Kedarnath Dham: The Sacred Land of Lord Shiva

Kajal, 2 months ago, 7 min read, 55 Views

Overview

Kedarnath Dham, one of India’s most famous temple attractions, is located in the majestic Garhwal Himalayas. The village, built around the famous Kedarnath temple, is located at an height of 3,580 meters, near the Chorabari glacier, which is the source of the Mandakini River. The ancient temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, boasts magnificent architecture and is constructed of extraordinarily huge but uniformly shaped grey stone slabs.

Lord Shiva’s “Sadashiva” form is represented by a conical rock formation inside the temple.  Kedarnath Dham, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is one of India’s 12 Jyotirlingas and part of the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit. The Kedarnath Mountain, Kedar Dome, and other Himalayan peaks may be seen behind the temple.

The historical name of this place is “Kedar Khand,” and tradition has it that after defeating the Kauravas, the Pandavas from the epic Mahabharata felt sorry for killing so many people and sought Lord Shiva’s blessings for redemption. The Lord evaded them several times and took sanctuary at Kedarnath Dham in the guise of a bull. At Kedarnath Dham, the Lord dove into the ground, leaving only his hump visible.

Lord Shiva’s leftover halves manifested in four different places and are worshipped as manifestations. Tungnath saw the Lord’s arms, Rudranath saw his face, Madmaheshwar saw his belly, and Kalpeshwar saw his locks. The famous Panch Kedar pilgrimage circuit includes Kedarnath and the four sites listed above.

Kedarnath Dham has a particular place in the hearts of every Hindu devoted and Shaivite who wishes to visit this sacred site at least once in their lives. If you are planning a pilgrimage here, keep in mind that the town is connected to practically every major city in Uttarakhand by a motor able road that continues all the way to Gaurikund.

Further up Gaurikund, there is a paved but strenuous 14-kilometer climb. To do so, one can go on a walking adventure, hire a pony, or rent a palanquin. There are also helicopter services accessible at Kedarnath Dham.

Kedarnath Dham History

Adi Shankaracharya is reported to have established the hallowed sanctuary of Kedarnath in the eighth century AD, near where the Pandavas of the Mahabharata are said to have built a temple. The most prominent Kedarnath Dham mythology takes us back to the period of the Pandavas, who, after slaying their half-brothers, the Kauravas, in the notorious conflict, sought forgiveness from Lord Shiva on Lord Krishna’s guidance.

They discovered Lord Shiva in Guptkashi, disguised as Nandi, the bull, and hiding from them. However, one of the Pandavas, Bheema, recognized Lord Shiva and pursued him, only to grasp him by his tail while the rest of his body escaped via a secret cave beneath the ground.

Lord Shiva, who vanished from Guptkashi, resurfaced in five different forms: the hump at Kedarnath, the face at Rudranath, the arms at Tungnath, the navel and stomach at Madhyamaheshwar, and the locks at Kalpeshwar. Another Kedarnath story involves Nar Narayan going to Badrika Village to worship Parthiva, and as a result, Lord Shiva appeared in front of them.

Nara-Narayan begged Shiva to stay in his original form for the benefit of humanity. Lord Shiva granted their wish and stayed in the region that is now known as Kedar, hence his name, Kedareshwar.

Pooja Timings at Kedarnath Dham

Kedarnath, as one of the most respected and hallowed Shiva shrines, follows a rigid schedule of poojas and sevas done twice daily on the temple grounds. The morning pooja begins at 4 a.m. sharp with the first ritual of “Maha Abhishek,” followed by “Rudra Abhishek,” “Laghu Rudra Abhishek,” and “Shodasopachar Pooja,” which continues till 7 a.m.

The evening sevas begin at 6 p.m. with the priests reciting the 1008 names of Lord Shiva as part of the “Sahasranamam Path”. This Path is followed by the “Mahimna Stotra Path,” the “Tandav Stotra Path,” and at last the “Sampurna Aarti,” which ends at 7.30 PM.

While devotees can visit Shri Kedarnath Ji at the temple for free, those who want to do a particular Pooja or aarti must make an appointment and deposit a certain amount in the temple trust.

Kedarnath Dham Opening and Closing

The Kedarnath Temple opens annually in April/May for devotees and closes in the winter during the third week of November. Thus, the temple is closed for six months each year, during which prayers to Lord Shiva are held in the Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath.

The Best Time to Visit Kedarnath Dham

Because of its elevation and geographical position, Kedarnath Temple is open to pilgrims for six months only. The doors of this high-altitude revered Hindu shrine are opened towards the end of April or early in May. The temple will close just after Diwali and the deity is moved to Ukhimath where he is worshiped for the next six months of winter. Hence the best time to visit Kedarnath Dham is between April and November as most tourists prefer coming between April to mid-June not forgetting October mid-November.

Activities to do near Kedarnath Dham

The surroundings of Kedarnath Temple, which reflect the shrine’s attractiveness and holy air, have outstanding features to offer. While tourism is the most popular activity in Kedarnath, there is also the opportunity to see other sacred sites and participate in adrenaline-pumping trekking adventures.

• A bath at Gaurikund.
• Observing the captivating Gandhi Sarovar.
• Trekking to high-altitude Vasuki Tal.
• Respecting the Adi Shankaracharya Samadhi.
• A helicopter/chopper ride around Kedarnath.
• Visiting the holy Triyuginarayan and Bhairav temples.

The best places to visit near Kedarnath Dham

In Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag district, Kedarnath is a site of pilgrimage. This sacred town is full of spiritualism, with many old temples and shrines all over it. Here are such places in the town which one must visit and important religious spots for every pilgrim´s diary.

Omkareshwar temple: Omkareshwar Temple, located in the little town of Ukhimath, 59 kilometers from Kedarnath, is one of Uttarakhand’s most hallowed shrines and Lord Kedarnath’s winter residence. During the winter months (November through April), when the Kedarnath Dham is closed, the god of Kedareshwar is relocated to Ukhimath and worshipped there for six months. The temple is named after an ancient Hindu mythology in which a monarch and Lord Rama’s ancestor did a terrible penance while standing on one leg for 12 years. Shiva blessed him at the end of his penance by taking on the form of Omkar (the sound of Om). The temple has since been referred to as the Omkareshwar Temple.

Bhairav Temple: The Bhairav Temple, also known as the Bhairo Baba Mandir, is an ancient Hindu shrine in Uttarakhand devoted to Rudra, Lord Shiva’s vicious form. The shrine lies 800 meters uphill from the main Kedarnath Dham and is thought to safeguard the entire Kedar Valley during the winter months when the temple is closed. Pilgrims and devotees that visit the Kedar shrine also pay their respects in this sacred temple.

Gaurikund: Gaurikund is a small village that acts as a base camp for trekking to Uttarakhand’s holy Kedarnath.
The location is named after Goddess Parvati and is supposed to be the exact location where, in Puranic times, she performed a difficult penance to win Shiva’s affection. Shiva, pleased with her devotion, confessed his love for her and accepted her as his wife. Every pilgrim en way to Kedarnath pays a visit to the town’s old Gauri Devi Temple, which bears witness to the legend.

Triyugi Narayan: While Lord Shiva welcomed Goddess Parvati as her consort at Gaurikund, the wedding took place at the village of Triyugi Narayan. At 1980 meters above sea level, a town that is pleasant with wide – ranging views awaits you. Kedarnath is not far off; a sacred place for the pilgrims travelling on the Chota Char Dham Yatra. The village’s main feature is the Triyugi Narayan Temple, which is said to have been created by Lord Vishnu to serve as the location for a celestial wedding. A constant fire is said to have been blazing in the temple courtyard since Vedic times, making it a significant feature of the temple. In addition, the courtyard contains three sacred bathing ponds (kunds) endowed with healing virtues. Taking a swim in these kunds is considered traditional before entering the temple grounds.

Vasuki Tal: Vasuki Tal is a magnificent glacial lake situated at an altitude of 14,000 feet above sea level. The lake surrounded by tranquil and serene, is a must-visit place near Kedarnath Dham with an interesting legendary legacy as said by some other sources. Legend has it that on the auspicious day of raksha bandhan, Lord Vishnu himself took a bath in this lake’s holy waters which are now said to possess magical powers emanating from their purity; still till date this lake has retained its beauty and divine atmosphere which enthralls every visitor’s soul as well as mind’s eyes.

Kedarnath Dham Yatra Package

If you are planning a trip to Kedarnath Dham and looking for a travel partner who can supply you with the cheapest Kedarnath Yatra package, all of our packages are designed with your comfort and enjoyment in mind. We provide a number of package alternatives to allow you to travel in the manner of your choice. We guarantee that while you are with ours, you will totally experience divinity.

The Kedarnath package includes everything you need for an amazing experience. We provide a package that will cater to all of your needs, whether you are travelling alone or with a large party, and you can also checkout Kedarnath ticket booking & Kedarnath Dham Yatra cost per person on the official website.

How to reach Kedarnath Dham?

Kedarnath Dham is regarded to be the most remote and toughest of the Char Dham Circuit in Uttarakhand.

Conclusion

On top of being a place of worship, visiting Kedarnath Dham also implies traversing through myths, faith systems, and gods. The site is an embodiment of devotion, an interesting account of survival for mankind and an opportunity for one to marvel at the splendor of nature. Pilgrims’ journeys to this Himalayan refuge are an ongoing process of becoming part of Kedarnath’s living history.

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