Jammu and Kashmir - Pilgrimages and Temples

Religious Traditions of Jammu and Kashmir:

- Shakti Peetha → Amarnath (Kashmira Shakti Peetha)

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Shiva Tradition of Jammu and Kashmir:
(Bhringeesha Samhita)

• Amarnath → Lord Shiva told the Amar Katha (secret of immortality) to Devi Parvati inside the holy Amarnath Cave.

• Udhampur Sudh Mahadev → Sudh Mahadev is associated with the legend of Lord Shiva and devotee Sudheet.

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Devi Tradition of Jammu and Kashmir:
(Peetha Nirnaya Tantra)
(Sharada Mahatmya)

• Amarnath → Devi abides in Amarnath as Kashmira Shakti Peetha.

• Kashmir Sharada Peeth → Devi Saraswati abides in Kashmir Sharada Peeth as Devi Sharada.

• Vaishno Devi → Devi abides in Vaishno Devi in the form of three Pindies (Devi Mahakali, Devi Mahalakshmi and Devi Mahasaraswati).

• Tulla Mulla Kheer Bhawani → Devi abides in Tulla Mulla as Devi Kheer Bhawani (Ragnya Devi).

• Srinagar Sharika Devi → Devi abides in Srinagar as Sharika Devi (who is considered as the presiding deity of Srinagar).

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Sages and Jammu and Kashmir:
(Sharada Mahatmya)

• Shandilya (Kashmir Sharada Peeth) → Sage Shandilya is said to have performed penance in Sharada Vana and got the darshan of Devi Sharada.

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Saints and Jammu and Kashmir:

• Adi Shankaracharya (788 - 820 CE?) (Srinagar Shankaracharya Temple) (Kashmir Sharada Peeth) →
- Sri Adi Shankaracharya is said to have stayed and meditated in the place of Srinagar Shankaracharya Temple.
- Sri Adi Shankaracharya ascended the Sarvajna Peetham (Throne of Wisdom) in Kashmir Sharada Peeth.

• Swami Vivekananda (1863 - 1902 CE) (Tulla Mulla Kheer Bhawani) → Swami Vivekananda had a divine experience in the Kheer Bhawani temple.

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Sacred Geography of Jammu and Kashmir:

Mountains:
☗ Amaranth Cave → Amarnath
☗ Neelum Valley → Kashmir Sharada Peeth
☗ Trikuta Parvat → Vaishno Devi
☗ Hari Parbat → Srinagar Sharika Devi
☗ Shankaracharya Hill → Srinagar Shankaracharya Temple

Rivers:
▬ Lidder flows → Amarnath

1. Pilgrimages and Temples of Lord Shiva: (Jammu and Kashmir)

-- Amaranath - Lord Shiva - Lord Shiva narrated the Amar Katha to Devi Parvati

-- Udhampur - Sudh Mahadev - Legend of devotee Sudheet


2. Pilgrimages and Temples of Devi: (Jammu and Kashmir)

-- Amarnath - Kashmira Shakti Peetha [Amarnath] (SP-4) - The Kanthadesha (Region of the Neck) of Devi had fallen

-- Kashmir - Sharada Peeth - Ancient pilgrimage of Devi Sharada; Adi Shankara ascended the Sarvajna Peetham

-- Katra - Vaishno Devi - A famous pilgrimage of Devi Vaishnavi

-- Tulla Mulla - Kheer Bhawani - A sacred spring worshipped as Ragnya Devi; Swami Vivekananda had a divine experience

-- Srinagar - Sharika Devi - Presiding deity of Srinagar


3. Other Pilgrimages and Temples: (Jammu and Kashmir)

-- Srinagar - Shankaracharya Temple - Adi Shankaracharya is said to have stayed and meditated here