Mahamaya Shaktipeeth, Amarnath

Mahamaya Temple is a popular Hinduism temple located in Amarnath cave and is also known as Mahamayi Shakti peeth. Mahamaya Shakti peeth Temple is one of the major holy religious places for Hinduism. Mahamayi temple is situated on the Amarnath mountain in Jammu and Kashmir. It is believed that this temple is about 5000 thousand years old and is located in the holy cave of Amarnath in Jammu and Kashmir.

Inside Amarnath cave, there is a glimpse of the snow-built Shivling of Lord Shiva and also snow -built Shakti peetha. The snow-built Shakti Peeth of Amarnath cave is naturally created near the Shivling. This Shakti peeth is also known as Parvati Peeth. The journey towards Amarnath cave is very difficult, which is carried by foot or by horse. The roadway to travel towards Amarnath cave is full of snow and stones. The temple is located on a mountain which makes it a difficult task for pilgrimage to reach at the destination.

Mahamaya Shakti Peeth Temple

Mahamaya temple is considered as one of the 52 Shakti Peeth of Goddess sati. In the Amarnath temple Shakti is worshipped as ‘Mahamaya’ and Bhairav or Lord Shiva is worshipped as ‘ Trisandhyasvar ‘. According to the Puranas, it is believed that wherever the pieces of the goddess sati, the clothes or the ornaments have fallen ,Shaktipeeth came into existence.

They are called the most sacred shrines for Hinduism. These shrines are spread across the entire Indian subcontinent. Amarnath temple is also considered as one of the major pilgrimage sites for Hinduism and a popular tourist destination of India. The temple is believed to be visited by a large number of devotees every year especially during shravan month.

Location of Mahamaya Shakti peeth Temple

Mahamaya shakti peeth is located in Amarnath cave. At Baltal Amarnath Trek, Forest Block, Anantnag, Pahalgam, state- Jammu and Kashmir

Pin code – 192230

History Behind the origin of Mahamaya Shakti peeth Temple

According to hindu mythology, There are various stories related behind the origins of all Shakti Peeth. The most popular story behind the origin of the Shakti Peethas is the story about Devi Sati who was the first wife of Lord Shiva. Adi Shakti took a human avatar inorder to marry Lord Shiva  and was the daughter of Prajapati Daksha who was a Brahmin priest and son of Lord Brahma.

She was named Princess Sati. Goddess Sati wished to marry Lord Shiva. But, king Daksha did not like Lord Shiva because of his appearance and lifestyle. He wanted his daughter to marry the king. Despite Devi Sati married Lord Shiva and arrived at her new home in Mount Kailash and mesmerised by its beauty. Devi Sati was very happy as she got her love as her husband.

Lord Shiva Shiva also known as Mahadeva ‘The Great God’ is the main deity of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hinduism.

Shiva is known as “The Destroyer” within the Trimurti, the Hindu trinity which also includes Brahma and Vishnu and Mahadeva. In the Shaivite tradition, Shiva is the Supreme Lord who creates, protects and transforms the universe.

Once Goddess Sati’s father Daksha Prajapati organised a biggest Yagya. In which he invited all the gods and goddesses except his daughter and Son-in-law i.e., Mata Sati and Lord Shiva. Mata Sati wanted to attend the Yagya organised by her father and to ask her father why he didn’t invite them but Mahadev did not want to send Mata Sati to her father’s Yagya.

But she attended the yagya. At yagya, Daksha insulted Lord Shiva publicly in front of all gods and goddesses and people. Hearing this insult about her husband by her father Goddess Sati cannot bear it and ended her life by entering in the fire of Yagya.

Seeing Devi Sati burning the yagya fire. Lord Shiva loses his temper and destroys the Yagya. He killed Daksha Prajapati. When everyone requested mercy Lord Shiva restored Daksha Prajapati’s life but with the head of a goat. Lord Shiva picked up buring body of Sati Mata’s and started his Tandav Nritya in the sky.

To save the world from the harm by Tandav Nritya of Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu separated Mahadev from Sati Mata’s body. He sent his Sudarshan Chakra to the Goddess Sati which cut Sati Mata’s body into 51 parts. It is believed that the places where these parts fell are known as Shakti peethas.

There are a total of 51 Shakti Peeth as the body of Goddess Sati was cut in 51 pieces and this fell separately at 51 places. Out of those 51 parts, from which the ‘throat’ of Sati fell to this place where the Mahamaya Shakti peeth was constructed at the exact place where goddess Sati’s  throat is believed to have fallen.

Best time to visit Mahamaya Shaktipeeth

Best time to visit Mahamayi Shakti Peethas is during the summer season when the weather is pleasant in Jammu to visit Amarnath Temple. Best time is between the months of May to August. During this time the weather is pleasant to visit Amarnath.

Festivals at Mahamaya Shaktipeeth

The Temple is open during Amarnath Yatra. So, Amarnath Yatra is the main festival of Amarnath temple celebrated during shravan month.

Mahamaya Temple Opening and Closing Timing

Amarnath (Mahamaya) Temple Opening Date

1st July every year ( Approximate)

Amarnath (Mahamaya) Temple Closing Date

31 August 2023 (Approximate)

Mahamaya Temple Daily Darshan Timing from Opening Date

Mahamaya Temple is open from 6 AM TO 6 PM every day.

How to reach Mahamaya Shakti peeth

By Air

The nearest airports to the Amarnath temple are Srinagar International Airport and Jammu Airport which are well connected to other major cities of the country like New Delhi, Mumbai, Goa, Bangalore, Chennai,etc. You can easily book a cab at airports to reach your destination.

By Rail

Mahamaya shakti peeth located in Amarnath cave is well connected by rails.The nearest railway station to Pahalgam is Jammu Tawi, from where the trek begins. Jammu is well connected to almost all the major cities in India like New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Lucknow, Bhopal, Ludhiana, Hyderabad, and Allahabad. You can easily get a taxi or cab to reach your destination.

By Road

Amarnath Cave is well connected via roads.

The Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation (JKSRTC) operates regular buses to Pahalgam and Baltal from Jammu and Srinagar.

Pahalgam is located about 32 kilometres from Amarnath Temple and Baltaal is located about 14 kilometres from Mahamayi Shakti peeth.

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