Cave Temple of Lord Amarnath. Tags: Amarnath Temple View |
The Amarnath caves (lang-hi?????? ????, lang-ur??????? ?????) are one of the most famous shrines in Hinduism, dedicated to the god Shiva, located in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. The shrine is claimed to be over 5,000 years old and forms an important part of ancient Hindu mythology.
Inside the main Amarnath cave lies an ice stalagmite resembling the Shiva Linga (Lingam), 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 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 Shivas son, Ganesha.
The cave is situated at an altitude of convert3888mabbr=on, about convert141kmabbr=on from Srinagar, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir. The Central Reserve Police Force, Indian Army and Indian Paramilitary Forces maintain a strong presence in the region due to security concerns.
Creator: Natural formation
Proper Name: Cave Temple of Lord Amarnath
Primary Deity: Amarnath (Shiva)
Birth Location: Amarnath, Jammu and Kashmir, India