Kedarnath Temple History | Belief of Kedarnath dham

Kedarnath Temple is the fifth Jyotirlinga at Uttarakhand. Its a part of the Char Dham Yatra conducted under the supervision of the State government of Uttarakhand. The kedarnath temple history is related to Nar-Narayan and Pandavas, and in the other hand Adiguru Shankaracharya renovated the temple of kedarnath.

Kedarnath Temple is also one of the twelve Jyotirlingas along with Char Dham and Panch Kedar located in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand state of India. Due to the adverse climate here, the opening time of Kedarnath temple for darshan is from April to November.

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Kedarnath History

Kedarnath temple history – Maharaja Janmejaya, a Pandava’s grandson, built the Kedarnath temple which is made of stones in Katyuri style. Adi Shankaracharya renovated it.

I shot the ball towards Kedarnath temple. Kedarnath temple was built by Maharaja Janmejaya, a Pandava’s grandson. It is made of stones in Katyuri style.

Pleased with Nar-Narayan’s penance, Lord Shiva appeared.

Many beliefs surround Kedarnath Dham. Nar-Narayan, Vishnu’s incarnation, worshiped Lord Shiva daily in Badrivan. They made a mortal Shivalinga.

Lord Shiva asked Nar-Narayan for a boon. Nar-Narayan wished for Lord Shiva to stay here for others to see. Lord Shiva agreed, to make this area Kedar.

The belief of Kedarnath dham is also linked to the Pandavas.

In Mahabharata, Pandavas wanted to have darshan of Lord Bholenath (Shiv) in Kedar area. Lord Shiva appeared as Mahisha instead. Pandavas chased Mahisha, holding his tail and praying.

Lord Shiva was pleased and became a part of Mahisha’s tail in Kedarnath.

Kedarnath’s Shivalinga is self-proclaimed. Swayambhu means self-manifested Shiva linga. It is believed that the Kedarnath temple was built by the Pandava king Janamejaya. AdiGuru Shankaracharya renovated it.

Other special things about the temple of Kedarnath

There are many beliefs about Kedarnath temple’s construction or Kedarnath temple history.

Kedarnath temple is built on a high platform. There’s a circumambulation path around the main temple parts.

Lord Shiva’s divine vehicle Nandiji is situated in the complex outside the Kedarnath temple. Here Lord Shiva is worshipped according the tradition which has been in use for a long time. Since the ancient times, worship has been performed in the old-fashioned way.
Shivalinga is first bathed in the morning and then Ghee is applied to it. Next, the Aarti is performed with the materials such as incense sticks, lamps, etc. Special decoration of the Lord is done in the evening.
Some say that this temple was constructed by the Pandava king Janamejaya.
Some people are of the opinion that this temple was built by AdiGuru Shankaracharya in the 8th-9th century.

Kedarnath Yatra is the time when one has to walk a distance of 16 kilometers on foot, by palanquin or with the help of the horse after reaching Gaurikund.

Kedarnath is a very glorious place. Badrinath and Kedarnath are the two major pilgrimage places in Uttarakhand, visiting both of them is very important. As for Kedarnath, it is said that the one who goes to Badrinath without seeing Kedarnath, his journey becomes meaningless and the result of seeing the Nar-Narayan-Idol and Kedarnath is liberation from life by the destruction of all sins.

Historical importance of Kedarnath Dham

The historical importance of Kedarnath Dham is as follows:.

According to mythological beliefs, Lord Shiva resided in the form of Jyotirlinga on Kedar Shringa of the Himalayas.
During the Mahabharata, the Pandavas sought forgiveness from Lord Shiva for their sins.
Lord Shiva took the form of a beautiful bull to meet the Pandavas and hid himself in the serene Garhwal region of the Himalayas.
The Pandavas chased Lord Shiva and finally found him at the confluence of the Mandakini and Ganga rivers.
The Pandavas were pleased with the devotion of Lord Shiva and got darshan of him and got freedom from sins.
Kedarnath temple is one of the four Char Dhams of Uttarakhand.
It is said that Lord Shiva appeared to the Pandavas at five different places, known as Panch Kedar.

The Char Dham Pilgrimage

Importance in Hinduism

The Char Dham Yatra conducted in the state of Uttarakhand includes Kedarnath, Yamunotri, Gangotri and Badrinath temples. These four temples hold a special place among the most revered places in the lives of Hindu devotees. It is believe that it is the centre where the soul can be purified and the Char Dham is the place in creating the spiritual equilibrium of the soul.

Seasonal Pilgrimage Trends

The pilgrimage period usually is April to November, whereas the peak season is in summer. The sanctity of Kedarnath as a part of this pilgrimage interests numerous believers, each one of them hoping to earn blessings and spiritual fulfillment amid nature.

Natural Disasters in Kedarnath Valley Floods of 2013

The natural disaster in Kedarnath Valley, Uttarakhand during the year 2013 was one of the worst natural disasters ever in India.
During heavy rains on 16 and 17 June 2013, the Chorabari glacier in the Himalayan region also melted and the Chorabari lake burst, a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF).

This increased the flow of the Mandakini river to a dangerous level. As a result, the entire Kedarnath valley and settlements downstream were flooded and the 14 km long pilgrim route to the Kedarnath temple was damaged.

Recovery and Reconstruction of Kedarnath Valley

Kedarnath valley is located in the Himalayan region of Uttarakhand at an altitude of more than 3,500 meters. It had faced a devastating natural disaster during the year 2013. However, a lot has changed here since then. A reconstruction project is underway here. The aim of this project is to rebuild Kedarnath as well as make this place attractive and convenient. Along with this, keeping in mind the income from tourism, a lot of reconstruction work has been done here and is continuing.

Important Role of Kedarnath in Indian Culture

Kedarnath Temple is important in Indian culture in many ways:
Kedarnath is one of the 12th Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva and is also known as Shri Kedar Ekadashi.
Kedarnath Temple is associated with the Pandavas. It is believed that during the Mahabharata, Lord Sühiva appeared to the Pandavas in the form of a vine.
Kedarnath Temple was built by Adi Shankaracharya. It is believed that he built it in the 8th-9th century.
The architecture of Kedarnath Temple is a mixture of Hindu and Tibetan styles.
The back side of Lord Shiva is visible in Kedarnath Temple.
Worshiping Lord Shiva in Kedarnath Temple is believed to lead to salvation

Tourism and Accessibility of Kedarnath.

How to reach Kedarnath temple from Delhi, Dehradun or Rishikesh

To reach Kedarnath, you can use several routes:

From Delhi

You can go to Haridwar from Delhi by train or flight. It takes about 5 to 6 hours to reach Gaurikund from Haridwar by road. After this, the journey to Kedarnath Dham on foot starts from Gaurikund.

From Dehradun

Kedarnath can be reached through Dehradun by bus, flight, or train.
Kedarnath can be reached by taking a helicopter from Dehradun, Guptkashi, Phata, Sitapur, and Sonprayag.

From Rishikesh

Go to Guptkashi by cab or bus. After this, reach Sonprayag and stay overnight. In the morning, leave from Sonprayag for Gaurikund. The 16 km long trek to Kedarnath Dham starts from there.

FAQs about Kedarnath

1. Where is Kedarnath Temple?

Kedarnath Temple in India is a world famous Hindu temple located in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand state. Kedarnath Temple in the lap of the Himalayas in Uttarakhand is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas and is also one of the four Dhams and Panch Kedars.

2. What is the best time to reach Kedarnath Temple.

Kedarnath Dham can be reached or the journey can be done during May to June. During this time, the temperature in Kedarnath ranges from 5 degrees Celsius to 20 degrees Celsius and the atmosphere and weather remain beautiful.

3. How can I reach Kedarnath?

For reaching Kedarnath, one has to cover the distance of 16 km by taking the road route to Gaurikund and then take a walk or access it by helicopter services available at Phata in the area. Read More in Detail

4. Is there accommodation available in Kedarnath?

Yes, many types of lodging are available to suit the budgetary choices including those that are price-friendly such as budget lodges or the ones that are closer to the temple other than the shrine which offers a comfortable stay.

5-What is the importance of Kedarnath temple?

The importance of Kedarnath temple is because it is very dear to Lord Shiva. This temple is important for many reasons, such as:

It is the first of the Panch Kedar pilgrimage sites.
It is one of the four Dhams

6. Are there any safety measures for pilgrims?

Absolutely yes! Authorities have put several safety precautions in place, such as providing weather updates and trekking guidelines, to help ensure that the pilgrimage experience is safe for everyone.

Kedarnath Temple History is associated with Nar-Narayan and Pandavas