Amarnath Temple, Jammu and Kashmir Amarnath Temple, Jammu and Kashmir History For Hindus, the Amarnath Temple in Jammu and Kashmir, India, is of utmost religious significance. It is one of Hinduism's most sacred sanctuaries and is devoted to Lord Shiva. The Amarnath Temple has a long and illustrious history. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva is believed to have given his celestial spouse, Goddess Parvati, the secret to immortality there in the Amarnath Cave. Legend has it that Lord Shiva chose to give this secret knowledge to her in this remote cave high in the Himalayas. The cave was hidden and inaccessible for many years before being rediscovered in the 18th century by a Muslim shepherd by the name of Buta Malik. According to the mythology, Buta Malik was handed a bag of coal by a sadhu (holy man), who ordered him to wait until he reached home before open it. Buta Malik discovered the coal had turned into gold when he opened the bag. He was so overwhelmed by this miracle...
Somnath Temple Somnath Temple – History Somnath Temple is a Hindu temple located in the Prabhas Kshetra of Saurashtra in Gujarat, India. It is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, which are considered to be the most sacred abodes of Lord Shiva. The temple has a long and fascinating history that dates back to ancient times. The original Somnath Temple was built by Lord Soma, the Moon God himself, in gold. Later, it was rebuilt by Ravana, the demon king of Lanka. However, it is believed that the current temple was built by the Solanki dynasty in the 11th century CE. The temple was a major pilgrimage site for Hindus for centuries and was considered one of the most important religious centers in India. The first attack on the temple was carried out by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1024 CE, who looted the temple of its wealth and destroyed the lingam (the symbol of Lord Shiva). The temple was rebuilt by King Bhimdev- I of the Solanki dynasty, but it was destroyed again by Alauddin Khilji in 1296 CE. The ...