Names & Legend
The Goddess at the Amarnath Shakti Peeth is worshipped as Mahamaya – the great power of divine illusion that veils and reveals the whole universe. Amarnath is one of the most sacred destinations for Hindus, and those who make the difficult journey say that only after reaching the cave does one truly understand its importance.
When Lord Shiva wandered the universe carrying the body of Sati after her self-sacrifice at Daksha’s yagna, Lord Vishnu divided it with his Sudarshan Chakra. The places where her body fell became the Shakti Peeths. At Amarnath, Sati’s throat is believed to have fallen, and so the cave is honoured as the seat of Mahamaya.
Location
The Shakti Peeth is inside the Amarnath Cave, high in the Himalayas of Jammu & Kashmir, at an altitude of about 3,880 metres. The cave is surrounded by snow-covered peaks and glaciers, and the beauty of the Kashmir valley on the way adds to the joy of the pilgrimage.
The Goddess, Bhairava & the Ice Lingam
Here Lord Shiva as Bhairava is known as Trisandhyeshwar. Devotees believe that anyone who worships Mahamaya with true devotion receives her blessings, and that the wishes and comforts of their life are fulfilled.
The cave is most famous for its natural ice Shivalinga. Water drops falling from the roof of the cave freeze on the floor and slowly build a tall stalagmite of ice in the shape of a lingam. It grows from about May and reaches its fullest form during the summer, when snow melting on the mountain above seeps through the rock. Smaller ice formations beside it are worshipped as Goddess Parvati and Lord Ganesha.
Interesting Facts
According to legend, it was in this cave that Lord Shiva told Goddess Parvati the secret of immortality, the Amar Katha – which gives the place its name, “Amar-nath”, the Lord of the Immortals. Tradition says the cave was later rediscovered by a shepherd, and it has drawn pilgrims for centuries since.
The days of the bright half of the moon (Shukla Paksha) and the full moon are considered especially auspicious for darshan. The yatra traditionally ends on Shravan Purnima (Raksha Bandhan), when the holy mace of Shiva, the Chhari Mubarak, reaches the cave.
Spiritual Significance
For devotees, Amarnath is a place where Shiva and Shakti are worshipped together in their purest natural forms – the Lord as the ice lingam that forms and melts with the seasons, and the Mother as Mahamaya, the power that creates the whole visible world. The waxing and waning of the lingam is seen as a reminder that everything in the world of maya changes, while the truth behind it is eternal.
Because the throat is the seat of speech and of the breath of life, devotees pray to Mahamaya here for truthful speech, good health and the strength to complete the difficult journey of life. Many pilgrims chant the Panchakshari mantra “Om Namah Shivaya” and the name of the Goddess with every step of the climb, and they describe the moment of reaching the cave as one of deep peace.
Pilgrims are asked to keep the mountains clean, carry back all plastic, and respect the services of the local ponywalas, porters and volunteers who make the yatra possible every year. Langars (free community kitchens) run by devotees along both routes serve food and tea to pilgrims throughout the season.
The Amarnath Yatra
Every year lakhs of devotees take part in the Amarnath Yatra in July and August. The cave can be reached by two trekking routes: the longer, gentler route from Pahalgam via Chandanwari, Sheshnag and Panchtarni, and the shorter but steeper route from Baltal near Sonamarg. Ponies, palanquins and helicopter services are available for part of the way.
Pilgrims must register in advance with the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board and carry a health certificate. Because of the altitude and cold, it is wise to prepare physically, carry warm clothes and rain gear, and follow the official advice during the yatra.