Kedarnath
(IPLTOURS)
Mahadri Parswe Cha Thate Ramantham
Sampoorjyamanam Sathatham Muneendrai
Surasurair Yaksha Mahoraghadyai
Kedarameesam Shivameka Meede
Hinduism plays a significant role in human life from Krutha, Thretha and Dwapara eras and continuing in present Kali Yuga. In the entire eras, God wears several incarnations to punish the evils and to protect sages and his devotees. The demons worship and perform yoga to please Brahma and obtain boons. They used to show their sadism on sages and devotees of God in all these eras. Vishnu and Shiva wear several incarnations to punish the evils and save sages and devotees from their harassment. The places where Vishnu and Shiva wear incarnations spread all over India are came in to existence as holy places with the respective incarnation names. There are 64 Temples of Shiva spread all over India and twelve holy places being called as Dwadasa JyotirhLingas. The holy places spread from Kedareswar in north to Rameswaram in South and from Vaidhyanath in the east to Somanath of Gujarat in the West protecting our nation from times immemorial.
The legend is that Brahma and Vishnu argued among them about supreme creation. Shiva combined three worlds as an endless pillar of light and search out the end of the end of the pillar to decide their supremacy. Brahma decides to travel upwards along with the pillar and Vishnu to travel downwards respectively, to find the end of the light. Mugli Flower fallen in his hands from Brahma lied that he had found the end and witnessed by Mugli Flower, while Vishnu agreed his defeat. Shiva appeared as a second pillar of light got angry on Brahma and Mugli Flower. He has given curse to Mugli Flower prohibiting in his worship and Brahma not to have place in worship and Vishnu would be worshipped in eras. There are 64 Shrines of Shiva and twelve only are prominent as Dwadasa JyotirhLingas and holy Shrines of Shiva. It is believed that all the Dwadasa Jyotir LIng of Lord Shiva are in the shape of a pole in the 1st instance. Lord Shiva appears in the form of Lingam in all the Kshetrams except Kedarnath. Darshan of Dwadasha JyotirhLingas can be performed on Spiritual culmination of human being. Every Jyothir Linga became familiar with different names in the name of local shrine. Kedareswar JyotirhLing of the Himalayan Range near to Mount Kailash considered being the abode of Lord Shiva is the 11th Jyotirhling among the 12 JyothirhLingas and located in Uttarakhand State.
Kedarnath journey starts from Rudra Prayag and Pilgrims reach Gaurikund via Agastyamuni, Guptkashi, Phata, Sitapur and Son Prayag. Gaurikund. Gaurikind is the starting point for the commencement of trekking journey towards Kedarnath. The route will be divided in two parts from Rudra Prayag. The first one goes to Kedarmnath Shrine and the other to Badarinath through Karna Prayag, Nanda Prayag and Vishnu Prayag. There two ways to reach Kedarnath from Rudra Prayag.
- Pilgrims may reach Guptkashi and travel by Helicopter from the helipad (near Guptkashi) to Kedarnath. The service providers will give 2 hours time for darshan and leave pilgrims at Guptkashi. Pilgrims have to reach reach to Rudra Prayag by road. It will take 3 days trip to Kedarnath by helicopter.
- Pilgrims may reach to Gaurikhund of 75 km from Rudra Prayag by road. Kedarnath is a steep 16 km trek from Gourikund. Horses and palanquins are available for hire.
Kedarnath entirely washed away in the floods occurred in 2013 except the Shrine and protected by a huge crag collision stand behind the Kedarnath Shrine. Subsequently the Sate and Central Governments have taken adequate steps restoring the amenities besides forming new trek route. At present there are adequate amenities for feeding and accommodation.
Kedarnath Shrine
Kedareswar is the 11th among the 12 Jyotirlingas and also prominent shrine in Char Dham along with Badrinth, Gangotri and Yamunotri. The Shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva and located in the Himalayan ranges at an elevation of 11000 ft above sea level. The temple located on the banks of River Mandakini. Kedarnath is prone to extremely cold and freezing weather conditions. As per legend, Nara and Narayan regularly requested Lord Shiva to stay at Kedarnath and on their request Lord Shiva considered Kedarnath as his abode. The ling in sanctum of the temple is in triangle shape like the hump of a bull. There are many symbols of Pandava around the temple. The local tribal perform “Pandav Nritya” here. The mountain top is known as Swargarohini continued up to Badrinath in the Himalayan Mountain Range. The finger of Udishtara said to be fallen here during their travel of Swargarohana and he has established Shiva Ling here.
The is a legend on Pancha Kedar comprising Kedarnath, Madhya Mashewar, Tunganath, Rudranath and Kalpheswar along with Doleshwor Temple in Nepal. Pandava, defeated and killed Kaurava in Kurukshetra war and presumed to be free from their sins of Kith and Kins besudes Brahmana Hatya in the war. They handed over the kingdom to their kin and left to Kasi in search of lord Shiva for his blessings. Shiva was angry on them for their dishonesty in Kurukshetra war and assumed the form of a bull (Nandi) gone to the Himalayas disappearing from Kasi. Pandavas have not find Shiva in Varanasi and they left to Himalayas in searching of Shiva.
Bheem found a bull is grazing near Guptakshi and recognised the bull to be Shiva. Bheem fought with Lord Shiva in Bull form with his mace and was struck with remorse. He caught hold the tail of the bull and it disappeared in the ground by splitting its body into six parts. The parts spread hump in Kedarnath, arms in Tunganath, navel and stomach in Madhya Maheshwar, face in Rudranath hair in Kalpeshwar and the front body at Doleshwor in Nepal. Pandava built temples in these five places of our country called as Pancha Kedar to worship Lord Shiva and freed from their sins. The front body of Shiva appeared at Doleshwor Temple in Nepal. Establishing the Pancha Kedar Temples, Pandava meditated at Kedarnath performing Yaga. They have gone on Mahaprastana. Bheem massaged the hump of the bull with ghee. This Ling is still be massaged with ghee and water with Bel leaves are used for worship. Pandavas built five temples of Shiva in Kedarnath, Madhya Maheswar, Tunganath, Rudranath and Kalpeswar which are prominent as Pancha Kedar.
It is believed that people irrespective of gender of AQUARIUS Zodiac sign will be relieved from all their hurdles in life by worshipping Kedareswar Jyotirhling. There are other temples and beautiful lakes on the way go to Kedarnath.
Chorabari Tal
This is an old lake and also known as Gandhi Tal and the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi submerged here. This is the place where Lord Shiva imparted the knowledge of Yoga to the Sapta Rushi.
Vasuki Tal
It is a glacial lake located in the mountains and one of the most amazing destinations.
Adi Sankaracharya Statue
People believe that Adi Shankaracharya, who worked restless for the spread of Hinduism in Kanchipuram of Tamil Nadu died at the age of 32, while others believe that he died in Kerala. He has established Joshimath near Badrinath Shrine in the Himalayas of the North of our country. He has continued his travel to Kedarnath and attained Nirvana. According to specific sources, the disciples of Adi Sankara have last seen him behind Kedarnath Shrine Adi Sankara developed Kedarnath temple and lived there. He has ordered his four chief disciples to leave him to continue their journey and propagate Hinduism. It is said that a hot spring was created at Gaurikund, sixteen kilo meters from Kedarnath, to protect the disciples from the cold weather prevailing there.
Pilgrims may to reach the tomb of Adi Shankara by walk of thirty minutes behind Kedarnath Shrine. The tomb of Adi Shankara was destroyed in the floods occurred in 2013 at Kedarnath. The Government decided to erect a statue of Sri Adi Shankaracharya on the tomb of Adi Shankara and the idol was made in Karnataka in sitting posture with black stone with height of 12 feet weighing 35 tons established recently to Kedarnath.
The road track to Kedarnath entirely washed away in the floods occurred in 2013 except the Shrine and protected by a huge crag collision stand behind the Kedarnath Shrine. Subsequently the Sate and Central Governments have taken adequate steps restoring the amenities besides forming new trek route. At present there are adequate amenities for feeding and accommodation.
Kedarnath holy place to Old & jolly place to Young
