UTTRAKHAND: 12/1/08

Kedarnth is a holy town in Devbhumi Uttrakhand (Land Of God) located in Rudra Himalayan range, about 3584 mts. above sea level near Mandakni river and it's laid by snow capped Himalayan peaks, it is one of the twelve Jyorilingas. the shrine of Kedarnath is amongst the holiest pilgrimages for the Hindus. It is named after King Kedar who ruled in the Satyayuga. He ruled the seven continents and was a very saintly king. Temple is over thousand year old is built of massive stone slabs over a large rectangular platform. The present temple was built by Adi Guru Shankaracharya in the 8th century.

(Shri Kedarnath ji-Om Namah Shivaya)

This temple is dedicated to lord Shiva, said to be 1000 years old, built of heavy stones which have gray color, it is really wonder that how people manage to bring theses heavy stones, and how they lift them for temple’s wall on these days. The temple has a ”Garbha Griha” for worship and a Mandap for devotees. A conical rock is worshiped inside of the temple in Shiva and Sadashiva form, and there is a very large Nandi Mandap, Pardakshin path is worshiped as lord Shiva and there are many idol and small temples on the outer of the place.

(Himalayan range)

Kedarnath is situated in Uttrakhand; it is very close to Indo-Chinese border. It is the source of Mandakini river. It is couched in the scenic locales of the Garhwal Himalayas at 3583 meters above sea level, which is around 11630ft. and 14 kms. Trek from Gaurikund.
It is very cold in the winters with the ground being covered with snow. In the summers, the mercury barely crosses the 20°C mark. The place experiences about 150 cm of rainfall during the monsoons and so the best time to visit is between May and October. Kedarnath is near to Rishikesh (234 km) And Dehradun (250 km).

(Trek rout for Kedarnath)

The Shiva Pinda is one of the twelve Jyotrilingas of the Shiva. In the temple morning Puja is called Nirwan Darshan and evening puja called Sringar Darshan. The Morning Pujas are Shubh Parbhat, Balbhog, Mahabhishek, Rudrabhishek, Ashotar, and shiva puja. And the evenings pujas are Shiva Ashtotar, Shiva Sahasranam, Shiva Naamawali, Shiva Mahimaman Stotra and Ekanta Seva. The opening date of the temple usually falls during the last week of April and temple close after Diwali festival. Some Pandas of Kedarnath are Scholar of Sanskrit, they lived near by Kedarnath like Guptkashi, Ukhimath and local villages.

(Oh! God It is Really heaven made by You…..)

Kedarnath is surrounded by Gandhi Sarovar, Vasuki Tal, Bhairon Nath Mandir, ”The Samadhi of Adi Guru Sankaracharya is visible there”.

(Shankracharya’s Samadi)

Adi Guru Shankaracharya chosen this land for lord Shiva’s shrine, where unholy becomes holy and holy becomes holier.

Panch-Kedar will be published soon.......