Bramah Kapal
(IPLTOURS)
The pathto attain Nirvana is paved with the vision of Badrinath Shrine. Shiva in the form of Adi Kedar Shiva Ling give blessings on the bank of Taptha Kund in Badarnath. Devotees worship Adikedar Shiva Ling near Badrinarayan and attain Parama Pada. Badarinath is famous for Brahma Kapal, the place where the fourth head of Brahma fell and Maha Vishnu in form of Badarinarayan. The legend Mahabarata narrates that on the advice of Lord Krishna, Pandava performed funerals and Sradha Kharma in Brahma Kapal to their relatives died in the Kurukshetra battle before they ascended to heaven.
Srardha Karma or ceremony performed in Badrinath is eight times better than the Srardha performed in Gaya as defined in Skanda Purana. As such Devotees visit Badarinath perform Shraddha to their ancestors at Brahma kapal GhatBram Kapal is at distance of 200 to 300 mtrs towards north to the Badrinath Temple and Situated on the banks of over and over splashed by the cool waters of Alaknanda River which is accessible to walk and is a place in Badrinath which is of great importance for Hindus. Pilgrims pay homage to the dead souls of their ancestors in the Bramah Kapal Ghat. This place is marked with a few stones is overvalued all over the universe. The black stone seen here is the leftover of the head of Lord Brahma.
As per legends Brahma has five faces. The four faces see the four sides and the fifth towards up. Brahma is called as Pancha Mukha and later Chaturmukha Brahma after losing one head. Brahma showed his superior complex among Trimurthi before his obedient followers stating that creation is the major in universe and there will be no survival and destruction without his creation. The sages and followers praised him. Brahma felt proud and some among them went to Vaikuntam to inform the matter to Lord Vishnu. Disputes rose among the followers of Brahma and Vishnu. Vishnu tried to convince Brahma that there is no superior among them but the words became in vain. Vishnu agreed with the superiority of Brahma.
Brahma felt triumphantly and went to Kailash and raised a dispute with Shiva. Shiva convinced that there will be no superior among them and all are equal in performing their acts and Brahma agreed to the argument. The four heads of Brahma agreed to the words of Shiva but the fifth head felt that he was superior to the two Gods. Shiva recognised the feelings of Brahma. He felt that the creation will become haywire. Shiva has cut the fifth head of Brahma with his Trident and thrown into Alaknanda River near Badrinath. The fifth head of Brahma attains salvation and the haughtiness of Brahma come down from his superior feelings.
Another legend says that Brahma satisfied with the penance of Manmadha and presented three arrows informing that the person on whom the arrow launched felt seduced and will effect with eroticism. Manmatha desired to test the arrow and launched against Brahma. Brahma was affected with eroticism and fascinated Sataroopa, a beautiful lady created by Brahma to assist him in creation. Later, Brahma glanced at her with a view of lust in thoughts. She escaped to the sky from the lustful glances of Brahma. Brahma started to insert with his fifth head and stopped creation of the universe. Lord Shiva understood and created Veerabhadra by cutting off the fifth head of Brahma. Veerabhadra implemented the orders of Lord Shiva separating the fifth head of Brahma and threw it in Alaknanda River near Badrinath. The place is named as Brahma Kapal. Since Brahma was fascinated towards Sataroopa, who was born from his mind, equivalent to a daughter with lust ignoring the sacred relationship, Lord Shiva gave curse to Brahma without having temples and worship. Legend says that ever since Brahma chanted four Vedas with his four heads to compensate for his sin.
Hence forth, Lord Shiva resided in Badrinath along with his wife Parvathi and other sages doing penance. Shiva performed penance and got relief from he sin of cutting off the fifth head of Brahma. It is so the uniqueness of Varanasi and Badari is special and both are beloved Shrines to Lord Shiva. Hindus feel Brahma Kapal as the most holy place to perform ritual ceremonies to their ancestors. It is also stated that the annual ritual ceremony may be ignored by performing ritual ceremonies in Brahma Kapal and it is not necessary to conduct in other places. Thousands of Hindus visit Brahma Kapal to perform ritual ceremonies to their ancestors.
It is presumed that Badrinath worship shall give Nirvana without re-birth. Lord Shiva resides in the form of Adi-Kedar Shiva Ling near Tapta Kund on the banks of Alakananda River. Those devotees who worship the Adi-Kedar Shivalinga which is located beneath the lotus feet of Lord Badri Narayana remain everlasting. It is stated that those devotees who die in Badrinath Shrine get Nirvana. Such is the glory of Badrinath Dham. In order to get rid of the sin of killing their kin, Pandava stayed here on their way during their journey to heaven to offer their prayers to the souls of their departed ancestors. They performed the ritual for Shradh to attain salvation to their ancestors and the people who lost their lives in Kurukshetra. It is said that performing deep penance here will grant the ancestors with Nirvana (Moksh) or salvation from the karmic cycle of birth and rebirth.
Brahmakapal fetal give Brahmalok abode to ancestors
