Amarnath temple

Amarnath cave is a Hindu shrine located in Jammu and Kashmir, India. The cave is
situated at an altitude of 3,888 m (12,756 ft),[1] about 141 km (88 mi) from
Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir and reached through Pahalgam
town. The shrine forms an important part of Hinduism,[2] and is considered to be
one of the holiest shrines in Hinduism.[3] The cave is surrounded by snowy
mountains. The cave itself is covered with snow most of the year except for a short
period of time in summer when it is open for pilgrims. Thousands of Hindu devotees
make an annual pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave on challenging mountainous terrain
to see an ice stalagmite formed inside the cave.

The Linga
Ice Lingam at Amarnath Cave

Inside the 40 m (130 ft) high Amarnath cave, the stalagmite is formed due to
freezing of water drops that fall from the roof of the cave on to the floor and
grows up vertically from the cave floor.[4] It is considered to be a Shiva Linga by
Hindus. It is mentioned in the ancient Hindu texts of Mahabharata and Puranas that
Lingam represents Lord Shiva.[5] The Cave waxes during May to August, as snow melts
in the Himalayas above the cave and the resultant water seeps into the rocks that
form the cave and gradually wanes thereafter.[1] As per religious beliefs, it has
been claimed that the lingam grows and shrinks with the phases of the moon reaching
its height during the summer festival, although there is no scientific evidence for
this belief.[6]

According to a Hindu legend, this is the cave where Shiva explained the secret of
life and eternity to his divine consort, Parvati.[7][8]
The book Rajatarangini (Book VII v.183) refers to Amareshwara or Amarnath. It is
believed that Queen Suryamathi in the 11th century AD gifted trishuls, banalingas
and other sacred emblems to this temple.[9] Rajavalipataka, begun by Prjayabhatta
has detailed references to the pilgrimage to Amarnath Cave. Other than this, there
are further references to this pilgrimage in many other ancient texts.
Discovery of Holy Cave

According to legend, Bhrigu Muni was the first to have discovered Amarnath. Long
time ago it is believed that The Vale of Kashmir was submerged under water and
Kashyapa Muni drained it through a series of rivers and rivulets. Therefore, when
the waters drained, Bhrigu Muni was the first to have Darshan of Lord Amarnath.
Thereafter, when people heard of the Lingam, it became an abode of Lord Bholenath
for all believers and a pilgrimage which is done by lakhs of people each year.[9]
As we well know Francois Bernier, a French physician accompanied Emperor Aurangzeb
during his visit to Kashmir in 1663. In his book Travels in Mughal Empire he
writes while giving an account the places he visited in Kashmir that he was
pursuing journey to a grotto full of wonderful congelations, two days journey from
Sangsafed when he received intelligence that my Nawab felt very impatient and
uneasy on account of my long absence. The grotto he refers to is obviously the
Amarnath cave as the editor of the second edition of the English translation of the
book, Vincient A. Smith makes clear in his introduction. He writes: The grotto
full of wonderful congelations is the Amarnath cave, where blocks of ice,
stalagmites formed by dripping water from the roof are worshipped by many Hindus
who resort here as images of Shiva..[10]