Amaranatha Kshetra (Amarnath) - A famous pilgrimage of Lord Shiva and Kashmira Shakti Peetha

• Meditation:

काश्मीरे कण्ठदेशञ्च त्रिसन्ध्येश्वरभैरवः ।
महामाया भगवती गुणातीता वरप्रदा ॥
- Shakti Peetha Stotram - verse 7 (Amarnath has the Kashmira Shakti Peetha where the Kanthadesha of Devi had fallen)

Amarnath Shiva Temple, Anantanag district, Jammu and Kashmir

► Shiva: I meditate on Lord Shiva telling the Amar Katha to Devi Parvati in Amarnath (located on the Lidder Valley).
► Devi: I meditate on Devi Mahamaya abiding in Amarnath as Kashmira Shakti Peetha.

• Stotra: Shakti Peetha Stotram (Amarnath has the Kashmira Shakti Peetha where the Kanthadesha of Devi had fallen)
(Anantanag district, Jammu and Kashmir)

• Greatness:

• Amarnath is primarily a Shiva Sthalam (Pilgrimage of Shiva):
- Lord Shiva narrated the Amar Katha to Devi Parvati.

• Amarnath is also a Devi Sthalam (Pilgrimage of Devi):
- Devi abides in Amarnath as a Shakti Peetha (Seat of Shakti) [Kashmira Shakti Peetha] (Devi Mahamaya).

• Amarnath is the place where Swami Vivekananda had spiritual experiences.

• Amarnath Yatra passes through Lidder Valley.

• Sacred Geography:

☗ Amaranth Cave
▬ River Lidder Valley

• Puranic Events:

1. Presence of Lord Shiva in Amarnath:
• Amar Katha: According to legend Lord Shiva told the Amar Katha (secret of immortality) to Devi Parvati inside this holy cave. To ensure that nobody listens to this secret, Lord Shiva left Nandi at Pahalgam, He released his Moon at Chandanwari, he released his snakes at the banks of Lake Sheshnag, he left His son Ganesha at Mahagunas Parvat and he left the Five Elements at Panchtarni. But while narrating the secret, a pair of pigeons overheard this and became immortal. Many pilgrims have seen a pair of pigeons here.

2. Presence of Devi in Amarnath: (Peetha Nirnaya Tantra)
• Amarnath is identified with the Kashmira Shakti Peetha. Where the Kanthadesha (Region of the Neck) of Devi had fallen. The Devi there is known as Mahamaya and the Bhairava is called Trisandheyeshwara.

• Temples (Summary):

• Shiva:
- Amarnath Shiva

• Devi:
- Devi Mahamaya

• Places to See (Puranic Places mapping):

Presence of Lord Shiva in Amarnath:
• Amarnath Shiva: According to legend Lord Shiva told the Amar Katha (secret of immortality) to Devi Parvati inside this holy cave. To ensure that nobody listens to this secret, Lord Shiva left Nandi at Pahalgam, He released his Moon at Chandanwari, he released his snakes at the banks of Lake Sheshnag, he left His son Ganesha at Mahagunas Parvat and he left the Five Elements at Panchtarni. But while narrating the secret, a pair of pigeons overheard this and became immortal. Many pilgrims have seen a pair of pigeons here.
► Amarnath Cave The Amarnath Cave is identified with the place where Lord Shiva told the Amar Katha to Devi Parvati.
► Amarnath Yatra Though the Amarnath Cave is the central focus of the pilgrimage, the yatra undertaken to reach the cave through the vast Himalayan landscapes form part of the greater divine experience. The yatra has two routes: the longer route starting from Pahalgam, and a shorter route starting from Baltal. In the longer route, one comes across many places mentioned in the legend of Amarnath. (a) Trekking route from Pahalgam: 1. Pahalgam: From Srinagar to Pahalgam (96 km). River Lidder flows through Pahalgam. According to legend, Lord Shiva left His Nandi bull at Pahalgam before entering the cave. 2. Chandanwari: From Pahalgam to Chandanwari. According to legend, Lord Shiva released His Moon at Chandanwari before entering the cave. 3. Sheshnag: From Chandanwari a trek of 12 km passing through spectacular countryside and overlooking the Sheshnag Mountain (with seven peaks and resembling the serpent Sheshnag). The pilgrims camp at Wavjan near the blue waters of Sheshnag Lake. According to legend, Lord Shiva released His Snakes at Sheshnag before entering the cave. 4. Mahagunas Parvat: From Sheshnag a trek of 12 km climbing the winding Mahagunas Pass (4600 m). According to legend, Lord Shiva left His son Ganesha at Mahagunas Parvat before entering the cave. 5. Panchtarni: And then descending to the meadow land of Panchtarni. According to legend, Lord Shiva left the Five Elements at Panchtarni before entering the cave. 6. Amarnath Cave: From Panchtarni the last 6 km trek to reach the holy cave of Amarnath. This is the place where Lord Shiva told the Amar Katha to Devi Parvati. (b) Trekking route from Baltal: 1. Sonmarg: From Srinagar to Sonmarg (Srinagar-Leh road). 2. Baltal: From Sonmarg to Baltal (15 km) (3000 m). Baltal is a small valley on the foothills of the Zojila Pass. 3. Amarnath Cave: From Baltal a day's steep trek to the holy cave of Amarnath.

Presence of Devi in Amarnath:
• Kashmira Shakti Peetha: The Kanthadesha (Region of the Neck) of Devi had fallen here. The Devi is known as Mahamaya and the Bhairava is called Trisandheyeshwara. (Peetha Nirnaya Tantra)
► Amarnath - Devi Mahamaya (Anantanag district, Jammu and Kashmir) Amarnath is identified with the Kashmira Shakti Peetha mentioned in the Peetha Nirnaya Tantra.

Presence of Saints in Amarnath:
• Swami Vivekananda had a spiritual experiences in Amarnath.
► Swami Vivekananda Swami Vivekananda visited the Amarnath cave and later told one of his disciples: "Since visiting Amarnath, I feel as if Shiva is sitting on my head for twenty-four hours and would not come down. Swamiji also said: "I never had been to anything so beautiful, so inspiring". Sister Nivedita recalled the following about Swamiji: "Never had Swamiji felt such a spiritual exaltation. So saturated had he become with the presence of the Great God that for days after he could speak of nothing else. Shiva was all in all; Shiva, the eternal one, the great monk, rapt in meditation, aloof from the world".

Presence of Saints in Amarnath:

• Swami Vivekananda had a spiritual experiences in Amarnath.

► Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda visited the Amarnath cave and later told one of his disciples: "Since visiting Amarnath, I feel as if Shiva is sitting on my head for twenty-four hours and would not come down. Swamiji also said: "I never had been to anything so beautiful, so inspiring". Sister Nivedita recalled the following about Swamiji: "Never had Swamiji felt such a spiritual exaltation. So saturated had he become with the presence of the Great God that for days after he could speak of nothing else. Shiva was all in all; Shiva, the eternal one, the great monk, rapt in meditation, aloof from the world".

• Puranic References:

• Bhringeesha Samhita - Amaranatha Mahatmyam (About the greatness of Amarnath)
• Peetha Nirnaya Tantra - Shakti Peetha Stotram - verse 7 (About Kashmira Shakti Peetha)

• Location:

• Amarnath Cave is located in the Anantanag district of Jammu and Kashmir. The cave is reached by undertaking a trek known as Amarnath Yatra.

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