🕉️ Kedarnath: Shrine, Story & Spiritual Significance🍂

ॐ नमः शिवाय ||

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”Kedarnath” is a very sacred and important Hindu pilgrimage site located in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand state of India. It is located in the lap of the Himalayas, on the banks of the Mandakini River. It is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva and is also included in the Char Dham and Panch Kedar.

The Kedarnath temple is built on a 6 feet high square platform. Its main part consists of the pavilion and the sanctum sanctorum, around which there is a circumambulatory path. The statue of Nandi bull is installed as a vehicle in the courtyard outside the temple. The attic of the sanctum sanctorum is plated with gold. The temple is worshiped by priests of the Veer Shaiva Jangam community of Karnataka, who are called Rawal. The special thing is that all the rituals of the temple are performed in Kannada language.

Kedarnath is considered one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. Here Shiva's self-manifested Shivalinga exists in the form of a huge rock. It is one of the four Dhams (Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, Yamunotri) of Uttarakhand and also an important part of Panch Kedar (Kedarnath, Tungnath, Rudranath, Madhyamaheshwar, Kalpeshwar).

According to mythology, after the Mahabharata war, the Pandavas sought forgiveness from Lord Shiva to get rid of the sin of Gotra Hatya. Lord Shiva tried to escape from them by taking the form of a buffalo, but the Pandavas caught him. The place where the rear part of the buffalo appeared became famous as Kedarnath.

By visiting Kedarnath, all sins are destroyed and the person attains salvation. It is also said that it is mandatory to visit Kedarnath before visiting Badrinath, otherwise the journey is considered fruitless.

The starting point of Kedarnath Yatra is Gaurikund, where the water is always warm. It is said that Goddess Parvati performed penance here to get Lord Shiva as her husband and a source of hot water appeared here for her.

It is believed that this lamp keeps burning automatically even when the temple is closed for six months. Locals say that even after the doors are closed, the sound of bells keeps coming from inside the temple. According to the Puranas, the deity worships here during these six months.

There is a 14 km walking route from Gaurikund to Kedarnath temple. Gaurikund is connected by road to major cities of Uttarakhand like Rishikesh, Haridwar, Dehradun etc. Helicopter service is also available from Agastyamuni and Phata to Kedarnath, making the journey easier.

The doors of Kedarnath remain closed for about six months (October/November to April/May) due to heavy snowfall in winter. The temple usually opens on the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya, which is announced on Mahashivratri. The best time to visit is May-June and September-October, when the weather is pleasant. There is a risk of landslides in July and August due to monsoon.

The journey to Kedarnath is not only a religious journey but also a spiritual experience which is also known for its natural beauty and serene atmosphere.

                || ॐ नमः शिवाय ||

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