Friday, March 29, 2024
 
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A brief introduction of Amarnath Pilgrimage for our esteemed readers spread across India and beyond
Amarnath pilgrimage has a divine origin and in ancient times was known as Amereshwar. The reference of this pilgrimage is found both in Nilamat Purana and Rajtrangani and the Mahima of this abode of lord Shiva is described in detail in Amarnathamahatmya. Inside the cave the devotees feel the ambience of the Shaktisthal (devotional energy).


It is also mentioned that subsequent to the draining of Satisar by Kashyapa Reshi, the cave and the Ice Lingam (Ice Stalagmite) were discovered by Bringish Reshi during his visit of Himalayas. The pilgrimage to the holy cave has been undertaken ever since and there are recorded evidences in ancient scriptures that such pilgrimages were taken as far back as 1000 BC. One finds mention of holy cave in Rigveda, which evokes the presence of shrine through the hymns.

Rajtrangani and accounts of various historians like Janoraja who talks of Badshah having visited the cave shrine. The devotees, however, could not visit high altitude mountain shrines during Afghan rule following an unfortunate incident in which over 12,000 Kashmiri Pandits perished when they got trapped in a snow blizzard near Gangabal during its annual pilgrimage. It was revived during Maharaja Gulab Singh’s rule.


The changed name from Amereshwar to Amarnath was for the first time found in Tarikh I Hassan which refers to it as the Tirtha situated on Amarnath Baal in the Himalayas.


The cave is a large hemispherical hollow space, in the side of a cliff of the white mosozoic dolomite with a clearance at entrance. Inside the cave a natural formation of an ice stalagmite takes place with droplets from the ceiling and waxes and wanes with the lunar calendar and on Shravan Purnima (Raksha Bandan) it is in its full form. Two other ice lingas, smaller in size also take shape on either side of the main lingam and are said to represent Parvati, Shiva’s consort and his dear son lord Ganesh.


This year the Ice Lingham is reported to have assumed a height of over 12 feet.

In 2011- 634000 pilgrims visited the holy cave followed by 622000 in 2012, 350000 in 2013 and 372000 last year (2014).


Road lengths:-

Lakhanpur- Jammu-90 km; Jammu- Khannabal -238km; Khannabal- Pahalgam-42 km; Srinagar- Pahalgam- 93 km; Srinagar- Amarnath Cave- 144 km; Srinagar- Baltal- 98 km; Baltal- Brarimarg- 5 km; Baltal- holy cave-14km;


Pahalgam (2590M)- Chandanwari (2895 M)- 16 km; Chandanwari- Wavjan (3352M) near Seshnag (3452M)-12 km; Wavjan- Pissu Top (3725 M)- Mahagunus (4270 M)- Poshpatri- Panjtarni (4236 M)-14 km; Panjtarni to holy cave (3838 M)- 6km;


In 1996, 242 pilgrims perished in a snow blizzard and since then the traffic of pilgrims is being regulated as per the recommendations of Justice Nitish Sen Committee report. He had directed to permit about 3500 pilgrims from each route. However, in 2013 Shri Amarnath Shrine Board revised the number to 7500 from each side following the upgradation of the facilities at the base camp and at other stopovers on way to the holy cave. A prospective pilgrim below 13 years of age and more than 75 years are debarred from undertaking the pilgrimage under the new guide lines.



The authorities have established help lines for the pilgrims:-


Srinagar – (0194)- 2501679, (0194)- 2468250 and Mobile 09469722210


Jammu—(0191)- 2555662, (0191)- 2503399 and E mail ID sasbjk@ gmail.com. The mobile numbers of Yatri Officers were also made available for the convenience of the pilgrims:-



Srinagar:- Ali Mohammed Mir- 985850389; Altaf Thakur- 8803491449; Rafi Ahmed- 9419769109; Nazir A Ganai- 9596705042; M Tahir Mir- 9419470054; Sheikh Bashir Ahmed- 9469686425; Arif Raja- 9419868635; Molvi Tariq- 7298739991



Ganderbal:- Shiekh Rashid-9596590079; Shabir Ahmed- 9419747542; Bilal A Parray- 9419760009; Gh. Hassan Bhat- 9797701211; Bashir Ahmed- 9858527293.


Anantnag:- Sofi Yusuf- 94 19017321; Ghulam Nabi Dar- 9469688374; Muzaffar Khattu- 9797986919; Vir Ji Saraf- 9419202377; Latif Ahmed Khan- 9622773059; Mohammed Sadeeq Khan- 9419454185.


For current registration get in touch with TRC Nowgam, Srinagar and at Jammu Railway Station near Vaishnav and Saraswati Dhaam. For Sadhus (mendicants) Ram Mandir, Purani Mandi, Jammu.

(Scoop News)
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