𝐊𝐞𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞, 𝐔𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐤𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝

Kedarnath Temple, Uttarakhand




Kedarnath Temple is a Hindu temple (shrine) dedicated to Shiva. Located on the Garhwal Himalayan range near the Mandakini river, Kedarnath is located in the state of Uttarakhand, India. Due to extreme weather conditions, the temple is open to the general public only between the months of April (Akshaya Tritiya) and November (Kartik Purnima, the autumn full moon). During the winters, the vigraha (deity) from Kedarnath temple is carried down to Ukhimath and where the deity is worshiped for the next six months. Kedarnath is seen as a homogenous form of Shiva, the 'Lord of Kedarkhand', the historical name of the region.

FACTS ABOUT KEDARNATH TEMPLE

Fact-1 The Creation of Kedarnath

Legend says that when Nar and Narayana-the two incarnations of Lord Vishnu performed a severe act of austerity in the Badrikashraya of Bharat Khand, they worshipped a Shivalingam which emerged out of the Earth beautifully. This in turn pleased Lord Shiva who then appeared before Nar and Narayana and asked them to seek for a gift. Nar and Narayana then requested Lord Shiva to permanently reside as a Jyotirlingam at Kedarnath, so that the people who come to worship Lord Shiva here won’t be enslaved to their miseries in life anymore.

Fact-2 Legends of Kedarnath Creation

The of Kedarnath dates back to the Mahabharata which states that when the Pandavas came to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva to free themselves from the sin of killing their cousins. Lord Shiva disguised himself as a humped buffalo and hid himself at Kashi, then known as Guptkashi. The Pandavas eventually managed to discover Lord Shiva who was hiding beneath the ground with his hump in the ground and this impressed Lord Shiva then.

Another legend of the Kedar temple states that Goddess Parvati worshipped Kedareshwar to unite with Shiva as Ardhanareshwar.

Fact-3 The Derivation of the Name of Kedarnath Temple

An Interesting Fact about Kedarnath is the derivation of its name. A tale of the past says that once to save themselves from demons, the gods worshipped Lord Shiva for their protection. Lord Shiva appeared, disguised as a bull; he said to the ‘Kodarum’ (whom to rip and whom to tear apart). With his horns and hooves Lord Shiva destroyed the demons and threw them into the Mandakini River. Thus the name Kedarnath is derive from the name ‘Kodarum.’

Fact-4 Protection of Kedarnath

One of the Lesser Known Facts of Kedarnath is that The Bhairo Nath Temple which is located at a very short distance from Kedarnath Temple is a guardian of the Kedarnathji. It is believed that Bhaironathji guards the Kedarnath Temple by keeping away the evil while the temple remains close. Therefore the Bhiaronath Temple is visited ceremoniously at the opening and closing of Kedarnath.

Fact-5 Significance of the Kedarnath Jyotirlingam

The Lingam at Kedarnath is one amongst the 12 Jyotilings of Lord Shiva. It is said to have blessed the Himalayas and keeps them soaked with the godliness of Lord Shiva. Its history dates back to when Nar and Narayana the two incarnations of Lord Vishnu performed the act of austerity, Lord Shiva was impressed and they persuaded Lord Shiva to reside as a Jyotilingam in Kedarnath, so that devotees who would come to seek the blessing of Shiva will seek salvation here.

Fact-6 The Kedarnath Temple

The Kedarnath Temple is at least a 1000 year old temple which has been blessing the Himalayas and the people who visit it each year. It is said that during the 2013 floods in Uttarakhand the entire town of Kedarnath was ruined, but the temple was not so harmed, as a huge rock behind the temple diverted the massive flood water coming towards the shrine.

Fact-7 Inside the Kedarnath Temple

The head priest of Kedarnath temple are of the Veerashaiva community of Karnataka also known as Raval. Although the Raval do not perform the puja in the temple. The puja’s are carried out on the instructions of the Raval by other priests. The Raval moves with the deity to Ukimath during the winter season.

Fact-8 The Persuasion of The Pandavas

It is said that the Pandavas wanted to seek salvation from the sin of killing their cousins, to do so they set on a path to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva, who was ignorant towards the Pandavas and had moved to Kedar and disguised himself as a bull and hid with other animals in the Himalayas. Although Bheema was able to recognize Lord Shiva through his hump when he with his magnanimous strength ripped apart two mountains, where Lord Shiva who was submerging under the ground had his hump on the ground. Bheema got hold of it and that is how Lord Shiva blessed them.



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