New Delhi: One of the most revered pilgrimage sites in India, Kedarnath, is regarded as a very special and holy place by Hindus. Kedarnath draws millions of tourists annually. Kedarnath’s spirituality and breathtaking natural beauty make it nearly impossible to ignore.
The Kedarnath Temple, one of Lord Shiva’s 12 Jyotirlingas, is located in Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand. The Pandavas from the Mahabharata epic are thought to have constructed an old temple site. Adi Shankaracharya constructed the current Kedarnath temple in the eighth century. There are a tonne of fascinating facts about Kedarnath Temple that you might not have even known existed. Despite being the most well-known Shiva temple in all of India, many aspects of this temple are unknown to the majority of people.
As the Char Dham yatra has begun and the doors of Kedarnath temple have opened, let us look at some of the interesting and unknown facts about the temple.
Kedarnath temple: Facts to know about the temple
Height and location
In Uttarakhand, the Kedarnath Temple is located very high in the Himalayan mountains. It is 3,583 metres (11,755 ft) high.
Bhairav Nath – Protector of Kedarnath Temple
The Kedarnath Temple is not far from the Bhairav Nath Temple. The entire Kedarnath Temple area is protected by the temple deity Bhairav Nath. Kshetrapal is another name for him. Bhairav Nath is Lord Shiva’s most ferocious form. He possesses divine abilities that could wipe out the universe. Bhairav Nath guards the Kedarnath Temple against evil spirits when winter arrives and the temple is covered in snow. Because of this, Bhairav Nath is also worshipped during the Kedarnath Temple’s opening and closing ceremonies.
Most famous pilgrimage site
One of the most popular pilgrimage sites in Uttarakhand is the Kedarnath Temple. The temple is a stop on the Panch Kedar sightseeing route. Additionally, you can visit it as part of the 12-Jyotirlinga Tour Package. However, the majority of travellers who plan their Char Dham Yatra pilgrimage tour in Uttarakhand go to Kedarnath Temple.
Head priest belongs to Karnataka
The head priest of this temple is a member of the Veerashaiva community from Karnataka, not Uttarakhand. After Adi Shankaracharya made Kedarnath Temple a significant Hindu temple in India, the custom persisted. The daily rituals and pujas at Kedarnath Temple are carried out by the head priest’s assistants. When the main idol from Kedarnath Temple is transferred to Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath during the winter, the head priest arrives. Even the mantras recited at Kedarnath Temple are spoken in Kannada.
Temple under snow for centuries
The fact that Kedarnath Temple was covered in a thick layer of snow for about 400 years is one of the temple’s most astonishing facts. The temple was later found and revered as one of India’s principal Shiva temples.
Kedarnath Temple’s construction
You’ll be astounded to learn this Kedarnath Temple fact. The Kedarnath Temple shares a lot of similarities with other Panch Kedar temples in Uttarakhand in terms of architecture. However, what is remarkable about the building of this temple is the use of such large stone slabs. It is still a great mystery how the massive stones were moved and fitted together to form the temple’s walls. The stone slabs are 12 feet thick, which will surprise you to learn. Even the massive 2013 floods, which wreaked havoc on Kedarnath town and the surrounding area, were unable to destroy the temple because of how thick the stone slabs were.
Unique Lingam
The linga in this temple is the most amazing thing to learn about Kedarnath Temple. It is more triangular and different from other Shiva lingas. For the Abhishek in the temple, ghee is used. This custom has a mythological legend attached to it as well. Bhima and Lord Shiva once engaged in combat with one another. However, Bhima later regretted his fight with Lord Shiva. He used ghee to massage Lord Shiva’s body. Even today, the Kedarnath Temple priests continue this custom by ghee-coating the Shiva Linga.
Idols in Kedarnath
You can find the main Shiva linga once you enter the temple. But the temple also houses a large number of other idols. You can instantly recognise the idols of Parvati, the five Pandava brothers, Draupadi, Veerbhadra, Nandi, Lord Shiva, and Shri Krishna, as well as other well-known deities. The Kedarnath Temple contains the idols of additional gods and goddesses.
Greetings at Kedarnath
When you travel to Kedarnath, the entire scenario of greetings is altered. You will be able to hear Jai Kedar or Jai Shree Kedar everywhere. It is a way of saying “hello” to people when performing the Kedarnath Yatra. Hi and hello are common greetings, but they are extremely rare to hear. The energy of Kedarnath is such that it seems as though Lord Shiva is present outside of the temple grounds, greeting people in their minds.
Importance of ghee
In the Kedarnath temple, ghee is revered greatly. The ghee that is applied by devotees to the lingam is thought to be auspicious. A sacred ritual involves pouring ghee into the lingam. No doubt learning this little-known fact about the Kedarnath Temple piqued your interest in learning more about it.
Kedarnath, a revered pilgrimage site in Uttarakhand, holds immense spiritual significance for Hindus. This article delves into lesser-known facts about the Kedarnath Temple, including its unique lingam, the role of Bhairav Nath, its construction using massive stone slabs, and the temple’s head priest’s origins in Karnataka. Discover the mystical allure and hidden wonders of this sacred site. Spirituality Lifestyle News -Fashion Trends, Beauty Tips, Celebrity Party News, Relationship advice, Travel and Food Tips
