All About Amarnath Yatra

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Amarnath Yatra: Ten tips for a smooth climb

Source: Sify.com

 

Ensure you are physically and mentally fit to perform the journey as

the Yatra involves trekking at an altitude of 1,4000ft. Get yourself

medically examined and certified fit for the journey.

 

At least a month before the Yatra, it is advisable to start

preparatory exercises: Even a brisk walk of about 4 to 5 km per day

would be beneficial. Breathing exercises like Pranayama would help

combat the lack of sufficient oxygen at high altitudes.

 

Do carry heavy woollens, including thermal body warmers, wind

cheaters, raincoats, sleeping bags, blankets, water-proof shoes with

sufficient grips, small water proof tents, torch with sufficient

batteries and walking sticks.

 

Keep a slip with your Name, Address and the name of accompanying

yatri in your pocket

 

Women are advised to avoid sarees and opt for salwar kameez or

trousers.

Carry water and dry eatables. Ration and firewood quota is

available en route and can be purchased.

 

All medical facilities during Yatra are free. It is advisable to

carry your own personal medical kit and First aid box.

 

Hire only a registered ponywalla or porter. Don't walk far away from

ponies carrying luggage.

 

Move slowly and steadily, as this is an arduous pilgrimage and

maintain discipline.

 

Alcohol is strictly prohibited

 

Don't relax at places where warning signs are fixed. Don't attempt

short cuts on the route.

 

 

The Holy Cave of Amarnath -- The Legend (Part II)

By Meera S. Sashital

Source: Free Press Journal

 

This cave is sacred because of another significance. This was the

cave where Siva narrated the secrets of immortality and of the

creation of Universe to Goddess Parvati. It seems Goddess Parvati

asked Lord Siva why she died but he was immortal. Siva replied it

was due to Amar Katha. Parvati wanted to know the secret but Siva

went on postponing this saying that the secret should be disclosed

in a lonely place where no living being could listen. So Siva chose

the Amarnath Cave. Before going, he left Nandi (his bull) at

Pahalgam (Bailgaon), the moon which rested on his hair at

Chandanwari, his snakes at Lake Sheshanag, Ganesh at Mahagunas

Parvat (Mahaganesh Hill), and at Panjtarni the five elements viz.,

earth, water, air, fire and sky.

After leaving all these, Siva entered the cave with Parvati. He

created a rudra named Kalagni and ordered him to spread fire around

the holy cave to eliminate the chance of having around any living

being. After this he revealed the secret of immortality to Parvati.

 

But, by chance, there was an egg, which was lying beneath the deer

skin on which Lord Siva sat for Samadhi. The pair of pigeons which

were born out of this egg became immortal having listened to the

secret of immortality.

The yatra to Amarnath is supposed to be very meritorious and is

supposed to bring salvation just like a yatra to Kedarnath,

Badrinath, Kasi Visvesvara and other sacred places. It is said that

this sacred spot has been the resort of many sages, rishis and

saints. Hence, pilgrims are keen to visit this holy cave at least

once in their lifetime to get Moksha.

 

Another legend has it that when Kashap Reshi drained the Kashmir

valley of water (it was believed to have been a vast lake), the cave

and the lingam were discovered by Bregish Reshi who was travelling

the Himalayas. When people heard of the lingam, Amarnath for them

became Shiva's abode and a centre of pilgrimage.

 

 

The Holy Cave of Amarnath -- The Legend (Part I)

By Meera S. Sashital

Source: Free Press Journal

 

The Amarnath Siva Linga is assumed as one of the twelve jyotirlingas

called Amar-eswara. The sacred cave is not a man-made temple or an

artificially carved out cave. It is believed that Lord Siva first

appeared in this cave on the full-moon day of Shravan and therefore,

there is special merit in going on a pilgrimage to Amarnath on this

day. Besides, until then, the area is covered by snow. So the month

of Shravan (July-August) is the ideal period for the pilgrimage.

The Pandas of Amarnath reside at Mattan or Martand which is famous

for the Surya temple and is also called the Surya-Kshetra.

 

There are many legends relating to the holy cave. According to one,

Lord Siva made the gods immortal at this place by feeding them with

nectar. He pressed the cresent moon adorning his head.

 

At the gods' request Siva stayed here in the form of a linga of

ice and, as he made them immortal, Siva is known here as Amarnath.

There are other ancient tales surrounding the mysterious caves. One

story that symbolises the spirit of secularism in Kashmir is of a

Muslim shepherd named Buta Malik, who was given a sack of coal by a

sadhu.

 

Upon reaching home, he discovered that the sack contained gold.

Overjoyed, Buta Malik rushed back to look for the sadhu and thank

him. But he discovered only a cave on the spot of their meeting.

Eventually, the cave became a place of pilgrimage.

 

To date, a percentage of the donations made by pilgrims are given to

the descendants of Malik, and the remaining to the trust which

manages the shrine.

 

 

The Holy Cave of Amarnath -- Amarnath Yatra

By Meera S. Sashital

Source: Free Press Journal

 

The Holy Amarnath Yatra or pilgrimage began on 8th July from Jammu

and will end on 10th August on shravan purnima day at the Holy

Amarnath Cave. For the yatra, advance registration has to be done by

the yatris with the J & K Govt. About 1000 yatris are released daily

for the 14 km trek from Baltal near Sonamarg to the Holy Cave as

against over 3500 yatris from the Nunwan base camp near Pahalgam,

which has been made the base camp this time due to security reasons,

instead of Pahalgam itself. The huge procession starts from Srinagar

on the fifth of the bright half of shravan.

The Holy Cave of Amarnath is situated at a height of 13,000 feet

above sea level, about 86 miles north east of Srinagar. It is the

famous cave where Lord Siva has always been worshipped in the form

of linga-shaped ice block. The ice block is formed by the drops of

water dripping from the top of the cave. Tradition says in every

lunar month from the first of the bright half, the ice block starts

forming into a siva-linga and on the full moon day of each lunar

month it forms itself into a huge linga. From the first day of the

dark half of each month, the linga of ice starts decreasing and on

the Amavasya of the new moon day it vanishes.

 

The Amarnath Cave is said to be 150 feet high and 90 ft. broad

 

and its walls are made of gypsum. Two gaps in the northern wall of

the cave let in drops of water which freezes. Of the two gaps, one

is bigger and below it forms the ice linga. On the left of this main

linga, there is another formation called Ganesh and on the right,

Parvati and Bhairva. As per the descriptions, the cave faces south

and the rays of the sun do not fall directly on the images of

Amarnath. The myth that the snow linga is formed every lunar month

during the bright half and melts away in the dark half and it being

a shrine of great sanctity is mentioned in the Ain-i-Akbari of Abdul

Fazal.

Inside the cave of Amarnath, there is another small cave on the left

of the image from which a chalk-like substance is dug out. This

substance is given to the pilgrims as vibhuti of Amarnath by the

Mahomedans of the Batkut village. On the bed of the stream called

Amarganga which is on the western side of the cave, there are huge

quantities of this white substance which pilgrims apply on their

bodies to protect themselves from severe cold after they have had

their bath . This is called amar vibhuti . Mahomedans of the Batkut

village have 'rights' over this as they do over one-third share of

the offerings made in Amarnath.These rights have been given to the

locals as they have, for many years, been clearing the difficult

passage and keeping the holy cave accessible.

 

 

Amarnath Yatra -- How to Get There

Source: Sify.com

 

The Amarnath cave is situated in a narrow gorge at the farther end

of the Lidder Valley. It stands at 3,888 metres and is 363 km from

Jammu Via Pahalgam, and about 414 km from Jammu via Baltal.

The Yatra is organised every year by the J &K Govt. during the month

of sharavan (July and August). This year, the yatra will be

organised from 8 July, 2003 to 8 August, 2003.

 

Air: The nearest aerodrome is Srinagar. There are daily flights to

Srinagar from Delhi and Jammu. On some week days, flights also pick

up passengers from Chandigarh and Amritsar.

 

Rail: The nearest Railway Station from Amarnath is the Jammu

station. Jammu is well-connected through trains like Jammu Express

and Jammu Rajdhani.

 

How to Reach Amarnath Holy Cave: Nearly 150,000 pilgrims visit

Amaranath Caves every year, despite the ardous trek and the threat

of militancy. The journey from Jammu onward is by road and there are

two routes:

 

Jammu-Pahalgam-Holy Cave: The distance between Jammu to Pahalgam

(315 km) can be covered by taxi or bus. These are available at

Tourist Reception Centre, J & K Govt and Raghunath Bazaar only early

in the morning. But one can also come to Srinagar by air and then

move to Pahalgam by road.

 

Jammu-Baltal-Holy cave (414km): The distance between Jammu and

Baltal can be covered by taxis or buses available at Tourist

Reception Centre or the J & K bus stand. The road route followed

is : JAMMU - Udhampur - Kud - Patnitop - Ramban - Banihal -

KaziGund - Anantnag - Srinagar - Sonamarg