Shivalingam in Jammu & Kashmir
Surrounded by snow clad mountains, Amaranth, in the state of Jammu & Kashmir is one of the most revered pilgrim centres of India, located 140km north east of Srinagar at a height of 13000 feet above see level, and the amaranth cave enshrines a natural Shivalingam of ice. The shrine is claimed to be over 5,000 years old and forms an important part of ancient Hindu mythology. According to 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.
Shivalingam in Amarnath, in Jammu Kashmir
To the left of the Shivalingam is another ice block representing Ganesha, and to the right of the Shivalingam are blocks representing, Parvati and Bhairava. Inside the Amarnath cave is another small cave from which a chalk like substance is give out to pilgrim as Vibhuti (Holy Ash). Open only for a few months during the year. Amarnath is reached after a strenuous hike through the Himalayas.
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