CHAR DHAM

The ‘Char Dham’ was coined by Shri Adi Shankar. It means ‘the four abodes of the gods’. These are holy shrines. The importance of these places is that these places help in attaining salvation;

Or detainment  from the cycle of life and death. It helps to bring self-knowledge and awareness.

The Char Dham Yatra is an important Hindu pilgrimage circuit in the Indian Himalayas. Located in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, the circuit comprises four sites – Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath.

Every year lakhs of devotees visit these four holy places. The Char Dham Yatra takes about 9-10 days to complete.

Kedarnath: The Kedarnath temple is one of the most revered and sacred temples according to Hindu mythology. The main deity, Sri Kedareshwar, who is believed to be Lord Shiva himself, is worshiped. The Kedarnath temple is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva and among all other Jyotirlingas, there is also a Jyotirlinga which is situated at an elevation of 3581 meters.

Relaxing in the Garhwal Himalayas, the Kedarnath Temple is one of the most sacred and pilgrimage sites in India. It is the tallest of the 12 Jyotirlingas and is clearly a place of immense religious importance. In addition, Kedarnath is a part of the Chota Char Dham pilgrimage sites in Uttarakhand. Located at an altitude of 11,755 feet, the splendor of the surroundings matches the temple itself. For thousands of years, this temple has stood in all its glory, always leaving behind a mysterious aura. Everything about it is fascinating, from its history to the rituals held here. When illuminated at night, the temple appears like a ray of hope amidst all the darkness. If you have been to Kedarnath, you would have crossed with a similar spirit. There is something about it that attracts devotees and visitors again and again. When you think that you know everything about it, you come to another fact that surprises you..

1. Eternal, protected by the divine!

As the location of the Kedarnath temple is not a proof of his invincibility, here is another fact to prove that belief. During the 2013 floods, nothing happened in the wake of this catastrophe, but the temple remained surprisingly intact.

According to eyewitnesses, a huge stone block somehow collided with the back of the huge temple. This saved the temple from complete destruction. You can doubt the veracity of those accounts, but of course, the possibility of a divine intervention in this particular event cannot be ruled out.

2. Bhairo Nath ji is always on guard!

The Kedarnath Temple, a divine destination in the Himalayas, is always protected by Bhairo Nathji, whose temple is located nearby. Bhairo Nathji, who is considered the patron of the temple, is known as “Kshatrapal”. He is the fiery avatar of Lord Shiva and is associated with destruction and destruction.

According to popular belief, Bhairon Nath shuns evil spirits away and keeps the temple free from any kind of damage. Also known as Bhairon Baba Temple, it is situated to the south of the Kedarnath temple. In fact, it is interesting to know that those who come to the Kedarnath temple are required to visit the temple of Bhairon Baba as part of the ritual.

3. Lingam is an unusual pyramid

While visiting the Kedarnath temple, you will see it from the heart and see it as well. For the first time devotees are always surprised by the sight of a lingam which is pyramidal shaped. But, isn’t everything extraordinary about this temple? The story of how this lingam attains its present shape is also a fascinating one. According to a legend in the Mahabharata, one of the epics of Hinduism, Lord Shiva removed the Pandavas when he apologized after the war. Running away from them, he reached Kedarnath, where he disguised himself as an ox.

However, even though he planted himself in the field, his tail was left in the process. The strongest of the Pandava brothers, Bhima caught the bull with the intention of getting him out of the tail. In the subsequent conflict, the bull’s face was taken to Nepal, leaving his hump behind. This hump then rose up from the ground like a lingam. Since then, it has been worshiped nationwide just like any other lingam, even though it is the only one of its kind.

4. Not just a temple, but a part of Panch Kedar

Kedarnath temple is a part of Panch Kedar. It refers to the five sacred places dedicated to Lord Shiva, which are located in the Garhwal Himalayas. Not only this, those who decide to go on a pilgrimage to Panch Kedar have to do so in strict chronological order.

Devotees who incarnate in the Chota Char Dham of the Himalayan shrine are expected to first visit Kedarnath, then Tungnath, then Rudranath and Madhyamaheshwar and finally Kalpeshwar. Not only this, each of these pilgrimage sites has special significance with Lord Shiva. For example, Tungnath is associated with the hands of Lord Shiva and the face of Rudranath. Madhyameshwar is the place where Lord Shiva’s belly and navel are found, while Kalpeshwar is attached to his head.

5. Something special about the priests here!

Another interesting fact that you should remember during your visit to Kedarnath is that the rituals are performed by members of a particular community. The chief priest of the temple, called Rawal, is from the Veera Shaiva Jangam community of Karnataka. However here is the interesting part. Rawals, or head priests, do not perform rituals inside the temple. He delegates this responsibility to his assistants.

During the winter season, Rawal transfers his base to Ukhimath with the main deity. The temple has five head priests, and each m are offered the title of head priest by rotation. The pooja itself is performed in the Kannada language. It is a custom which has been followed in the temple for hundreds of years. What also lends the rituals a great historical value is the fact that they are performed in much the same manner as they were in the 10th century.

6. The highest of all 12 Jyotirlingas

The Kedarnath Temple, standing at an impressive height of almost 3583m, is the highest of all Jyotirlingas in India. The construction of the temple seems even more unbelievable when we take into account its unbelievable height.

7. An example of marvellous engineering!

As far as the architecture of the Kedarnath Temple is concerned, it is simply a piece of marvelous engineering. Its impressive dimensions are a testimony to that. It stands at a height of almost 3583m and is believed to have been constructed almost thousand years back. One of the interesting facts about Kedarnath Temple is that it was built from enormous slabs of stone and raised on a rectangular platform about 6ft high. The use of interlocking technique for the stones is especially fascinating. The walls of the temple are supposed to be about 12ft thick in diameter. The inner walls of the assembly are adorned with engravings of various mythological deities. Its brilliant style of construction is also believed to have been a major factor in its remaining quite safe during the devastating 2013 floods.

How to reach Kedarnath?

The town of Kedarnath is well connected to the rest of the cities and towns of Uttarakhand by air, train and road.

• By Air:

The nearest airport to Kedarnath is the Jolly Grant Airport, located at a distance of almost 238 km. This airport operates daily flights to Delhi. From Jolly Grant Airport, you can hire taxis and private vehicles to reach Gaurikund, which is the base for the trek to Kedarnath Temple.

You can also avail the helicopter services which are available for Kedarnath Temple. Helicopter services to Kedarnath is provided by Pawan Hans (a national helicopter carrier in India) and are also available from Dehradun and Agastyamuni.

• By Train:

Rishikesh and Haridwar Railway Stations are the nearest railway station to Kedarnath. There are trains available to all the major cities of India. From both Haridwar and Rishikesh Railway Station, you can hire taxis and private vehicles to take you to Gaurikund.

• By Road:

To reach Kedarnath Temple, you will first have to reach Gaurikund, which is the base from where the trek to the temple begins. Gaurikund is well connected by roads to all the major cities and towns of Uttarakhand. It lies on NH 109 which connects Rudraprayag to Kedarnath. Buses, taxis and private vehicles are available to Gaurikund from several cities including Haridwar, Tehri, Pauri, Rishikesh, Dehradun, Chamoli and Uttarkashi.

Badrinath: Badrinath is a small temple town located in Garhwal, Uttarakhand. The majestic river Alaknanda flows next to the temple. It is one of the holiest Vaishnava pilgrimage sites in Hindu culture. The Badrinath Temple is one of the temples that make up the Char Dham pilgrimage site in India. It is also a part of the 108 Divyadeshas dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

Badrinath is a small town located on the banks of the Alaknanda River in the Garhwal Hills of the Himalayas, and at an altitude of 3133 meters, it is one of the 108 Divya Desams, and the Badrinath Temple is part of both the Char Dham and the Chota Char Dham.

According to Skanda Purana, there are many pilgrimage places in heaven, earth and the world, but none equal to Badri. It is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is considered the holiest place for Hindus. Badri refers to a plum which grows abundantly in the region, and Nath refers to Vishnu. In Sanskrit, Badri means the Indian plum tree, which contains an edible berry. Some scriptures mention abundant plum trees in Badrinath.

According to Srimad Bhagavatam, “The incarnation of the deity (Vishnu) in Badrikashram, in his incarnation as Nara and Narayana, had been performing great austerities since ancient times for the welfare of all living entities.”

According to Skandpuran, the idol of Lord Badrinath was recovered from the Narada Kund by Adiguru Shankaracharya and in this temple in the 8th century A.D.

In fact, Badrinath was often called Badri Vishal, re-established by Adi Sri Shankaracharya to revive the lost reputation of Hinduism and unite the nation in a bond.

According to the Mahabharata, the Pandava brothers, along with Draupadi, were climbing the slope of a summit near Badrinath and heading to their last pilgrimage, which was called Swargagramani or ‘Ascent of Heaven’.

Badrinath is considered a taphobhoomi where one year’s penance is equal to one thousand years of meditation. Due to which, I think, great sages like Kapila Muni, Gautama, Kashyapa did penance here, Bhakta Narada attained salvation and Lord Krishna loved this region, medieval religious scholars like Adi Shankara, Ramanujacharya, Sri Nityananda here Learned and has come for quiet contemplation. . And many still do today.

Badrinath also has historical significance as the temple here was established by Adi Shankaracharya. They found the idol of Lord Badri in the Alaknanda River and placed it in a cave near Tapti Kund. The temple was constructed and expanded during the 17th century by the kings of Garhwal. But in 1803, the Himalayan earthquake caused massive destruction of the temple. It was later rebuilt by the Raja of Jaipur and completed before the First World War. After the completion of the temple, the queen of Indore donated a gold umbrella on a visit to the temple. 15. In the 20th century, when Garhwal was divided into two parts, the Badrinath temple came under British rule. However, the management committee was headed by the Raja of Garhwal.

The temple is divided into three sections – garbhagriha or garbhagriha, darshan mandapa or puja hall and sabha mandapa where devotees gather. The main gate of the Badrinath temple is colorful and it is known as Sinheshwar.

The temple is about 50 feet tall, on top of which is a small cupola, covered with a gold gilt roof.

The Badrinath temple is one of the five related pilgrimage sites, called Panch Badri which is dedicated to the worship of Lord Vishnu.

• Vishal Badri: Badrinath Temple in Badrinath.
• Yogadhyan Badri: Located in Pandukeshwar
• bhavasya badri: in sub.
• Vriddhi Badri: In Animesha.
• Adi Badri: 17 km from Karnprayag. A temple complex consisting of sixteen small temples, it is presently situated on 14.

There are many mysterious stories related to the temple, such as the present Badrinath temple will disappear in the future and a new arrival soon thereafter, but, I could not find any reliable source for that information.

Gangotri: Gangotri is the place in the Himalayas from which the holy Ganges originates. According to legend, it was here that Ganga descended on the earth when Lord Shiva left the mighty river with the locks of her hair. The temple of Gangotri, dedicated to Goddess Ganga, is situated on the banks of the river.

Gangotri Dham is situated at an altitude of 3,100 meters (approx) on the Himalayan ranges in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, which holds a very special place in the hearts of Hindus. It is one of the four sacred and important pilgrimage sites of Chota Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand. Amidst all the natural beauty and grace, which corresponds to the height of the mountains and the place that makes Gangotri one of the most sacred places, it has an intimate connection with the Ganges River (Ganga). Gangotri is a small town and one of the four Dham sites. In Uttarakhand which is also known as Ganga’s abode. The word Gangotri is a combination of two words that describe the event of Ganga + Uttarayan, which almost descended into the Ganges.

Ganga Maa (Mother), a very revered deity of Hindus, originates from Gomukh on the Gangotri glacier which is about 18 km from the city of Gangotri. It is said that Goddess Ganga came to earth to wash away the sins of King Bhagirathi’s ancestors. From mythology to the present day, the river Ganges has always been a sacred source of purity for mankind. Coming to Gangotri for a religious visit is not only a religious duty, but also a spiritual call.

Story regarding River Ganga

Another legend states that when the river Ganges agreed to descend to Earth in response to the prayer of Bhagiratha, its intensity was such that the entire earth would have sunk under its water. To save the Earth from such destruction, Lord Shiva placed the Ganges River under its lock. To please Lord Shiva, Bhagiratha again meditated for a very long time. Seeing the immense devotion of Bhagiratha, Lord Shiva pleased and left the river Ganges as three streams, one of which came to earth and came to be known as Bhagirathi River. As the Ganges water touched the ashes of Bhagiratha’s ancestors, 60,000 sons rose from eternal rest. The stone on which Bhagiratha meditated is known as Bhagiratha Shila, which is located very close to the Gangotri temple.

Yamunotri: Yamunotri is the source of river Yamuna. Situated amidst the beautiful and fearsome Himalayan Mountains, the sacred significance of the temple provides complete spiritual fulfillment to the soul of a true devotee.

Yamunotri Dham

Yamunotri is the source of the Yamuna River and is the seat of the Goddess Yamuna in Hinduism. The district is situated at an altitude of 3,293 m (10,804 ft) in the Garhwal Himalayas in Uttarkashi. It is one of the Char Dham pilgrimage sites in Uttarakhand. The sacred temple of Yamunotri, the source of river Yamuna, is the westernmost temple in the Garhwal Himalayas, surrounded by a cluster of Bandra Poonch mountains. The main attractions at Yamunotri are the temples dedicated to Goddess Yamuna and the sacred thermal springs at Janaki Chatti (7 km. Away).

How to reach :

By air

The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun, about 200 km from Uttarkashi headquarters. Taxi and bus services are available from Dehradun Airport to Barkot, Uttarkashi.

By train

Rishikesh, Haridwar and Dehradun are all railway stations. The nearest railhead from Yamunotri is Dardhun (200 km approx). From Rishikesh / Dehradun one can take a bus / taxi to reach Yamunotri.

By Road

Yamunotri is passing through National Highway number 94. State Transport buses between Uttarkashi / Barkot and Rishikesh / Dehradun. Local transport union buses and state transport buses ply between Barkot / Uttarkashi and Dehradun. Yamunotri is 130 km from Uttarkashi headquarters.