The Sacred Journey to Shri Amarnathji Shrine

India is the sacred land of pilgrimages. There is perhaps no province on this earth where pilgrimage sites do not exist.

- DR. SHIBEN KRISHEN RAINA

These pilgrimage centers have been prominent centers of faith and belief since time immemorial. The pilgrimage site named ‘Amarnath’ situated in the Kashmir province holds special significance. In Kalhana's 'Rajatarangini', this pilgrimage is referred to as ‘Amareshwar’. Among the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva located in various regions of India - Somnath, Mallikarjuna, Mahakaleshwar, Omkareshwar, Kedarnath, Bhimashankar, Kashi-Vishwanath, and others - ‘Amarnath’ holds extraordinary importance. Among Shiva's principal abodes, Amarnath is paramount. Hence, Amarnath is called the pilgrimage of pilgrimages.

The Amarnath pilgrimage site is located 141 kilometers northeast of Srinagar city in the Jammu and Kashmir state, at an altitude of 3,888 meters (12,756 feet) above sea level. The cave length (depth inward) is 19 meters and width is 16 meters. This cave spreads across approximately 150 feet area and stands 11 meters high. The wondrous splendor of nature, the Amarnath cave, is one of Lord Shiva's principal religious sites. According to a mythological tale, Lord Shiva chose this very cave to reveal the secret of immortality (the mystery of life and death) to Parvati. The conqueror of death, Mrityunjaya Shiva is immortal, hence also called 'Amareshwar'. Devotees call 'Amareshwar' as Amarnath. Shiva devotees also call him Baba Amarnath or Barfani Baba (the Snow Father).

Amarnath is formed by combining two Hindi words - "Amar" meaning "immortal" and "Nath" meaning "Lord". According to a mythological story, when Goddess Parvati asked Lord Shiva to reveal the secret of immortality, which he had been hiding from her for a long time, Lord Shiva took Parvati to this cave in the Himalayas to share this secret, ensuring no one else could hear it. Here, Lord Shiva revealed the mystery of immortality to Goddess Parvati.