Divinity amidst unmatchable nature’s bliss is what I called
Kedarnath – the abode of Lord Shiva in the Uttar Kashi region of Uttarakhand in
North India. It is one of the four important sacred sites of the small Char
Dham pilgrimage due to significance of housing one of the 12 Jyotilingas
(Lingas of Light) of Shiva in the Kedarnath temple (Kedar means Shiva). The
magnificent site holds snowy Garhwal Himalayas in its setting making it quite
scenic and naturally attractive besides its spiritual importance. Kedarnath is
close to the Indo-Chinese border and is also considered sacred as it is the
source of the River Mandakini, a tributary of Ganga.
Legends
There was an ancient temple that date back to the time of
epic Mahabharata. It was built by the five Pandavas and is said that they had
pleased Lord Shiva via tough penance here. The current temple is close to this
ancient shrine.
One more legend speaks about the two forms of Lord Vishnu
(the Perpetuator of Life) as Nara and Narayana who had tough penance in front
of a lingam raised from Earth in Badrinath (second pilgrimage site in small
Char Dham). When Lord Shiva, after being pleased, asked for a blessing, they
requested Lord Shiva to reside in form of a Jyotilingam forever in Kedarnath so
that the sorrows and worries of the people could be ruined.
One more legend has it that Mother Goddess Parvati, the
divine wife of Lord Shiva had revered Lord Shiva here. All these incidents have
made it that if anyone prays for good wishes here, they will surely be
fulfilled.
The Kedarnath Temple
Located in the center of the scenic Kedarnath range, the
Kedarnath temple is at 12000 feet housing the Jyotirlinga. It was built as an
impressive stone shrine by the Jagat Guru, Shree Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th
century. From the spot of Gaurikund, one needs to ascend some 12 miles on a
hill to reach the temple. But before that, do visit a shrine of Gauri (Goddess
Parvati) and get wet in curable thermal springs.
At its entrance, the statues of five Pandavas, Lord Krishna
– the incarnation of Lord Vishnu, Nandi – the divine vehicle of Lord Shiva, and
Virbhadra – the sentinel of Lord Shiva seem to welcome you. In the hall,
several Hindu deities and mythology tales are showcased by the walls. Then,
visit the inner sanctum – the home of the divine lingam where people worship
Lord Shiva in his this phallic form.
Check out for the visually striking carved head of a male in
the triangular outlook. Such a carving is also present in a close by temple
that marks the spot of marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. There is a
Samadhi Mandir (resting place) of Shree Adi Shankaracharya behind the temple.
Best Time to Visit
Since winter brings heavy snow, the temple is open for visit
from April to November only. Once the sun enters in the zodiac sign of Scorpio
in November, the temple is closed during which the monks head for Ukhimath to
worship the Kedareshwara.
Other Attractions
- Chorabari: This is Gandhi Sarovar at 2 km, a small lake that marks the site from where Yudhishthir, the elder Pandava brother ascended to heaven. For the tourists, the glittering ice on the waters is a sight to behold.
- Vasuki Tal: This is another scenic lake at 6 km enclosed by the mountains.
- Triyuginarayan: This is at 25 km where Lord Shiva married Goddess Parvati. It is accessible by trekking with beautiful natural scenes. There is a temple in whose facade an eternal flame is burning since their marriage.
- Guptkashi: This is at 49 km with must-visit shrines of Ardhnareeshwar and Vishwanath (both forms of Lord Shiva).
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