Tourism in Uttarakhand > Religious Places Of Uttarakhand - देव भूमि उत्तराखण्ड के प्रसिद्ध देव मन्दिर एवं धार्मिक कहानियां

CHAR DHAM OF UTTARAKHAND - BADRINATH, KEDARNATH, GANGORTI & YAMNOTRI

(1/23) > >>

एम.एस. मेहता /M S Mehta 9910532720:

Dosto,

Our State Uttarakhand (Dev Bhoomi) is also known with various name religious place. We have Char Dham here Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri & Yamnotri. In addition to this, there are religious places in step to step in Uttarakhand.

We will cover all above religious places here.

M S Mehta

एम.एस. मेहता /M S Mehta 9910532720:

KNOW ABOUT KEDARNATH


Lord Shiva manifested in the form of Jyotirlingam or the cosmic light. Kedarnath is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas. This ancient and magnificient temple is located in the Rudra Himalaya range. This temple, over a thousand years old is built of massive stone slabs over a large rectangular platform. Ascending through the large gray steps leading to the holy sanctums we find inscriptions in Pali on the steps. The present temple was built by Adi Shankaracharya.The inner walls of the temple sanctum are adorned with figures of various deities and scenes from mythology. Outside the temple door a large statue of the Nandi Bull stands as guard. A conical rock formation inside the temple is worshipped as Lord Shiva in his Sadashiva form. The temple, believed to be very ancient, has been continually renovated over the centuries. It is situated at an altitude of 3,581 mt. it is a 14 km trek from gaurikund.

At the approach of winters in the month of November, the holy statue of Lord Shiva, is car carried down from Garhwal (Kedarkhand) to Ukhimath, and is reinstated at Kedarnath, in the first week of May. It is at this time, that the doors of the temple are thrown open to pilgrims, who flock from all parts of India, for a holy pilgrimage. The shrine closes on the first day of Kartik (Oct-Nov) and reopens in Vaishakh (Apr-May) every year. During its closure the shrine is submerged in snow and worship is performed at Ukhimath.

The shrine of Kedarnath is very scenically placed, and is surrounded by lofty, snow - covered mountains, and grassy meadows covering the valleys. Immediately behind the temple, is the high Keadardome peak, which can be sighted from great distances. The sight of the temple and the peak with its perpetual snows is simply an enthralling.

Kedarnath

Kedarnath is amongst the holiest pilgrimages for the devout Hindu. It is set amidst the stunning mountainscape of the Garhwal Himalayas at the head of the Mandakini River. Kedar is another name of lord Shiva, the protector & the destroyer. Shiva is considered the embodiment of all passions - love, hatred, fear, death & mysticism which are expressed through his various forms. 

एम.एस. मेहता /M S Mehta 9910532720:
SIGNIFICANCE OF KEDARNATH

The lingam at Kedarnath, unlike its usual form, is pyramidal and is regarded as one of the 12 jyotirlings.

The pandavas after having won over the kauravas in the Kurukshetra war, felt guilty of having killed their own brothers & sought the blessings of Lord Shiva for redemption.He eluded them repeatedly & while fleeing took refuge at Kedarnath in the form of a bull. On being followed he dived into the ground, leaving his hump on the surface. The remaining portions of Lord Shiva appeared at four places and are worshiped there as his manifestations. The arms appeared at Tunganath, the face at Rudranath, the belly at Madmaheshwar & his locks at Kalpeshwar. Kedarnath including these four shrines is treated as Panch Kedar.

Pilgrims traditionally first visit Yamunotri and Gangotri and bring with them the holy waters from the sources of the rivers Yamuna and Ganga and offer abhishekams to Kedareshwara. The traditional pilgrim route is Haridwar - Rishikesh - Devaprayag - Tehri - Dharasu - YaYamunotri - Uttar Kashi - Gangotri - Triyugnarayan - Gowrikund and Kedarnath. Alternatively, the route to Kedar from Rishikesh is via Devprayag, Srinagar, Rudraprayag and Ukhimath. Near Kedarnath is the source of the river Mandakini. Mandakini joins Alakananda at Rudraprayag.

एम.एस. मेहता /M S Mehta 9910532720:
LEGENDS

Myths and legends coupled with the enehanting beauty of the Rudra Himalaya range gives this place a pristine beauty.

According to one such legend Goddess Parvati worshipped Kedareswar to unite with Lord Shiva as Ardhanareshwar.

Another such legend has it that Nar and Narayan, the two incarnations of Lord Vishnu practised severe penances at Badrikashram in front of a Shivalingam. When Lord shiva gave them the divine appearance, they requested him to make Kedareshwar his permanent abode. Lord Shiva thus manifessted himself in the form of Jyotirlingam.

It is believed that Arjuna, one of the Panch Pandavas worshipped Lord Shiva to attain the divine weapon, Pasupataastra.
 

एम.एस. मेहता /M S Mehta 9910532720:

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT KEDARNATH

Area 3 sq.km

Altitude 3,581 mtrs above sea level

Ideal time to visit May- October (The temple & township remains closed between November & May)

Clothing Woolens to Heavy woolens

Local Transport Horses / Dandies

Population 301 (1991 census)

Clothing Summer - Woollen; Winters - Heavy Woollen

Language Hindi, Garhwali Local

STD Code 01372-86

Sub Post Office, Kedarnath.

Ph.: (01372-86) 6208.

Govt. Dispensary, Kedarnath.

Tourist Offices, Gopeshwar.

Ph.: (01372-86) 52468 (PP)

Bank :State Bank of India, Kedarnath

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page