About of Kedarnath Temple

Kedarnath Temple



Kedarnath temple is located in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand state of India. Kedarnath Temple is also one of the four Dham and Panch Kedar, joining the twelve Jyotirlingas in the lap of the Himalayan Mountains in Uttarakhand. Kedarnath temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Due to the unfavorable climate here, this temple opens for darshan between April to November. It is said about this temple made of stones from Katyuri style that was built by Janmejaya of the Pandava dynasty. The Swayambhu Shivling located here is very ancient. Aadi Shankaracharya got this temple renovated.

Kedarnath remained the most affected region due to floods and landslides in the states of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh in India during June 2013. The walls of the temple fell and flowed in the flood. The main part of this historic temple and the thousands of year old dome was safe but the entrance to the temple and the area around it was completely destroyed.

Historical Aspects of Kedarnath Temple

Kedarnath has a glorious history. Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri are the four main pilgrimages in Uttarakhand which is also known as the Chhota Char Dham. In Hindu religion pilgrim of all four pilgrimages have a great significance which is also called Chhota Char Dham Yatra.  It is written in reference to Kedarnath that the person who travels to Badrinath without visiting Kedarnath, his journey is ineffective and the darshan of Nara-Narayana-Murthy including Kedarnath has been shown to achieve the salvation of all sins.

There is no historical evidence about the age of this temple, but Kedarnath has been an important pilgrimage for over a thousand years. According to Rahul Sankrityayan, it is from the 12th-13th century. They have been built according to a King Bhoj Stuti from Gwalior which dates from 1076-99. The present temple is believed to have been built by Aadi Shankaracharya in the 8th century, which is located next to the earlier temple built by the Pandavas in the Dwapara period. There is something inscribed in Pali or Brahmi script on the large gray steps of the temple, which is difficult to know clearly. But, historian Dr. Shiva Prasad Dabral believes that Shaiv has been visiting Kedarnath already before Aadi Shankaracharya. According to the history of 1882, the temple was a grand building with a clean façade with statues on both sides. “There is a tower built of brownstone behind, a gold plinth is mounted on the attic of its Sanctorum. In front of the temple, there are pucca houses of pandas for the accommodation of pilgrims. While the priests live on the southern side of the building. According to Shri Trail, the current structure is recently built, while the original building collapsed and was destroyed.

Kedarnath-Rage

Kedarnath Temple Architecture

This temple is built on a six feet high square platform. The main part of the temple is the Pradakshina Path which is around to the mandap and the Sanctorum. Outside the temple, Nandi sits as a vehicle. There is no authentic mention of who built the temple, but yes it is also said that it was founded by Aadi Guru Shankaracharya.

The worship of the temple is considered to be one of the Shiva Kedarnath Dwadash Jyotirlingas. In the morning, Shiva-Pind is bathed naturally and ghee is applied to it. After that, the aarti is lit by lighting incense and Deep. At this time, the pilgrim can enter the temple and worship, but in the evening, shringar is done of lord Shiva. They are decorated in a variety of enthralling ways. Devotees can only see it from a distance. The priests of Kedarnath are the only movable Brahmins of Mysore.

Kedarnath Yatra

Yatra to Kedarnath Dham is one of the important four temples of the Chota Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand. The Chota Char Dham Yatra is conducted every year. Other than the Kedarnath Yatra, the other temples are Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. The date of opening of the Madir is fixed every year to join the Kedarnath Yatra. The opening date of the temple is decided by the priests of the Omkareshwar temple located in Ukhimath after the Hindu calendar is counted.

The opening date of the Kedarnath temple is declared every year on the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya and Maha Shivaratri. And the closing date of Kedarnath temple is around Bhai Dooj on the day of the Diwali festival around November every year. The temple gates are then closed for the winter.

How to reach

  • By Air: The nearest airport to Kedarnath is Jolly Grant Airport which is 250 kilometers away and is well connected to Delhi Airport. Taxi service is available from Jolly Grant Airport to Kedarnath/Gaurikund.
  • By train: Rishikesh is the nearest railway station of Kedarnath. The distance of Rishikesh railway station from Kedarnath is 216 Km and the well connected by railway networks with major destinations of India. Kedarnath is well connected by motorable roads with Rishikesh. Taxi and bus services are available from Rishikesh to Gauri Kund.
  • By Bus: Gaurikund is the point where the road to Kedarnath ends and an easy trek of 14km commence. Gaurikund is well connected by motorable roads with major destinations of Uttarakhand and northern states of India.

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