Introduction to Badrinath Temple

The word ‘Badrinath’ comes from the word ‘Badri’ (a place where berries grow). Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, who is worshipped as Badri Narayan, this shrine is one among 108 Divya Desam’s – holy shrines for Vaishnavites. The temple is situated in Garhwal hill tracks of Chamoli District (Uttarakhand, India) along the banks of Alaknanda River. Located at 3,133 m (10,279 ft) above sea level, this shrine is one of the most visited pilgrimage centers of the country. The temple is open for worship for only 6 months a year (End of April till beginning of November), due to extreme weather conditions prevailing in the Himalayas. Best time to visit the shrine is May to June and September to October.

History and Legend of Badrinath Temple

History says that Badrinath Temple was originally established by Adi Sankaracharya in the ninth century. Adi Sankara is an extraordinary scholar and Indian theologist, who took Sanyas (brahmacharyam) at a young age of 14. After that the temple has undergone many renovations. The King of Garhwal moved the idol to the present temple in the sixteenth century. After the Himalayan earthquake in 1803, the temple experienced significant damage and was rebuilt by the King of Jaipur. Badrinath temple is one of the five holy places (Punyakshetras) of India, where the Hindus offer oblation to their ancestors.

There are several legends associated with the Badrinath temple, which is also mentioned in Vedic texts.

One legend says that Lord Vishnu went into deep meditation in Padmasana in this region. Due to this, he was unaware of the extreme climatic condition and his consort Lakshmi spread above him as a Badri tree to protect him from the harsh weather. Lord Vishnu was pleased with her and named the place as Badrikashram afterGoddess Lakshmi. Complying with this legend, one can find the deity in Padmasana posture in Badrinath temple.

Another legend says that when Lord Shiva and Parvati were in meditation in Badrinath, Lord Vishnu disguised as a small boy and cried to them asking for the shrine for meditation. Knowing he was Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva and his consort moved to Kedarnath.

Yet another myth about Badrinath is that the Pandavas expired one by one climbing the slopes of a peak called Swargarohini, which literally means “Ascent to Heaven”. There is also a town called Mana, which is 4km North of Badrinath, where it is believed that Sage Vyasa wrote the Mahabharata.

Vamana Purana says that the two sons of Dharam – Nar and Narayan, which are the names of the two mountain ranges at present, went into great penance for the wellbeing of all entities in the Universe. Skanda Purana mentions Badrinath as the most sacred shrine of all shrines on Earth, Heaven and Hell. Padma Purana states Badrinath as the holy shrine with plentiful treasures.

Significance of Badrinath Temple

Badrinath temple is an ancient holy shrine, which dates back to the Vedic period. The temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams (pilgrimage or holy place) for Vaishnavites, where they perform rituals for their ancestors.

The fact that this sacred destination is devoted to Lord Vishnu and the belief of Lord Vishnu meditating here for thousands of years, turn the place into one of the holiest temples of the country.

Badrinath is also one among the Panch Badris – other four includes Yogadhyan Badri, Bhavishya Badri, Bridha Badri or Old Badri and Adi Badri. The destination also finds its place in the famous 4 pilgrimage sites (Char Dham), which includes Rameswaram, Puri and Dwarka.

Architecture of Badrinath Temple

Badrinath temple follows traditional North Indian style of architecture. The temple is constructed of stone with walls and pillars bearing numerous carvings. A tall arched gateway at the entrance leads to Sabha Mandap (hall where devotees assemble), which leads to Darshan Mandap (place from where Pooja to the idol is performed) and finally to Garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorium).

The roof of the Garbha Griha extends to a conical spire at a height of 15 metres with a gold gilded dome at the top. A striking 1 metre high black stone idol of Badrinarayan, presides the sanctum sanctorium with a conch and Chakra in each arm. The other two arms rest in the lap of Vishnu who is meditating in the Padmasana posture. With Lakshmi, his consort by his side, Sage Narada is also present. With Kubera on one side and Nar Naryan and Uddhava on the other side, the temple takes its complete form. Garuda and Navdurga are also present.

Festivals related to Badrinath Temple

Mata Murti Ka Mela is the most important festival held at Badrinath Temple, commemorating the descent of the River Ganges on Earth. It is believed that the mother of Badrinath divided the river into 12 channels for the welfare of the Earth and the place where Ganges flowed became the Holy Badrinath Temple.

Badri Kedar festival is celebrated in the month of June in both Badrinath and Kedarnath temples. The festival lasts for eight days with artists from around the world performing during the function. Vedic scriptures such as Ashtotram and Vishnu Sahasranama are recited during the rituals.

The temple is closed for winter on Vijayadashami during Oct – Nov every year. A ghee lamp known as Akhand Jyoti is lit inside the temple, to last for six months. After six months, the temple is reopened on Vasant Panchami during April. People flock the temple on this day to have a sight of the Akhand Jyoti.

Benefits of visiting Badrinath Temple

The presiding deity is considered by many Hindus to be Swayambu, a self-manifested statue. Devotees worship Lord Vishnu for prosperity, wealth, righteous living, protection, health, longevity and spiritual attainment. The temple complex has three sections – Garbhagriha (Sanctum), the Darshan Mandap (Worship hall), and Sabha Mandap (Common hall). The Garbhagriha (Sanctum) houses Lord Badari Narayan, Kuber (God of wealth), Sage Narad, Udhava a friend of Lord Krishna. The temple also houses, Nar and Narayan the divine twins who are considered an avatar of Lord Vishnu.

It is believed that people with Dhanu, Simha and Mesh Rashi should visit this holy destination once in life time.

The temple is one of the holy pilgrimage sites that Hindus visit to offer oblations to their ancestors. Taking a holy bath at the Alaknanda River and worshipping Badrinath is believed to purify one’s soul.

How to reach Badrinath Temple?

By Air: Jolly Grant Airport is the nearest airport to Badrinath at a distance of 314 kms. It is well connected to Delhi with daily flights and from there one can reach Badrinath temple by roadway. Taxis are also available from the airport to Badrinath.

By Train: The nearest railway station to Badrinath is Rishikesh at a distance of 295 kms. Trains to Rishikesh are frequent and taxis and buses are available from Rishikesh to Badrinath.

By Road: Buses and taxis are easily available to Badrinath from major destinations of Uttarakhand state such as Dehradun, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Srinagar, Chamoli etc.

Introduction to Kedarnath Temple

Kedarnath Temple is a sacred abode of Shiva. Kedarnath pilgrimage is one of the most popular pilgrimages for Hindus annually. It is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas in the Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand. The temple stands 3,583 meters above sea level. Kedarnath is the most renowned temple among the Panch Kedar: Kedarnath, Tungnath, Madyamaheswar, Rudranath, and Kalpeswar. These temples are in the Garhwal Himalayas. The Kedarnath Dham is also a part of the Char Dham Yatra. Kedarnath Temple lies near the milky white Mandakini River. Kedar is another name for Shiva, the presiding deity in the temple.

Legend of Kedarnath Temple

According to legend, the Pandavas built the Kedarnath Temple after the Kurukshetra war. They wanted Shiva to forgive them for their sins caused by killing their Kaurava brothers in the war. But Shiva did not wish to forgive them and hid in Gupt Kashi.

In Gupt Kashi, the Pandavas and Draupadi spotted a bull that was different from other bulls. Bheema found that the bull was none other than Shiva. They failed to catch the bull, which left its hump behind and vanished.

The Pandavas worshipped the hump, and they later built a temple. The remaining portions of Shiva in the form of a bull appeared in various places: the face (Rudranath), belly (Madyamaheswar), head (Kalpeswar), and arms (Tungnath). Kedarnath and these four sacred spots comprise the Panch Kedar.

The Architecture of Kedarnath Temple

Adi Shankaracharya built the present Kedarnath Temple in the 8th century AD. The Pandavas built the earlier temple adjacent to the present one. The Kedarnath Temple is over 1200 years old.

The temple was built using huge grey stones and showcases ancient Indian craftsmanship. Kedarnath Temple is 85 feet high, 187 feet long, and 80 feet wide. The temple’s walls are 12 feet thick and made of strong stones. Its roof comprises overlapping slabs of stone, creating a dome-like structure.

The inner walls of the assembly hall feature images of other deities and scenes from mythology. The temple’s exterior contains several miniature shrines dedicated to different deities.

The entrance porch (Ardha Mandap) is the outermost part of the temple and serves as a gateway to the assembly hall (Mandap). The Kedar Temple has a sanctum sanctorum (Garbha Griha), which houses the presiding deity Kedarnath Jyotirlinga. Huge stone pillars support the wide assembly hall (Mandap) which accommodates pilgrims and visitors. The Kedarnath Temple is constructed on a rectangular platform on a plinth 6 feet high using huge and heavy stone slabs. A large statue of the Nandi (divine vehicle) stands as a guard outside the temple door.

Devotees worship a conical-shaped rock inside the temple as Shiva in his Sadashiva form. It is believed to be a self-manifested form (Swayambu) of Shiva and is the highest of all 12 Jyotirlingas spread across the country.

Festivals in Kedarnath Temple

• Special Samadhi Pooja is performed on the first day of Kartik month when the Kedarnath Temple closes.
• The Badri-Kedar festival is held in June that lasts for eight days. Many popular artists from across the country come here to perform at the cultural festival.
• Shravani Annakoot Mela is held in August. Devotees attend it one day before Raksha Bandhan. They prepare food from the newly harvested paddy and offer it to the deity. On this occasion, the Shivling is adorned with wheat, rice, and other pulses and grains.
• Maha Shivaratri, Vinayak Chathurthi, Holi, and Diwali are other festivities celebrated in Kedarnath Temple during September and October.

How to Reach Kedarnath Temple

By Road: Gaurikund Bus Stand is the nearest bus stop to the temple. It is a 16 km distance. From Gaurikund, pilgrims have to trek up to Kedarnath Temple. Helicopter services are also available from Phata, which is 50 km from Kedarnath.

By Rail: The nearest train station is Rishikesh railway station. It is at a 216 km distance.

By Air: Jolly Grand Airport, Dehradun, is the nearest airport to the temple which is a 238 km distance.

By Trekking: Pilgrims can reach the temple, which is a 17 km distance from Gaurikund. It takes about 6-8 hours.

Kedarnath Temple Timings

The Kedarnath Temple opens only six months of the year (April-November) when the sun enters the zodiac sign of Aries. The temple closes when the sun enters Scorpio.

The priests of Omkareshwar Temple, Ukhimath, decide the opening dates of Kedarnath Temple using Hindu Panchang on Maha Shivratri every year. The closing date is always on the day of Bhai Dooj after the Diwali festival.

The Kedarnath Temple remains open from 6.00 am to 3.00 pm and 5.00 pm to 7.00 pm during April-November.

Best Time to Visit Kedarnath Temple

The perfect time to pilgrimage to Kedarnath Temple is between May and October. During winter, the idols from Kedarnath and Madhyamaheshwar are brought to Ukhimath town. Devotees worship the deity there for six months.

Benefits of Worshipping at Kedarnath Temple

Kedarnath is a very important temple of Shiva. Praying to the deity is believed to fulfill desires, relieve sins and eliminate negative forces. This is an ideal place for meditation.

Introduction to Gangotri Temple

Gangotri is the origin of the River Ganges and is one of the four pilgrimage sites in the Chota Char Dham. Amidst the surrounding of deodars and pines, the temple was originally built by the Nepalese general Amar Singh Thapa in the early 18th century. The temple is located at an altitude of 3415 metres above sea level in a small town, Gangotri in the heart of Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand and is close to the Indo-Tibetan border.

The origin of the holy river Ganges is at Gaumukh, set in the Gangotri glacier which can be accessed by a short 19km trek from Gangotri. According to Hindu mythology, it is believed that Gangotri is the spot where River Ganges descended from heaven when Lord Shiva released the Goddess from his locks. During the pilgrimage tour of the Chota Char Dham, Gangotri is often visited after Yamunotri.

The river is called by the name Bhagirathi and bags the name Ganga (Ganges) from Devprayag, when it reaches Alaknanda. The divine petite town Gangotri is a home to many temples, ashrams and small shrines.

History of Gangotri Temple

According to the legend, King Sagara decided to perform an Ashwamedha Yagna (Horse sacrifice ritual performed by Kings) after slaying demons on Earth. The horse which had to be slayed was to be accompanied by his 60000 sons born to Queen Sumati and one son Asamanja born to his second queen Kesani, on an uninterrupted journey around the Earth.

Indra, the God of the Devas (Celestial beings) was afraid that he might lose his throne if this Yajna became a success and stole the horse and tied it to the ashram of Sage Kapil, who was then in deep meditation. The sons upon finding the horse in the Sage’s ashram were infuriated and stormed the ashram with rage. When the sage opened his eyes, he cursed all the 60,000 sons into perishing. Bhagiratha, the grandson of King Sagara is believed to have performed deep penance for centuries to please Goddess Ganga to wash away his ancestors’ sins and grant them Moksha or salvation.

Significance of Gangotri temple

The Gangotri temple is one of the Chota Char Dham pilgrimage sites and is built close to a pillar called “Bhagirath Shila”, where it is believed that King Bhagiratha worshipped Lord Shiva to bear the descent of River Ganga. The water collected here is considered an Amrit (Nectar) which is collected and taken to houses by pilgrims and devotees for holy purposes. It is also believed that the Pandavas performed the great “Deva Yagna” here, to atone the death of their kinsmen during the epic battle of Mahabharata.

A natural rock like formation in the shape of a Shiva Lingam can be seen during winters as the water regresses. This is believed to be the spot where Lord Shiva allowed Ganga to pass through his hair locks. Lanka Pul which is the highest river bridge in India is located at Gangotri and can be visited near Bhairon Ghat. Gangotri is also the starting point of some trekking routes such as Gaumukh, Gangotri glacier, Tapovan, Bhojwasa, Shivling peak etc.

Architecture of Gangotri Temple

The architecture of Gangotri temple is quite simple and follows the Katyuri style with five small shikhars (pinnacles) of 20 feet height. The holy shrine faces east so that the first rays of sun falls on it. The temple is constructed out of white marble stone and the sanctum sanctorum is built on a raised platform.

The inner sanctum has idols of Goddess Ganga as the main deity along Goddess Yamuna, Saraswati, Annapurna, Mahalakshmi and Bhagirath. The great sage Adi Sankaracharya also has an idol in the sanctum. The four small shrines are devoted to Lords Shiva, Ganesha, Hanuman and Bhagirathi.

Festivals Related to Gangotri Temple

Ganga Dussehra-In Sanskrit, ‘Dus’ means ten and ‘sehra’ means to win over’. Hence, the festival of Ganga Dussehra is celebrated to win over 10 sins. The festival implies the day Goddess Ganga descended down to the Earth as river to wash away the sins of Bhagiratha’s ancestors. So, pilgrims firmly believe that worshipping Goddess Ganga on this day will purify them by absolving the 10 sins committed in their lives. Devotees from all over the country visit this holy shrine to take a holy dip in the Ganges. Ganga Dussehra is celebrated for a period of 10 days from the first day of the Jyeshta month (May – Jun). In the evening, the Goddess is adorned with the beautiful Ganga Aarti and small leaf boats decorated with flowers, lamps and sweets are offered to the River Ganga.

Diwali – On this national festival, Gangotri temple is closed down for winter after a daylong special Pooja. The idol Goddess Ganga is taken to the Mukhyamath Temple in Mukhwa village. The village is thoroughly cleaned and the temple is ornamented with flowers and sweets to welcome the Goddess to her winter home.

Akshya Tritiya –On the day of Akshaya Tritiya in the month of Chaitra (April – May), Goddess Ganga is brought back to the Gangotri Temple from Mukhwa after winter. The Gangotri temple is lavishly decorated with flowers and is fervidly celebrated by the pilgrims and the locals with music and dance. The idol of the Goddess Ganga is installed back in the main sanctum. People celebrate the special day by wearing new clothes and offering special Pooja at their houses and in the temple.

Benefits of Visiting Gangotri Temple

As the legend of the temple signifies, the temple is highly visited by pilgrims to absolve their sins and attain Moksha or salvation. Taking a holy dip in the Holy River on the day of Ganga Dussehra while chanting the Ganga Stotra, would cleanse the human soul. Agni Purana and the Padma Purana also make a mention that bathing in Ganga on this day eliminates 10 types of sins from the human soul.

The immersion of the ashes of the departed souls in the River Ganga to release the soul from the cycles of death and rebirth is a widely followed custom amongst Hindus. The water collected from the Ganga River remains pure and devoid of slime and dust forever. For this purpose, the water is believed to be holy and is used during Homas and Yajnas (Fire rituals).

How to reach Gangotri Temple

By Air: The nearest airport to Gangotri is Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun from where regular taxis and buses are available to the temple.

By Train: The nearest railway stations to Gangotri temple are Rishikesh and Haridwar. The frequency of trains to Haridwar is more from major cities in India as compared to Rishikesh. From Haridwar or Rishikesh, one can take buses or taxis to Gangotri.

By Road: The town of Gangotri is easily accessible from all major cities in Uttarakhand and Delhi NCR. Gangotri is well connected by road to places like Haridwar, Rishikesh, Dehradun, Roorkee, Chamba, Tehri, Barkot, Hanuman Chatti and Janki Chatti.

Introduction to Yamunotri Temple

Yamunotri temple is a famous Hindu temple dedicated to Goddess Yamuna and is located in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. The temple is the origin of the Holy River Yamuna and is one the Chota Char Dham circuit of Uttarakhand and is one of the significant pilgrimage sites visited by many pilgrims. The temple is situated opposite to the Yamunotri glacier and is perched at a height of 3150 m above sea level. Yamunotri temple is known for its calm and serene surrounding which attracts many tourists, trekkers, theologizes and naturalists from around the world.

History & Legend of Yamunotri Temple

The original Yamunotri temple is believed to be constructed by Tehri Naresh Sudarshan Shah in 1839, which was destructed during an earthquake. Later Maharaja Gularia of Jaipur rebuilt the temple during the 19th century.

Legend

According to a legend, Sage Asti Muni in his early life took bath daily in the Rivers Ganga and Yamuna. Later when he turned old, he was unable to reach Gangotri, and impressed with his religious beliefs, Ganga emerged as a small stream next to River Yamuna to help him continue his rituals.

Yamuna Devi is believed to be the daughter of Surya Devta and Saranyu Devi who is the Goddess of perception. Yamuna is also the sister or Lord Yama, God of death and is called by the name Yami, who later became the consort of Lord Krishna. A legend describes Yamuna to be very playful in nature, owing to her mother cursed by Lord Surya for blinking her eyes, unable to look at his excessive radiance.

The “Yamunotri Mahatmya” of the Skanda Purana acts as a major source of history and mythology for the priests here, based on which the daily poojas and rituals are conducted.

Significance of Yamunotri Temple

Yamunotri temple represents the origin of the sacred river Yamuna. The actual source of the river is a frozen glacier called as Champasar glacier, at an altitude of 4421 m. From this region, a Kund or Lake appears which is known as the Sapta Rishi Kund. Trekking to this place is extremely difficult, but it’s worth a visit as this is the spot where the sacred flower, ‘Brahma Kamal’ blooms once a year during July – Aug. The flower has divine significance in Hindu Mythology. It is believed that the white stamen of the flower represents Lord Krishna and the reddish stalks are believed to the 100 Kauravas. It is also believed that Lord Shiva replaced the head of Ganesha with an elephant head using Brahma Kamal.

There is a common belief that the color of the river is black because it has engrossed the pain and sorrow of Lord Shiva after the death of his wife Sati.

Architecture of Yamunotri Temple

Yamunotri Temple is constructed in the Nagar style of architecture with granite stones excavated from the surrounding mountains. The temple has a main conical shaped minaret, pale yellow in color with bright vermilion border. The main deity Yamuna Devi is installed under the main minaret. The idol is made of polished black ebony marble with exquisite carvings.

As described in the ancient scriptures, the idol of Yamuna Devi is seated on a tortoise in the sanctum. A standing idol of Goddess Ganga made of white stone is beside her. There is also a Mandap or assembly hall to accommodate the pilgrims. The core chamber or Garbhagriha also houses a silver idol of Goddess Yamuna which is 1 feet tall and adorned with many garlands. All the offerings and rituals are made to the silver idol at the temple.

Festivals Related to Yamunotri Temple

Basant Panchami – This festival indicates the arrival of spring and end of winter and is celebrated during January or February. The day is marked by various cultural programs and special Poojas organized for the deity. People usually wear traditional yellow colored dresses on this day.

Phool Dei – This festival is celebrated on the first day of March and is celebrated mainly by young girls and children. They offer bag or plate filled with rice, flowers, jaggery and coconut to neighbours. In turn, they are also blessed with money, rice, sweets and jaggery. A special savory named Sei is offered to Goddess Yamuna on this day.

Olgia – Also known as Ghee Sankranti, this festival is celebrated in the month of August to commemorate the harvesting season and agricultural yield. The day is marked by special adornment of ghee in people’s foreheads and eating of Dal Chapatis with ghee. According to older traditions, nephews and son-in-laws offered gifts to maternal uncles and fathers-in-law respectively. However as per the new custom, gifts, and good wishes are exchanged between artisans and their customers. Farmers and their landlords also exchange gifts on this special occasion.

Benefits of Visiting Yamunotri Temple

Yamunotri is one of the Chota Char Dham temple circuits of Uttarakhand. Various Puranas such as Padma Purana mention that taking a holy bath in the River Yamuna washes away the sins of an individual and grants Moksha or salvation. A ritual is a must for all the pilgrims to cook a handful of rice and potatoes in a muslin cloth at the hot water sulfur spring of Surya Kund. This is considered as a “Prasadam” or offering which is meant as a spiritual cleanser.

How to reach Yamunotri Temple

By Air: The nearest airport to the Yamunotri temple is the Jolly Grant Airport at Dehradun, 210 km from the temple. Regular flights are plied by Air India, Spicejet and Jet airways from New Delhi and Lucknow.

By Train: The nearest railway station is Dehradun (175 km) and Rishikesh (200km). Regular trains are available from cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Chandigarh. From the stations, Hanuman Chatti is accessible by road.

By Road: Buses are available from major cities in Uttarakhand like Rishikesh, Tehri, Barkot, Dehradun, and Uttarkashi to Hanuman Chatti.

The starting point for visiting Yamunotri is either Hanuman Chatti or Janki Chatti. Devotees can commute the first 5 km of a 13 km trek from Hanuman Chatti by jeep and reach Phool Chatti. From Phool Chatti, a trek of 5 km leads to Janki Chatti. Further trek of 5 km from Janki Chatti has to be undertaken to reach Yamunotri.