Sacred journey in the lap of Himalaya: The Kedarnath Temple

Imagine yourself setting foot at the entrance of the temple that carries the spiritual aura within your heart. The sound of distant bells, the sight of ancient stones weathered by centuries of devotion, and the scent of incense fill your mind and heart with devotion. 

It is a story of a temple that remained covered with snow for around 400 years and survived devastating floods and landslides in 2013. The temple has never failed to astonish scientists, geologists, and its devotees. 

Here I am taking you to one of the oldest dharmic sthalas, Kedarnath Temple, located in the midst of an awe-inspiring view of a city named Rudraprayag. 

The Kedarnath Temple is a celestial abode dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is one of the paramount dhams nestled in the heart of the Garhwal Himalayas at the height of 3,584 meters and near the source of the Mandakini River. The temple is one of the significant temples among the 12 Jyotir Lingams, the Panch Kedars and the sacred Chota Char Dham Yatra in Uttrakhand. This temple stands for both spiritual devotion and awe-inspiring natural beauty. 

Who built the Kedarnath Temple?

Legends have it that after the Kurukshetra war, Pandavas were filled with guilt because in the war they had killed their brothers, guru and elders. Even after ruling in Hastinapur for many years Pandavas could not forget their sins and went to Ved Vyas to find a way for penance. To that Ved Vyas suggested them to go to Lord Shiva for forgiveness to atone for their sins. Taking his orders Pandav brothers along with Draupadi left the palace in search of Lord Shiva but Shiva did not want to meet them so he took the form of Nandi, a bull and hid in Guptkashi. After searching for the Lord in several places Pandavas reached Guptkashi and spotted the bull that was unique from other bulls. 

Seeing Pandsvas coming towards him, Lord Shiva, in the form of Nandi started disappearing, Bheem tried to catch him but only could be caught a part of its body which was the hump. Today, that part of the bull is being worshipped as a Shivling in the Kedarnath Temple. 

This story led to the existence of  Panch Kedar. Those parts of the bull that disappeared in the Guptkashi emerged in five different places hence called 'Panch' meaning five 'Kedar' another name for Lord Shiva. The part that remained in Kedarnath is the hump, face at Rudranath, Arms at Tungnath, Navel and stomach at Madhyamaheshwar, and hair locks that is Jata at Kalpeshwar. 

According to Hindu legends, the Kedarnath temple was rebuilt by Adi Sankaracharya. It is said that the temple was originally built by Pandavas and later in the 8th century AD Adi Sankaracharya restored the glory of the temple. 

Architecture of the Kedarnath Temple 

Despite facing numerous challenges Kedarnath stands as a remarkable example of ancient architectural design. The temple is constructed by carving large stones meticulously and stacked to form the walls, pillars, and roof. The application of huge stones provides a solid and enduring presence. 

The temple was constructed in the traditional North Indian architectural style known as Nagara style. Such style is characterized by its shikhara, which is adorned with intricate carvings and decorative elements, that rise above garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum). 

The garbhagriha is a place where the main deity, Lord Shiva in the form of Lingam, resides. Then there is a mandapa which serves as a gathering space for devotees and provides enough space for religious ceremonies and rituals. This unique architecture reflects the artistic prowess of its creators which adds aura of sanctity and spirituality.   

Must know facts about Kedarnath Temple 

1. Worshippers believe that visiting this temple washes away all sins and brings salvation.
2. 
   The current Rawal (chief priest) of Kedarnath Dham is Rawal Bhimashankar Linga. He is 324th Rawal. According to a DNA report from 2023, earlier the Rawals used to appoint priests and were the biggest authority in the temple.
3. The temple attracts people from all over the world including priests like Shri Vageesh Lingachar. He introduces new and unique traditions to the people of Kedarnath.
4. The temple is disaster-proof because it survived several natural calamities. 

• For instance, the temple remained buried under snow for almost 400 years. It was not discovered until the 20th century. 
• Another instance was the cloudburst that occurred in 2013; however, the Kedarnath temple did not lose its beauty. During the disaster, a huge rock worked as a barrier and protected the temple from extensive damage. The rock is known as Bhim Shila.

      5. The main idol represents Lord Shiva's Sadashiva form, which is a conical stone. the height of the idol is around 3 feet. in the temple, other than Lingam, the idol of Goddess Parvati, Lord Ganesha, Nandi Lord Krishna, five Pandavas and Draupadi, and other gods and goddesses have also been placed.  

      6. As per experts, to construct the temple interlocking technique has been used to connect the stones. This technique allows the temple to stand in the middle of the river. 

      7. It is said that Bhaironathji protects the temple from demons. Therefore it is essential to visit Bhairav Nath temple, about 200 meters from Kedarpuri. 

      8. As per Joshi (2017) Prime Minister Narendra Modi "laid the foundation stones for the construction projects worth Rs 700 crore". To develop the temple's safety government has taken several steps. 

      9. This year, Kedarnath temple will open on 11th May at the auspicious hour of 6:20 AM. The Kedarnath temple usually opens in April and May and it closes in November. The temple remains closed for pilgrims from November to mid-April because of extreme weather conditions. 

     10. The earliest mention of the Kedarnath temple was found in Skanda Purana (c. 7th-8th century). It also entails the story of the origin of the Ganges River. According to the Purana, Kedara is where Lord Shiva released the holy water from his matted hair. 

From the sacred sanctum of Lord Shiva's Lingam to the guardianship of Bhaironathji, every phase of the temple tells a story of devotion, redemption, and unwavering protection. Pilgrims visit this temple to seek spiritual enlightenment and peace for their weary souls.  Welcome to Kedarnath Temple, where every step is a prayer and every view is a glimpse into the divine.