21 March, 2016

Idols worshiped at Yamunotri and Yamunotri during winters


The idols worshiped at Yamunotri

Winter abode for Yamunotri idols

People / Swamis / yogis who stay over in Yamunotri during winters



This article is about Yamunotri and is the first in the series of four articles



The chardham circuit in the Himalaya is open for six months from May to November and closed during winters

Please refer below link



For commercial reasons the government of Uttarakahand is promoting the winter Chardham yatra


There is a lot of misconception regarding this, people think that the main idols of temples are shifted to their winter abode, but this is not so.


There is also a lot of misconception regarding the People / Swamis / yogis who stay over in the chardham’s during winters when the respective chardham towns are abandoned, they are considered to be special and highly elevated spiritually again this is not so


This article is based on my own personal experiences and the first-hand information that I have collected as I travelled to these places and stayed there for a long period of time





 Yamunotri

Below the trek—on the way to Yamunotri



Below small town of Yamunotri, you can see the river Yamuna originating from the ice glaciers above and the Yamunotri temple





Before entering the Yamunotri temple worship is carried out at Divya shilla near Surya kund which is the origin of the hot water spring

Below Surya kund and Divya Shilla



Below close up of Surya kund 



Below close up of Divya Shilla



Below  the Yamunotri temple








Below  the river Yamuna roaring past the Yamunotri temple
         







Inside the main temple there is a big black Yamuna idol and on its left is another Yamuna idol, a third silver Yamuna idol is kept below. Further down on left the idol of Bal Gopal is kept also called Ladu Gopal.


All idols face North and Yamuna is seated on a Tortoise which is not visible


Yamunotri is a five Km trek from Janki chatti, most people do not stay over at yamunotri, but I strongly recommend spending two, three days at Yamunotri.


High above the temple is the Glacier which is the origin of the Yamuna River, the trek to this glacier is difficult and must be done by someone with good trekking experience and accompanied by a local guide, one can find the Himalaya brahma kamal flower plus some rare herbs here   


Winter abode for Yamunotri idols


During winters the small silver idol of Yamuna is taken down to the Shani dev temple at Kharsali near Janki Chatti






People who stay in Yamunotri during winters


One Shri Ram bharose das baba is being staying at Yamunotri for more than fifty years, currently he stays here with his disciple. Every morning he conducts a Vedic fire ceremony Yajna, he offers food and stay to all and never demands any money


He meets visitors only in the morning and evenings and the remaining day he spends in prayers, one thing no one is allowed to touch him






Below  the Hanuman temple of Shri Ram bharose das baba






Visiting Yamunotri in winters

All the chardhams in Uttarakhand are abandoned in winter, the temples sealed.

But there are a few people who visit these places in winter, some do it to experience the peace and tranquillity and absorb the spiritual vibrations when no one is around others do it as an expedition as one has to travel over snow covered roads.


Special permission is NOT required to visit Yamunotri during winters
Motorable road is till Janki chatti after which one has to trek five Kms to Yamunotri, but one must never attempt this without a local guide during winters


Feel free to ask me any further questions and I recommend staying over for a few days in each dham. I always travel after monsoons when there is no rush and rates are less  


5 comments:

  1. hi Bhoj,

    Have you been to Char dham just prior to the official opening (akshay tritiya). I am planning to do all the dham starting March - April. What are the chances that will be able to trek upto yamunotri and Kedarnath ?

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    1. no om i always visit after monsoons, chota chardham's open in may, you can do yamunotri along with a local guide before the temple opens but for kedarnath you would require a permit before the official opening, the route may be dangerous as all the snow would not have melted

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  2. यमुनोत्री धामको सकल सिद्धीयोंंको प्रदान करनेवाला धाम कहा गया है. कृृपया इस बारेमेंं विस्तृृत जानकारी दीजिए ।

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