushing water stream , water ponds ,live garden seats , topiary work etc. are points of attraction in the garden.

History:

Kokernag is named for a gushing spring which emerges from below densely wooded hill Strictly speaking , 'its a set of seven springs and hence the name: "Koker" means fowl and "Nag" Springs.

The many  adjacent Springs remind you of the claws of a fowl .

     The Spring has been famous over centuries for its beauty and for the curative properties of its water. Famous enough to find mention in the Ain- i- Akbari. However ,for some mystifying reasons which will doubtless leave historians permanently puzzled , the Mughals eschewed their regular practice and did not make a garden here.

Only in the 1970s was this anomaly rectified and a Botanical Garden built at Kokernag as an ode to the divine waters . Not being a Mughal Gardens' , means you don't find any Jugalbandi of stone and water here , and no baradaris either; just the water in its green , very green surroundings. The garden is a popular picnic spot for locals , and a lovely holiday spot for visitors.

Trout Farm :

Next to the Botanical Garden, a Trout farm run by the J&K Fisheries Department , set up in the state , produces about 25 lakh trout in a year . It is worth a visit to see the fish in various stages of growth and to learn how they are framed in channels that are called ,"raceways".

You can also buy a rainbow trout here.

Where to stay and eat :

This Subz - bagh is a place worth spending a night in , especially for the silence that engulfs at and for the blessings of the morning . The sound of the water becomes part of that silence in Kokernag , as does the occasional call by the ducks . You wake up to the chirping of the resident birds . Out in the garden , in April - May , you find the chestnut has dropped a white carpet of florets at your feet.

Trout fish flowering in Kashmir's wild streams.

Tip: Many important roads converge at Khanabal - Anantnag , so ask and double check when you are on the road to Kokernag. Anantnag is locally called Islamabad.

3.Martand Sun temple:

The Martand Sun Temple is Hindu temple dedicated to Surya ( the chief solar diety in Hinduism ) and built during the 8th Century CE. Martand is another Sanskrit synonym for Surya . Now in ruins , the temple is located five miles from Anantnag in the Indian Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The temple was destroyed on the order of Sultan Sikandar Butshikan as part of his efforts to forcibly convert Kashmiri people to Islam.

History :

The Martand Sun Temple was built by the third ruler of the Kurkota Dynesty , Lalitaditya Muktapida , in the 8th century CE. It is said to have been built during 725 -756 CE. The foundation of the temple is said to have been around since 370- 350 CE, with some attributing the construction of the temple to have begun with Ranaditya.

This place is good for:

God Lovers, Nirvana seekers, Experience Seekers, History buffs.

Some Bollywood Facts:

The Martand Sun Temple has been  featured in 3 bollywood songs and unfortunately all of them have been gloomy and unhappy songs.

Haidar (2014):

Most of you will remember The Martand Sun Temple from the Sahid Kapoor - Tabu starrer Bollywood film Haidar . A memorable political song Bismil was shot here . Unfortunately that song presented the temple as evil and if you carefully notice to the song a devil was being placed by the director and staff to make the place look more acoustic and evil.

   As creative creations and thinkings are appreciated but one should not include people feelings and desires .

Andhi (1974) :

The popular song ' tere bina zindagi se koi shikwa to nahi' is the epitome of melancholy and is still popular with broken hearts was shot here.

Man ki Aankhen (1970) :

The song ' Chala bhi aa aaja rasiya' sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Mohammad Rafi in the Man ki Ankhen movie was shot here. This song also depicted sadness and longing too.

The Martand Sun Temple is known mostly fo various cravings on its wall representing people's lifestyle of that era.

4. Aishmuqam Shrine:

 

Aishmuqam Shrine is one of the most prominent tourists spot in Anantnag, which was built in the 15th century A.D.  This Shrine was constructed in the honour of Shaikh Zain-Ud-Din who was also the chief disciples of the renowned Reshi , Sheikh Noor -ud-din . The hills in the Aishmuqam town were once home to Hazrat Zain - ud- din wali . Therefore, this place is considered to be sacred by people belonging to different religions.

History of Aishmuqam Shrine:

The annual Urs of Zain -ud - din wali ,the 15th century saint is celebrated March-April in which constitute unusual festival's. Men , women and children gather at the Shrine---acave---atop of a hillock in Aishmuqam village of Anantnag District , carrying torches.

As the legend has it Zain -ud-din wali ---- Zia Singh belonged to a Rajput Hindu family from neighbour Kishtwar District. Old people says Zain -ud-din wali, before his conversion was a prince and belonged to the ruling Rajas of Kishtwar.

    Zia Singh fell gravely ill as a child . His distraught mother approached a visiting mystic Sheikh Noordin Reshi ( the leading Sufi Saint of Kashmir) . He prayed for the child on the condition that when he recovered she would bring him to kashmir . He did recover but his mother forgot to take him to the valley. The boy fell ill again . His Mott saw the mystic in her dream and remembered the promise . She took Zia Singh to Kashmir , both became Muslims , and the child from then onwards remained under the guidance of the Sufi Saint who later ordered him to move to the cave of Aishmuqam for meditation. When he reached the cave he found it full of snakes and other reptiles.

     He ordered the snakes to leave the cave. And later emerged from the cave a Saint. Zain-ud-din wali.

So to commemorate the moment when he entered the cave , people of all religions gather with torchlights.

How to reach:

From Srinagar International Airport the shrine is approximately 77 k.m. and from Srinagar Railway Station it is around 70 k.m. and from Srinagar bus stand the shrine is about 77 k.m. Anantnag Railway Station is close to shrine , around 30 k.m. from Pahalgam bus stand the shrine is 22 k.mm approximately. State transport buses are available for the shrine throughout the day. Private vehicles and taxis are also available.

Nearest city:

Pahalgam , bus stand: Aishmuqam adda bus stand.

Airport: Srinagar international airport.

Railway station: Anantnag Railway Station.

Visit Amarnath, Visit India!