KEDARNATH IN UTTARAKHAND -

KEDARNATH -

This article is based on my two visits of Kedar Nath temple under taken in the last decade.In the third week of June 2013,the burst of clouds and unexpected heavy rains in this region caused a  lot of damage in this area.Land routes suffered extensive damage and the trek route from Gauri Kund to Kedarnath temple  washed away.There were loss of human beings and property also,however all the idols including the Jyotirling as well as the main temple structure are still safe.Perhaps that is why Lord Shiva is worshipped in all the three forms as a creator,as a preserver and as a destroyer of the Universe..
The Uttarakhand Government along with A.S.I.,temple committee and with the assistance of security forces and volunteers has started clearing of debris there ,and efforts are on to restart worship and regular rituals ,In the mean time symbolic worship of Kedarnath is being performed in the Ukhimath, at the same place where Kedarnath is worshipped during the winter season after the close of main temple.The chief Minister of Uttarakhand as well as the Raval of Kedarnath temple have announced that regular worship and rituals in  temple will start from September 2013. 

 

         A visit to Kedarnath , located in the state of  Uttarakhand, is supposed to be a very important pilgrimage for Hindus. The importance of  this religious place has been described in  several  religious books.This temple is also included among the 12 Jyotirling (the most important twelve shrine, dedicated to Lord Shiva) located in the different parts of India.
  Kedarnath  temple is about 11755 ft.above the sea level along the sacred Mandakini river. Lakhs of devotees visit this shrine every year.The present temple  structure was built by Adi shankaracharya.
The traditional Yatra to Kedarnath , which is a journey of about 241 kms, starts from Haridwar and passes through several important religious places like Dev Prayag, Rudraprayag and Gauri Kund. The name "Gauri Kund" derives from  the hot water spring at this  place  which is dedicated to Mata Parvati or Godess Gauri, the wife of Lord Shiva. Some religious devotees prefer to take bath in this pond, before starting the trek route along the river Mandakini.It is customary to worship Gauri & Ganesh at the temple situated at Gauri Kund as this holy place is also believed to be the birth place of Ganesha.The trek to Kedarnath temple is about 14 kms from this place.Young and energetic people like to travel on foots however some prefer to ride over ponies.Palkies, a more comfortable means of travelling, is also available for old and sick persons.The trek route is so beautiful that  for  devotees, it is just like a visit to  the paradise.
 Devotees are advised to carry woollen cloths with them because of the cold prevailing at this height.While travelling in Monsoon,visitors are supposed to be cautious about heavy rains and landslides in this route.Their are several  Dharmshallas to accommodate the visiting devotees at Gauri Kund.
The temple is picturesque and majestically placed . The  three parts of the temple are known as Garbh Grih,,Darshan Mandap and Sabha Mandap. In the main sanctum, the holy Shila representing the Jyotirling, the presiding deity, is an evolution from the earth. The temple also houses the idols of Goddess Parvati Ganesh,a copper Nandi and five Pandavas.
It is believed that after the famous battle in Kurushektra, where Pandavas defeated and killed their cousins Kauravas,they were cursed with a sin of killing their own brothers.Lord Krishna told them that the redemption from this sin can only be granted by Lord Shiva , so they should now worship him and do all efforts to get blessing from Lord Shiva.There after all the five Pandavas prayed and  started a search for Lord Shiva. It is said that in view of the sin committed by Pandavas, Shiva was reluctant to give his blessings.Ultimately when Pandavas reached in the Himalayas, Lord Shiva transformed himself in the form of a buffalo to disguise the Pandavas,but the Bhima after recognising him, ran after him and Lord Shiva in the form of buffalo started sinking in the mountain,but Bhima was able to touch the hump of buffalo.There after Lord Shiva gave his blessing to all of them and Pandavas got a passage to the heaven.It is believed that then the hump of buffalo transformed in the shape of Shila ,which is now the present Jyotirling of Kedarnath.
  Traditionally, since the time of Adi Shankaracharya, the head priest of this shrine has been a Namboodari Brahmin from south India and is known as Raval. The Raval, during the performance of religious duties and rituals , is assisted by the local  Brahmins.The present Raval of Kedarnath temple is Shri Bhima Shanker Lingam. These local Brahmins take there the devotees visiting this shrine according to place from where devotee has arrived.
The other places of religious significance near Kedarnath temple are Bhairavnath temple and the Samadhi Sthal of Adi Shankaracharya.This is the place where Shri Adi Shankaracharya achieved his Nirvan.
The temple situated at Kedarnath Dham is also known as Shri Kedarnath Jyotirling, which is the main temple of Lord Kedarnath . The other temples of Lord Kedarnath in Uttarakhand are Shri Tung Nath , Shri Rudra Nath, Shri Madhya Maheshwar and Shri Kalpeshwar Nath .All the five temples together is known as 'Panch Kedarnath".The Kedar Nath temple opens in the month of May and closes in the month of October every year.In the winter season when this shrine becomes inaccessible due to heavy snowfall, symbolic worship of Lord Kedanath  continues at the Omkareshwar temple at Ukhimath.