Kedarnath

Story behind the Twelve Jyotirlingas

Hinduism plays a significant role in human life from the eras Krutha, Thretha and Dwapara continuing in present Kali era. In the entire eras, God wears several incarnations to punish evil and to protect sages and his devotees. The demons get boons from Brahma, the creator and 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 to protect sages and his devotees from their harassment. The places where Vishnu and Shiva wear incarnations spread all over India are came in to existence a holy places with the respective incarnation names. The holy places of Dwadasa Jyothirlingas spread from Kedarewar 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 Dwadasa Jyothirlingas Spread all over India like a Conch.

The legend is that Vishnu and Brahma argued about supreme creation. Shiva prepared the three worlds as an endless Jyothirlinga pillar of light. Brahma decides to travel downwards along with the pillar and Vishnu to travel upwards respectively, to find the end of the light. Brahma lied that he had found the end, while Vishnu agreed his defeat. Shiva appeared as a second pillar of light and find the lie told by Brahma. Shiva got angry on Brahma and cursed Brahma him not to have place in ceremonies and Vishnu would be worshipped in eras.

From Rudraprayag the next stop will be at Gaurikund via Agastyamuni, Guptkashi, Phata, Sitapur and Sonprayag. Gaurikund will mark the starting point for the commencement of trekking  journey towards. From Rudra Prayaga the route devided in two parts. 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.

1. Pilgrims may reach Guptkashi and stay there for the night.  In the morning there are helicopter service from Pata helipad (near Guptkashi) and may travel to Kedarnath by helicopter. The service provides will give 2 hours time for darshan  and again reach to Guptkashi. Again pilgrims have to stay and return to Rudra Prayag on the next day. It will take 3 days trip to Kedarnath by helicopter.
2. Pilgrims may reach to Gaurikhund which is 75 km and the travel time is 4-5 hours. Kedarnath is a steep 16 km trek from Gauri  Kund. Horses and palanquins are available for hire by using new trek.

On16 June 2013 in the evening at about 7:30 p.m., a earthquake occurred near Kedarnath Temple with loud thunder followed by gushing of huge amount of waters from Gandhi Sarovar down Mandakini River which washed away everything in its path. On 17 June2013 earlymorning, waters rushed down from Gandhi Sarovar bringing along with its flow huge amount of silt, rocks, and boulders. Still there is huge rock  got stuck behind Baba Kedarnath Temple, protecting it from the ravages of the flood’s fury. The flood water gushed on both sides of the temple destroying everything in its path. A New route of 14 km from Gourikund to Kedarnath formed  which are now being utilized by the Pilgrims ever since. 

Nara–Narayana regularly requested Lord Shiva to stay at Kedarnath and Lord Shiva agreed to stay at Kedarnath making it as his home. The lingam in sanctuaries of the temple is in triangle shape like the hump of a bull. There are many symbols of the Pandavas around the temple. The tribals perform “Pandav Nritya” here. The mountain top is known as Swargarohini, which is located at Badrinath. On his way to Swargarohana, the finger of Dharmaraja said to be fallen here. Dharmarāja installed a Shiva Linga  in the thumb size. To gain Mashisha Rupa, Shiva and Bheema fought with maces. Bheema was struck with remorse. He started to massage Lord Shankara’s body with ghee. In memory of this event, even today, this triangular Shiva JyotirLinga is massaged with ghee. Water and Bel leaves are used for worship.  

The legend on Pancha Kedar is that Pandavas, the heroes of the Mahabharata, defeated and killed Kauravas in Kurukshetra war. They wished to free from their sins of Gotra Hatya and Brahmana Hatya in the war. Pandavas handed over the ruling of their kingdom to their kin and left searching lord Shiva and to get his blessings. They went to Varanasi, the favourite city of Shiva. Shiva wanted to avoid them as felt angry to the death and dishonesty in Kurukshetra war and not insensitived to Pandavas’ prayers. Shiva assumed the form of a bull (Nandi) and disappeared in the Garhwal region. Pandavas have not find Shiva in Varanasi and gone to Himalayas.

Bhima stand between to mountains and started to find out Shiva. He has find a bull grazing near Guptakshi and Bhima recognised the bull to be Shiva. Bhima caught hold the tail of the bull and it was disappear in the ground and later re appeared by splitting the body into five parts. The parts spread  hump in Kedarnath, arms in Tunganath, navel  and stomach in Madhya maheshwar, face in Rudranath and hair and head  in Kalpeshwar. The Pandavas, built temples at the five places for worshipping Shiva and thus freed from their sins. The front body of Shiva appeared at Doleshwor Temple, Nepal. After construction of the Pancha Kedar Temples, Pandavas meditated at Kedarnath and performed Yagna.They have attained Swargarohana through the Mahaprastana. It is believed that all people irrespective of gender of AQUARIUS Zodiac sign visit and worship the Kedareswar Jyothirlingam will be relieved from all their hurdles in life.

There is only Kedareswarar temple in Kedarnath and there are main temples and beautiful lakes on the way go to Kedarnath.