Amarnath Yatra

Why in news?

Terrorist recently attacked pilgrims on Amarnath Yatra.

What is the significance of Amaranth yatra?

How the deity in the shrine is formed?

The ice lingam is formed by a trickle of water from a cleft in the cave’s roof.
The Shiva lingam gets its full shape in May, after which it begins to melt by August.
The water freezes as it drips, forming, over time, a tall, smooth ice stalagmite.
A stalactite is an icicle-shaped formation that hangs from the ceiling of a cave, and is produced by precipitation of minerals from water dripping through the cave ceiling.
Most stalactites have pointed tips.
A stalagmite is an upward-growing that have precipitated from water dripping onto the floor of a cave.
Most stalagmites have rounded or flattened tips.

What are the other pilgrimages in Jammu and Kashmir?

Vaishno Devi

Vaishno Devi Mandir is a very popular Hindu temple dedicated to the Hindu Goddess
It is located in the Trikuta Mountains of Jammu and Kashmir.
It is at an altitude of 5200 ft above the sea level.
The Temple is 13.5 km from Katra.
Various modes of transportation are available from katra including Ponies, Electric vehicles.
People who visits Amarnath also visits this shrine.

Shankracharya Temple

Situated on the Zabarwan Mountain in Srinagar, Kashmir.
Shankracharya Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Visiting this temple involves the devotees to trek to the top of the hill on which it stands, about 1100 feet above the plains.
Built in 371 BC, the great saint Shankracharya is said to have stayed there during his visit to Kashmir.

Raghunath Temple

Raghunath Temple is one of the largest temple in North India and is located in Jammu.
It was built by Maharaja Gulab Singh (founder of the kingdom of Jammu and Kashmir) and his son Ranbir Singh.
There are seven shrines, each having its own Shikhara, present at the site of the temple.
Raghunath Temple enshrines many idols of the Hindu gods and goddesses but its presiding deity is Lord Rama.

Source: The Indian Express