Idols worshiped at Uttarakhand’s Chardham and Chardham during winters

The idols worshiped at uttarakhand Chardham’s

Uttarakhand winter chardham yatra

Winter abode for Uttarakhand chardham idols

People / Swamis / yogis who stay over in Uttarakhand chardham during winters

The spiritual supermarket based on Mahavatar babaji’s name in Badrinath

Have written this article after a long time, after returning from my last Himalaya trip I spent time in researching and drawing the Shree yantra

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

Please refer below link

http://bhoj11.blogspot.com/2012/07/reason-behind-char-dham-yatra.html

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

I have written four articles on each of the Uttarakhand Chardham, all your questions will be answered.

Please click on the names of the dhams or the links below to read the respective article

Badrinath

http://bhoj11.blogspot.com/2016/03/idols-worshiped-at-badrinath-and.html

Kedarnath

http://bhoj11.blogspot.com/2016/03/idols-worshiped-at-kedarnath-and.html

Gangotri

http://bhoj11.blogspot.com/2016/03/idols-worshiped-at-gangotri-and.html

Yamunotri

http://bhoj11.blogspot.com/2016/03/idols-worshiped-at-yamunotri-and.html

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  

Idols worshiped at Badrinath and Badrinath during winters

More photos added on 3^rd November 2016

The idols worshiped at Badrinath

Winter abode for Badrinath idol

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

The spiritual supermarket based on Mahavatar babaji’s name in Badrinath

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

Please refer below link

http://bhoj11.blogspot.com/2012/07/reason-behind-char-dham-yatra.html

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

This article is about Badrinath and is the last in the series of four articles

Badrinath

bell of the temple

                                                   

                                             

Me outside the temple

The small building before the temple is where the chief priest stays

Top view of temple

In the Garbha gruha (sanctum sanctorum) of the Badrinath temple apart from the main idol of Badri narayan (Badrinath meaning husband of Badri {Lakshmi}) of shaligram stone which is Swayambhu, (Sanskrit: स्वयम्भू) means "self-manifested" or which was created by its own accord (by the way this ancient idol is khandit meaning broken, yet it is still worshiped) there are the idols of Udhav, Narayan , Nar, Kuber, Garuda and Narad. (all these idols face east)

Idols at the temple

Old photo of the idols before someone donated gold and diamonds and remade the interior

one gokulashtami everyone was outside the sanctum sanctorum celebrating the birthday of Lord Sri Krishna, I was almost alone in the temple and the main idol which is usually covered up was fully open I spent hours looking at the meditating Vishnu, this old photo shows the idol without any cover 

Outside facing the Garbha gruha (sanctum sanctorum) from left side clockwise there are these small temples of—Lakshmi who is Vishnu’s consort (the chief priest of the temple had told me that the lord Vishnu is known by the name Badrinath meaning husband of Badri because in Sanatan Dharam women are so very respected that the name of the wife is taken first, like we always say Sita Ram.

Then there are small temples of Vishnu swarrop,Adi Shankarachary’s statue, Nar-Narayan, Hanuman, Ganta dev (the kul dev of the bhotiya tribe who stay at mana village) then the place to perform Yagna (Vedic fire ceremony) and again a Hanuman temple

Adi shankaracharyas statue in the temple premises

Below are photos of the Narad kund the story goes that when Adi Shankaracharya re-established the Badrinath temple (the Chinese had taken over the temple and thrown away the main idol and were carrying out animal God worship)

Adi Shankaracharya recovered the main idol from Narad Kund and established procedures to be carried out for worship.

After the Badrinath temple was re-established Sanatan Dharam once again flourished. 

  

Winter abode for Badrinath idol

During winters when the temple is closed for six months the idol of Lakshmi is taken inside next to her husband and the idol's of Udhav and Kuber are moved to Yogdhyan temple in Pandukeshwar ( Yog Badri one of the panch Badri temples). It is on the Joshimath—Badrinath route situated very near govindghat the place from where treks to valley of flowers and hemkund sahib start

Unlike the belief the main idol is not shifted to Joshimath or anywhere else

Yog badri temple at Pandukeshwar

The official web site of the temple http://badarikedar.org/ states that “the devotees can perform the winter puja, darshan & abhishek of Lord Badrinath at Pandukeshwar/ Narsingh Temple Gaddi Sthal, Joshimath with same rituals & traditions as performed at Shri Badrinath Temple” ….this is not so, they have just added Narsingh Temple  at Joshimath because there is a dispute between people of Joshimath and Pandukeshwar to attract pilgrims since it is their source of income, here the same rituals go on throughout the year and nothing is shifted from Badrinath to Joshimath

http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/dehradun/now-badrinath-to-be-worshipped-at-narsinh-temple.html

Also read about the eternal lamp which keeps burning for six months (click on link below)

http://bhoj11.blogspot.com/2012/07/akhand-jyoti-eternal-flame-at-badrinath.html

People who stay in Badrinath during winters

Apart from the security personnel of the Indo Tibetan border police some swamis and yogis stay over during winters they require a special permission from the Government.

Now the Government has become strict in giving permission as initially many people used to take permission and then come down to lower altitudes during peak winter.

Regarding others who stay I know a few of them they are very well equipped having more than enough food stock, insulated places to stay , generators even a battery to start the generator so that they do not have to crank start, some even keep their assistants with them. When required they use the communication equipment of the security forces who always help them.

I do not find them special in any way as they are just surviving in a harsh cold environment like many people do

Below is a photo of a mouse he also stays over during winters in Badrinath collecting his food well in advance before the winter sets in, so you see nothing so special in staying in a very cold environment in winter it is only a matter of survival

A three day trek from Badrinath takes you to Satopanth lake, this is believed to be the last journey of the Pandavas currently no one stays at Satopanth during winters, there are a few babas, Sadhus who stay there during summers only  

Satopanth lake

Years back I was impressed when I met these people who stay back during winters as I spent more and more time in and around Badrinath I got to know the real picture, have always seen these people do frequent rounds at the bank’s ATM to check their ever increasing bank balances, got first-hand information of the people who were cheated by them, once they have your telephone number they keep on calling you for money, below I have written about two such persons.

Of course I have met a few people who stay in remote places they never accept any money from anyone and spent their time doing their spiritually practices.

The spiritual supermarket based on Mahavatar babaji’s name

 The world first heard about Babaji courtesy Paramahansa Yogananda's book “Autobiography of a Yogi” and Sri Yukteswar Giri’s book “The Holy Science”.

Ever since Mahavatar babaji has become a big name in the spiritual supermarket.

Please read this article (click on the link below)

http://bhoj11.blogspot.com/2012/07/mahavatar-babaji-and-6000-year-old-idol.html

There are those who claim to be his disciples and they all use the word “direct disciple”

Many such people are found around Badrinath

There was one baba he stayed high up near charan pakuka (on the way to Neelkanth) he also claimed to be in direct touch with Babaji. He had a huge box; he claimed that his physical body would be in this box and his spirit would travel to meet Babaji. The last time he called me was in November of 2012 when he was collecting funds to spread Babajis message of a possibe destruction of the coastal regions in December 2012 (The 2012 end of the world phenomenon) Below is the photo of the box which is still lying at Badrinath in the same cottage, nothing heard about him.  

Another baba stayed in Badrinath continuously for more than sixteen years. He kept silence for all these year’s even then he kept two mobile phones with him, completely money minded he claims that he is in touch with Mahavatar babaji on a daily basis and has made a huge fortune. Below is his photoshopped image with a tiger but he does not realize that tigers are not found at very high altitudes he should have used the image of a snow leopard instead. 

His guru claims that he was in school with Motilal Nehru (father of Jawaharlal Nehru) who was born in 1861, he has made a red colour timber cottage which is the centre of attraction in Badrinath and also has a cave high up on the Narayan parvat (mountain). People are impressed to see someone living so high up on a mountain, few know his real story, by the way this cave was raided twice by forest department over various allegations; I will not write more about them or anyother person I met but hope people awaken and are not impressed with such babas like I was and ended up losing my time and money.  

Visiting Badrinath 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 tranquility 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 required to visit Badrinath.

There is a motorable road right up to Badrinath, but again this trip should not be attempted without a local guide.

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  

Badrinath temple in future will be shifted

There is an ancient Narasimha temple in joshimath on the way to Badrinath a famous feature of the ancient black stone idol of Narasimha is that its left wrist is getting thinner by the day.

Legend has it that when the wrist breaks off, there the current Badri vishal temple at Badrinath will become inaccessible and new temple will be bhavishya badri.

In the early morning puja this wrist is shown to the people and then covered up throughout the day

The new temple is called Bhavishya (future) Badri, it is located at a elevation of 2744 m 15kms drive from Joshimath  to tapovan then another 4kms to saldhar then 6kms trek to bhavishya badri

Swayambhu (self-manifested or that which are created by their own accord ) idols are currently in the process of formation at the temple

Below photos of the bhavishya badri temple and self-manifested idols which are currently in the process of formation at the temple

photo clicked November 2009

Below are 2 photos I clicked in October 2016 you can compare them with the above photo clicked in 2009

photo clicked October 2016

photo clicked October 2016

It is predicted in the scriptures that when the good age comes that is when man will be closer to god than the present day badrinath will be covered in snow

And hence cannot be accessed

How I interpret this is there are 2 parvats in badrinath Nar {human}and Narayan {god} They both will be merged symbolizing union of god and man This may happen because cracks formed in the neelkhant parvat which is in-between the nar and narayan parvats. Scientist have predicted that snow accumulates in the cracks in neelkhant and an earthquake can cause an avalanche to flood the entire valley of badrinath hence the valley will come in its original form water / ice {himalaya—kingdom of ice} and man also in his original form {much closer to god} however this is my personal thought.

Very old photo taken in 1882 of the trekking route from Joshimath to Badrinath, the motor able road was constructed after the Indo China war

I will write another blog about various places in and around Badrnath

Reason behind the Char Dham Yatra

{Original article written in july 2012, later edited} 

People believe that by completing the char dham yatra {pilgrimage to the 4 holy shrines} one attains moksha {liberation} and that sins are washed away.

No—No—No—No—No—No—No—No—No

this is not true; No soul can get liberated in this way.

Adi Shankaracharya started the tradition of the char dham yatra.

The true char dham yatra consists of a pilgrimage to Badrinath in the north, Rameshwaram in the south, Dwarka in the west and jagannath puri in the east.

A pilgrimage  to  yamunotri, gangotri, kedarnath and badrinath in the Himalayas is not the actual char dham yatra.

The true char dham yatra

The importance of the four (char dham) temples spread in the four directions

Geographically speaking the char dham (the four temples) made a perfect square or cross with Badrinath in the North and Rameswaram in the South falling on same longitude and Dwarka(old)in the West and Puri in the East on same latitude ( at that time, before coastlines changed)

Ancient temples with a hidden yantra (mystical diagram) based on sacred geometry were scientifically designed to be powerful energy centers

The Badrinath temple has a Bhairav yantra and in the words of the chief priest of the temple this “creates an explosion of energy”

Please click on the link below to read more about that yantra

http://bhoj11.blogspot.com/2016/09/vishnus-yantra-and-questions-regarding_3.html

So the four temples on the extreme limits of India create a concentration of energy in India.

The char dham yatra or pilgrimage to the four ancient holy shrines

The reason why Adi Shankaracharya started the tradition of the char dham yatra and the religious gathering of the Kumbh mela was that he wanted to integrate India spiritually

There was a north / south cultural divide and India was split up.

Adi Shankaracharya  arranged that the idol at Badrinath be offered chandan {sandalwood}  and silk from the south India also the head priest comes from south India  {namboodiri brahmin from kerala}

And the Shivling at rameshwaram be offered Ganga water from north and the priest comes from north India {gharwal brahmin or from Varanasi in north}

This was Adi Shankaracharya ‘s vision to have a flow of spiritual energy across India and as a direct result India was firmly integrated

i have added a few more points about the char dham yatra in the below mentioned blog

click:
https://bhoj11.blogspot.com/2020/08/ram-temple-at-ayodhya.html

Adi  Shankaracharya also started the tradition of the Kumbh mela a spiritual gathering of millions of people which creates a strong spiritual vibration

In the later years Mahatma Gandhi started giving speeches at the Kumbh mela and uniting the Indians.

The Britishers were quick to put a ban and the Kumbh mela was not held again till India got its freedom.

Please Note: visiting ancient temples has its own advantages. This article is to break the myth that just by doing the char dham yatra a person gets salvation.

Akhand Jyoti (eternal flame) at the Badrinath temple

 High above in the Himalayas is the Badrinath temple; this temple is open for 6 months in a year, in winter the temple remains closed {locked and sealed}

Since ancient times a small lamp has always kept burning in the temple;  when the temple is reopened after winter this lamp is always found to be burning also the flowers that were kept in the temple when the temple closed are still fresh; people take it as a miracle of the Badrinath temple.

Now myself a tanker man {working on dangerous cargo ships} proud of my knowledge on flammability once met the head priest of the temple and inquired about the miracle of the eternal burning lamp.

This is what he told me-----nothing is a miracle; everything is science, to understand why the lamp keeps burning you must understand a flammable mixture.

He said that 2500 years ago Adi Shankracharya who reestablished this temple wrote a recipe for the mixture of the oil lamp he prescribed the names of the herbs that have to be mixed in ghee made from cow’s milk further he instructed that this mixture be prepared by girls less than 10 years of age only.

The mixture is such that only a very small amount of oxygen is needed and it gives out no carbon dioxide; one can call it a perfect flammable mixture hence a small lamp can keep burning for 6 months.

Since ancient times the residents of Mana village near Badrinath {which is the last Indian village on the border with Tibet} have prepared this mixture for the temple.

Road to Mana village

Little girl of Mana village; in future she will make the mixture for the temple

                        

And regarding the flowers which remain fresh the head priest told me that this variety of flowers again recommended by Adi Shankracharya are of such species that they do not fade.

The head priest further told me the reason behind the char dham yatra {written in the post "reason behind the char dham yatra"}.

I had the opportunity to meet him twice and had a very rich experience meeting this person.

Such people always enrich our lives.   

   

Mahavatar Babaji and the 6000 year old idol at the Badrinath temple

Legend has it that somewhere close to Badrinath there exists The Mahavatar Babaji—the eternal deathless master

The world first heard about Babaji courtesy Paramahansa Yogananda's book “Autobiography of a Yogi” {most read autobiography in the world} and Sri Yukteswar Giri’s book “The Holy Science”.

since then Babaji has become a very big name in the spiritual super market.

below is the sketch of Babaji from the book “Autobiography of a Yogi”

Mahaavatar Babaji

Ravalji {head priest of the badrinath temple} has a very old drawing of the idol of the Badrinath temple.

Initially drawn as a pencil sketch by a Ravalji at an earlier time .  it is said that after drawing this sketch he went into the Himalayas, never to return. This pencil sketch is undated and is said to be very old.

below is the photo of the original sketch

sketch of the idol at the Badrinath temple

below are photos of the head priest showing the sketch {which has now been coloured } to visitors

        

Why is there a Striking resemblance between the drawing of the Badrinath idol and Babaji ?

Is it that the meditating Vishnu at the Badrinath temple {idol} manifests himself in flesh and blood as the Mahaavatar  Babaji ……………….

Some questions remain unanswered till ……………………………….one day when…………………………..