Kedarnath

Keadarnath is in Uttarakhand state of India. It is one of the four centres of pilgrimage (Dhams) of Uttarakand. This holy place is situated on the bank of Mandakini river. It is located at a height of 3581 metres above sea level. Ketarnath is famous for one of the 12 Jyotirlingams. It is abode of Jyotirling Sadashiv. The temple, famous as Kedarnath temple, was built in 8th century. Kedarnath has always been important for the people of India as a place of religious importance. It has been referred to in Skand Puran, where Lord Shiv tells Parvati, "O, Praneshwari, this area is as old as I am. It is the place where I got Brahmatva in the form of Brahma to create this universe. It has become my favourite place from that time. This place is like Heaven on Earth because of it being my abode from the time immemorial."

It may not be out of place to mention here the Shiv Mahapuran. The section Kotiruddh Sanhita of Shiv Mahapuran describes the story of the dwadash (twelve) Jyotirlings in details. Kedarnath is the most important among them. It is said that whoever worships Lord Shiv of Kedarkhand and Nar Narayan of Badrivan gets the wishes fulfilled. It is also believed that this place has been the place of meditation and penance for Gods, sages and common people. Kedarnath has also been referred in the Mahabharat. In the Dvaper Yug, when, having killed own people from the same family tree or Gotra, the Pandavas were suffering acute depression, they were advised to go to Kedarkhand by the sage Ved Vyas to overcome the sorrow. Since killing people of our own family tree is one of the greatest sins, Lord Shiv did not want to give them a glimpse of himself. He changed his shape into a Mahish (Buffalo) and in that shape used to wander in the Himalayas. However, Pandavas got this knowledge by their Buddhi Yoga and followed the Mahish. Soon after the Mahish began to go under ground. Pandavas reached the place in the meantime and got hold of the tail. They prayed lord Shiv to appease him. Lord Shiv appeared here as the back portion of the buffalo while the mouth (Srimukh) appeared as Pashupatinath which is now in Nepal. According to the legend, the Pandavas heard, they did not know from where, "Pandav, do worship this form of mine and you will get your wish fulfilled."

It is believed that Pandavas built here a big temple. Lord Shiv is known here as Ashutosh. From that time this place is the abode of Ashutosh Kedarnath Jyotirling. It is important to remind here about Panch Kedar which are in Uttarakhand itself. Lord Shiv in the form of a buffalo appeared in parts - the portion of mouth in Rudranath, the arms in Tunganath, the navel in Madmaheshwar, and the locks in Kalpeshwar. Including Kedarnath, these are five places of pilgrims in Uttarakhand known as Panch Kedar. Kedarnath temple opens for devotees on Mahashivratri. Saints and mendicants from Ukhimath are the first visitors. The doors of this temple opens one day before Badrinath temple.

Temples around Kedarnath temple

Sri Jagmohan
Sri Jagmohan is famous for Parvati temple. The idol of Parvati is made of stone.
Sri Ishaneshwar Mahadev
Ishaneshwar Mahadev temple derives its name from its direction from the main temple. Ishan means North - East, in which direction this temple is situated. Lord Shiv of the temple is the god of this direction.
Sri Ganesh
Sri Ganesh's abode is at the main gate of Kedarnath. According to the legend, this temple and deity is worth visiting even before one visits Kedarnath.
Sri Nandishwar
Sri Nandishwar's abode is in front of the Kedarnath in the courtyard. The idol is very big. It is said that Nandi is the doorkeeper of the Lord Shiv.
Sri Hans Kund
Sri Hans Kund is famous for its religious importance for offering waters to the ancestors. People come here for this purpose and for Pinddan, a ritual performed by kinsmen after the death of a person.
Sri Retas Kund
Sri Retas Kund is a mysterious pond in Kedarnath. It is said that when one pronounce 'Har Har Mahadev' here, bubbles generate immediately. Seeing this phenomenon is considered holiest of the things.
Sri Bhairavnath
Sri Bhairavnath temple is situated at about half kilometre from Kedarnath temple. It is located at a hillock. The deity here is called Bhukund Bhairav. It may not be out of place to mention here that Bhairav is the main Gan (attendant). The first priest of Kedarnath (the first Rawal) Sri Bhukund had established here the idol of Lord Bhairav in 3001 BC. This god is the presiding god of this area (Kshetrapal).
Samadhi of Sri Adiguru Shankaracharya and his Dand
Samadhi of Sri Adiguru Shankaracharya is in the back side of Kedarnath temple. There is also a big Dand (the holy cane) made of marble. It is generally believed that Adi Shankaracharya spent his last days in this place. There is a controversy about the death of Shankaracharya. Some believe that he took Samadhi at this very place at the age of 32, while others claim that he never died. He just disappeared. Recently, when this place was being renovated and advertised as the place of Samadhi of Adi Shankaracharya, it was strongly refuted by one of the five Shankaracharyas. He believe that since Adi Shankaracharya is the incarnation of Lord Shiv, there is no question of his death, rather he simply disappeared.

Other places of worship
Udak Kund Vishwanath temple at Guptkashi, Temples around Vishwanath at Guptkashi, Usha Mandir at Ukhimath, Varahi Mandir at Ukhimath, Madmaheshwar Mandir, Mahakali Mandir at Kalimath, Mahasaraswati Mandir at Kalimath, Mahalaxmi Mandir at Kalimath, Gauramai Mandir at Gaurikund, Triyuginarayan Mandir Shrines around Triyuginarayan Tunganath Mandir at Tunganath Tunganath Mandir at Makkumath Kali Shila at Kalimath
Places of interest
Ret Kund Shiv Kund, Hirnay Tirth, Bahani Tirth Mahapath, Paurandar Parvat, Hans Kund Sri Bhairavnath ji Goraksh Ashram Gauri Kund Triyuginarayan, Guptvaranashi, Ushamath, Madmaheshwar, Sri Tungnath, Akash Ganga, Manansar Kalimath Kalshila Shankaracharya Samadhi, Gandhi Sarovar or Ghorbari Jhil Vaski Tal, Gaurikund, Sonprayag, Agastya Muni, Ukhimath, Chopta