Kedarnath is not a place but it’s an emotion, it an emotion for youngsters, for elders and for the worshipers of Mahakal, but the question is how much do we know about Kedarnath. Check out these facts and let us know how many of them you didn’t knew about.

 

FORMATION AND IT’S AGE

  • It is said that the temple was built during 8th century by  Adi Shankaracharya, which make the temple more than 1200 yrs old.
  • But the most surprising thing is its structure, which has preserved its natural form even in the extreme weather conditions of Uttarakhand.
  • This masterpiece was mainly build from heavy and evenly cut grey slabs of stones, and has retained its alluring form even today also.

THE 12 JYOTILINGA CONNECTION

  • According to shiv mahapuran, once Lord Braham and Lord Vishnu had a fight over the supremacy of creation and to settle that debate they raised the war for it. But suddenly a pillar of light emerged in front of them out of nowhere.
  • So , in order to find source of the light they agreed  to split their ways, Brahma decided to go upward and Vishnu decided to go downward to find it’s starting and end point.
  • But after searching deep Lord Vishnu accepted his defeat whereas Lord Bhrama chose to lie that he found the end point. This angered Lord Shiva who was emerged in form of that pillar of light and cursed Lord Bharma for it and that pillar of light was known as Jyotirlinga.
  • It is said that there are 12 such Jyotirlinga across India and Kedarnath is highest of them.

THE MAHABHARAT CONNECTION

  • It is believed that after the epic war of Mahabharata ended, pandavas decided to get salvation by gaining lord Shiva’s pardon for their sins, and they started searching for Lord Shiva for their pardon.
  • It is said that Lord Shiva was not impressed by pandavas because of what they did in Mahabharata so he took a form of bull to hide himself from pandavas and in order to escape from pandavas Lord Shiva decided to spread his body parts in 5 directions.
  • Like  face at Rudranath, arms at Tungnath, navel and stomach at Madhyamaheshwar, the locks at Kalpeshwar and the hump at Kedarnath.(also known as Panch kedar). They all are located in Garhwali Himalayan region in Uttarakhand, India. And that’s why Garhwal region is also called the Kedar-Khanda after Kedar — the local name for Lord Shiva.
  • But it is said that bheem among pandavas identified lord shiva and grabbed the bull’s tail, forcing him to appear before them and forgive them.

THE PROTECTOR OF KEDARNATH

 

  • It is said that Bhairav mandir situated near Kedarnath temple is there to protect Kedarnath temple and Kedarnath region.
  • It is believed that Lord Bhairav protects kedarnath temple during those 6 months of winter when the temple is closed from evil eye and uncertainties.
  • It should also be noted that the Bhairav mandir is also one the main attraction of Kedarnath as well.

2013 FLOOD STORY

 

  • The 2013 flood of Kedarnath needs no introduction at all; it is believed that approx more than 5000 people died in that natural disaster of Uttarakhand.
  • But along with that unfortunate story of flood victims and mystical story of Kedarnath was also much known to the people.
  • How one huge rock appeared infront of temple and diverted the whole water flow and how only Kedarnath temple was saved in that unfortunate natural calamity of Uttarakhand.

       And last but not the least, As they say

Duniya ki raunak ka humko kya kaam
Hum ko to jana hai baba k dhaam …

Jai kedara…