Kedarnath Temple

Glory of Kedarnath Temple

Kedarnath temple is located in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. The glory of this temple is unconventional and centuries old. Kedarnath is also involved in Char Dham Yatra along with joining Jyotirlingas outside. The Char Dham Yatra is of great importance in Hinduism. It is said that one who has traveled to the four dhams gets rid of the cycle of life and death, that is, he gets a place in Baikunth. Only by knowing the history of the Kedarnath temple and its glory included in the four dhams, one gets enlightenment. Today we are going to tell you about the Kedarnath temple in detail.

History of Kedarnath Temple

Kedarnath city of Lord Shiva is one of the Panchakedars. There are many things about the history of the temple. It is said that this temple was built by King Janamejaya of Pandava dynasty. By the way, there is no historical proof of the age of this temple. But the temple is believed to be thousands of years old. According to Mahapandit Rahul Sankrityayan, the temple dates to the 12–13th century. Also it is said that this temple of Kedarnath was built by Adi Shankaracharya in the 7th century.

Structure of Kedarnath Temple

The Kedarnath temple of Lord Shiva is situated on the peak named Kedar of Giriraj Himalaya. Which is surrounded by a hill on three sides. On one side, Kedarnath, which is about 22 thousand feet high, is on the other side, 21 thousand 600 feet of Khetkund and on the other end is 22 thousand 700 feet high Bharatkund. Around the Kedarnath temple was the confluence of the five holy rivers Mandakini, Madhuganga, Kshirganga, Saraswati and Swarnagouri. However, now only Mandakini river exists here.

The Kedarnath temple is built on a 6 feet high platform. The temple's garbhagriha is very ancient and powerful. The temple is 85 feet high, 80 feet wide and 187 feet tall. The structure of the temple makes one wonder. How such a beautiful temple is built on the mountains. It puts it into thinking. In the temple, Lord Shiva's Pindi is bathed and ghee is applied. The main part of the temple surrounds the pavilion and the sanctum sanctorum and Nandi sits in the courtyard.

Visit time to the temple

Kedarnath is opened for viewing only between April and November due to the climate of Uttarakhand. The date of the temple's opening is calculated after the Hindu calendar is decided by the priests of the Omkareshwar temple located in Ukhimath. The opening date of the temple is declared every year on the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya and the holy festival of Mahashivaratri, and the date of closing the door is declared on Bhai Dooj after Diwali.

The temple opens at 6 am for devotees and after worshiping the idol of Lord Shiva with Panchmukh and performing special puja, the temple is reopened for darshan at five o'clock in the evening. There is a regular aarti from 7.30 to 8.30 and the temple is closed after that.

Legend of Kedarnath Temple

One legend of Kedarnath Jyotirlinga is that on the Kedar peak of the Himalayas, the male and Narayan sages, incarnations of Lord Vishnu, used to do hard penance. He offered himself to Lord Vishnu. Pleased with his hard penance and worship, Lord Shankar appeared to him and asked him to ask for a boon. Then he asked for the blessing of Shiva's Jyotirlinga form to live forever on that peak. Lord Bholenath was happy and resided there as Jyotirlinga and called Kedarnath.