“The Kedarnath” – Char Dham Yatra: The Four Abodes of God (Chapter 3)

Hello everyone! Hope you all are enjoying your weekend! I apologize for not uploading any blogs for a long time as I had my examinations going on and going forward, I will try to upload blogs more regularly. Today, we are going to continue with our series Char Dham Yatra: The Four Abodes of God with our focus that is going to be on the 3rd Dham, The Kedarnath Dham.

The Kedarnath Shrine is situated in Kedarnath, Uttarakhand and is also known as the temple of the God of the field. It is one of the most important of the twelve jyotirlinga of God Shiva and the Panch Kedar pilgrimage sites. It is, like the other dhams, present on the Garhwal Himalayan Range near the Mandakini River at an altitude of 3584m above sea level.

The word “Kedarnath” means “the lord of the field” and is derived from the Sanskrit words kedara(field) and natha(lord) and the reason behind selecting this name because of “the crop of liberation” that grows here.

The Kedarnath shrine is one of the most important shrines in India that holds great religious and spiritual prominence and has a rich history to it as well. It is said that the Pandavas (name of a group referring to five brothers, Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva who were central characters of the Mahabharata) are to be credited for the construction of the temple. Adi Shankaracharya, who was a famous Indian Vedic scholar and teacher, is said to have later reconstructed the temple in 8th AD. It is said that the Kedarnath shrine has stood in its place for more than 1000 years which is surprising and amusing. Geologists assume the reason of its great achievement stating that it’s construction and architecture was well-planned to withstand the region’s challenging weather and natural conditions. Not only that, but it also undergoes regular maintenance and repair efforts to keep the temple in good condition. Due to its religious and spiritual importance, people have been motivated and encouraged to take care of the temple and thus, preserving it for generations to come. Natural disasters, which are also a major cause for the destruction of many shrines and pilgrimages, have been avoided by the Kedarnath temple due to its location that is not susceptible or has affinity to earthquakes or floods. It is claimed by geologists that the Kedarnath Temple was under the snow for around 400 years during the Little Ice Age (1300 – 1900AD).

This temple, as we know, holds a prominent place in the cultures, religions and traditions of India and the trek or the journey to the temple is also as beautiful and mesmerizing to watch as the temple is. To reach the temple, pilgrims should walk or pass a challenging but worthful 14-kilometer hike through the tall and rocky Himalayan terrains. People normally start the journey at Gaurikand that is a commencement point of the Kedarnath dham and gradually ascend steep paths and steps, crossing the Mandakini River and passing lush and dense forests. During the hike, people can get a chance to view the beautiful looking Garhwal mountains and the Mandakini River that makes the journey worth it.

They can also get access to different resting points with plenty of seats, refreshments like snacks and water. After a tiring approximate 6 to 8 hours of trekking, you finally reach the temple and find yourself standing in front of the holy shrine.

The temple’s beautiful and unique architecture adds to the fame and prominence of the temple, and not knowing more about it, is not what we do. The architecture of a shrine is as vital for us to know more about as the religious importance it holds. So, let’s dive straight into it. The Kedarnath Dham showcases classic North Indian temple architecture and is made from grey hunk of stones that are interlocked with each other with the use of iron clamps, thus, providing a strong exterior. It is believed that no mortars had been used in the construction of the temple. It also has a sturdy stone base to withstand harsh weathers and conditions. The exterior of the temple shows many intricate and beautiful carvings and sculptures and shows mythological figures.

The interior of the temple is as fascinating to watch as the exterior is. Let’s talk about it more. When we enter the temple, we can see a small hall that has number of images of Parvati and the five Pandavas. The hall is decorated with beautiful statues of Lord Krishna, the Pandavas, Shiva’s vehicle i.e. Virbhadra, a huge statue of Nandi and other deities of Hindu mythology. There is also a conical rock structure present in the shrine. A “Garba Griha” is also present for worship and a mandap for pilgrims that visit the temple.

Festivals are a major part of the Indian culture that brings people together spreading happiness and joy, not only in the country, but also all over the world where people celebrate these festivals. Kedarnath, also, holds many special events for the same. Let’s know more about these events.

1. Badri-Kedar Festival: Held in the month of June for eight days, in this festival, renowned artists from all around the country come to the temple, and show their musical talents.

2. Shravani Annakoot Mela: This festival is held in the harvesting season that is in the month of August. It is celebrated one day prior the day of Raksha Bandhan. On this day, the people follow a ritual where they prepare food from the newly harvested paddy and offer it to the Lord. Not only that, but the Shivling is also decked with a mixture of rice, wheat, grains, and pulses.

3. Samadhi Puja: This puja is performed on the first day of Kartik, that is between October and November, when the Kedarnath Temple closes.

There are also other famous festivals like Holi, Ganesh Chaturthi and Diwali that are celebrated with a lot of joy and pomp by special pujas and much more.

All in all, the Kedarnath Dham is one of the most prominent shrines of the Char Dhams, and it is home to thousands of pilgrims from around the world. In our next blog, we will talk about the last Dham, that is Badrinath.

So, goodbye, and see you soon in the next blog. Thank You!