Question

In which of the following states is the Amarnath shrine located?
A) Uttarakhand
B) Himachal Pradesh
C) Jammu & Kashmir
D) Uttar Pradesh

Answer 1

Hint:
The Amarnath shrine is an important Hindu temple located in the mountains. It is considered to be among the holiest shrines in the religion. The cave is usually covered in snow except in the season of summer.

Complete step by step solution:
The Amarnath shrine is located in Jammu and Kashmir, close to Srinagar. The temple can be reached through a town named Pahalgam. There are 51 Shakti Peethas in South Asia and they are known to be commemorating the locations where goddess Sati’s body parts fell when she burned herself in the holy sacrificial flame. Amarnath is one among those Shakti Peethas.

So, the correct answer is Option c. Jammu and Kashmir.

Additional Information:
The Shivling inside the cave is a large stalagmite formed from the freezing of water droplets from the roof of the cave. It is believed that the linga represents the Lord Shiva the destroyer. The idol grows during the months of May to August as the snow melts and reaches the inside of the cave where it freezes again. During the rest of the year, the linga slowly shrinks.

Note:
There is a book named Rajatarangini. The place of Amarnath or Amareshwara is mentioned in the book. It is said that the queen of the kingdom, Rani Suryamati sent offerings of tridents and other sacred items to this shrine as a symbol of devotion. In another book, which was written by Prajayabhatta, titled Rajavalipataka, there are detailed texts regarding the pilgrimage to the shrine of Lord Amarnath. Numerous other texts also exist which refer to this divine place.