Kedarnath Temple :History,Mythology,Temple Rituals, Pooja Timings

Kedarnath Temple

     Kedarnath is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas in India. The place of devotion and spirituality. The bird’s nest for Sadhus and the sacred place of Mahadeva, the Lord of Gods. Who is Shiva? Everyone admires him for different reasons. For some, he is the destroyer of evil and the supreme God for devotees. Many adore him as a symbol of love and follow him for his simplicity and whatnot. Devotion drags people towards pilgrimage sites of Shiva. But what makes Kedarnath so special and spiritual? Kedarnath, the credal of spirituality in Uttarakhand, fascinates you with the stunning mountain ranges, the breadth-taking valley, the beauty of the Manikarnika river, and the Kedarnath temple. Let us go on a word journey around Lord Shiva and Kedarnath.

 Where is Lord Kedarnath?

        Kedarnath is located in the Garhwal Himalayan Range in Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand, the white mountain beauty of India. It is one of the four Chota Char Dham on the earth, Kshetra. Kedarnath is at a height of 3,583 m above sea level. The firm Kedarnath peak (6940 m height) stands majestically behind Lord Kedarnath. The babbling of the river Manikarnika fills the atmosphere with divinity. Devotees find peace in the Kedarnath temple in a spiritual environment, one among the twelve Jyotirlingas.

Have a look inside the temple

       A small but enthralling temple of Kedarnath astonishes you with the statues of Krishna,Pandavas,Droupadi,Nandi,Veerabhadra, and other Hindu deities carved on the beams of the hall.
In the sanctum sanctorum, Kedarnath is in the form of Lingam of irregular shape. He stands firm on a pedestal of 3.6m in circumference and 3.6m in height. This unique lingam allures millions of people every year. 

Listen to the stories.

The prominent pillar of Panch Kedar Yatra, Kedarnath, is also famous for its mythical and historical importance. The mythical stories and local legends are the roots of attraction. Let me narrate one or two. Long long ago, so long ago, too dramatic, right Let’s jump into the story directly

· After the war, Pandavs wished to atone for the sins of Brahmana Hatya and Gotra Hatya. So they went to Kashi in search of Lord Shiva. Shiva vanished from Kashi, and in the form of a bull, he joined a herd of cattle in Kedarnath. Bheema took the gigantic form and stood on two mountains. Except for Shiva in the bull form, the cattle passed under Bheema’s leg. Pandavas recognized the almighty and begged for blessings. The bull-formed Shiva started to disappear to avoid them. Bheema held him tightly, but five different parts of Shiva appeared in five places. The bump that emerged from the ground in Kedarnath is now worshipped as Lord Kedarnath. 

Sage Nara Narayana praised Lord Shiva in Kedarnath. Pleased Shiva blessed him in the form of Jyothirlinga here.
According to Skanda Purana, the place is related to the story of the river Ganga. The legend says Shiva released Ganga from his hair in Kedar. 

And the number of stories goes on like this. Mythical stories are always connected to the sentiments of people. Apart from this, the place is also recognized for its historical value. The place is always connected with the values of Adi Shankaracharya. You can visit Adi Shankaracharya samadhi behind the Kedarnath temple. 

The Sacred Yatra: 

Devotees from far places come here for Lord Kedarnath’s blessings. The yatra from Sonaprayag to Kedarnath mesmerizes every yatri. The 16 km stretch of the trek starts from Gourikund. The road from Sonaprayag to Gourikund is accessible, and this distance can be covered by private vehicles or shared taxis.
The further 4km trek to Jungle Chatti through Rambara Bridge is one of the best experiences of the yatra. The trekking path passes from Jungle Chatti, Bheembali, Linchauli, and Kedarnath Base Camp. The yatra commences from 4 am to 1:30 pm from Gourikund. As the place includes the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, the timings of the trekking are fixed to ensure the safety of the yatries. People with respiratory disorders and heart patients should consult the doctor as a precautionary measure. Along the trek path, restaurants, small shops, tented accommodations, drinking water facilities, pony-manchan services, etc., are available.

Pooja – The divine worship. 

        Devotees feel blessed to take part in the holy pooja of Lord Kedarnath. The mornings of Kedarnath enthral you with the Poojas like Maha Abhishek, Rudra Abhishek, and Sodasopachar. The divine vibes of afternoon poojas like Shiv Sahasranamam Path, Shiv Mahimastrotra Paath, etc., fill your soul with positivity.

Sherwani Purnima Annakut is the special pooja of Kedarnath, and once a year, Akhanda Jyothi Pooja is held. Long-term pooja and bhog services are also available.

The holy festivals:

         Witnessing the bright festivals of Kedarnath is the best celebration moment of a devotee’s life. Moreover, the spirituality of these festivals makes the environment delightful. 

Badri-Kedar Festival: The eight days of the festival celebrated in June in both Badri and Kedar is the best example of the devotion towards Lord Kedarnath.

 Sharavani Annakoot Mela: The day before Raksabandhan, the chief priest covers the Kedarnath linga with cereals distributed as prasad the next day. 

How far is Kedarnath?

• Kedarnath is 239 km away from Jolly Grant Airport near Dehradun, the nearest airport. 
• You can access the Rishikesh railway station, 201km away from Kedarnath. 

Best tourist places near kedarnath

Tourist places are heaven for curious minds. Such people can find peace in the tourist places nearby Kedarnath. 

• Rudra Meditation Cave
• Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary
• Shankaracharya Samadhi
• Badrinath
• Gangotri
• Yamunotri 

And the list goes on 

Despite Natural Calamities, Kedarnath stands still with a positive approach toward life and spirituality. The pilgrims across the world worship Lord Kedarnath. Kedarnath is the place of divinity. Kedarnath… the trekkers paradise. Kedarnath is the sweet bhog to nature lovers. Har Har Mahadev