The idols worshiped at Kedarnath
Winter abode for Kedarnath
idols
People / Swamis / yogis
who stay over in Kedarnath during winters
This
article is about Kedarnath and is the third 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
kedarnath
Kedarnath temple
Me at Kedarnath with the famous Nandi in the
background
Shiv Shilla
is a huge stone which is worshiped at Kedarnath
The
temple faces South (approximate)
On the eastern side of the town on top of a hill is
the Kal Bhairav temple guardian deity of Kedarnath
Town of Kedarnath in 2010; totally destroyed except
the temple in 2013
You
may also like to read (please click on the link)
From Rudraprayag to Kedarnath
The
town of Rudraprayag is one of the Panch Prayag (five confluences) of Alaknanda
River, the point of confluence of rivers Alaknanda and Mandakini
From
here one can proceed to Badrinath as well as Kedarnath
On
the way to Kedarnath from Rudraprayag I
visited the following ancient temples--Koteshwar Mahadev cave temple, Ukimath,
Kalimath (where worship of Shree Yantra is carried out), vishwanath temple at
Guptkashi, Nala temple and the triyuginarayan temple it is believed that the
Gods married here when they walked on Earth and the eternal fire is still kept
burning here which is a witness to the marriage of the Gods. People collect the
ashes from the fire to achieve marital bliss or with the hope to solve bad
karma regarding matrimony
Koteshwar Mahadev cave temple on the bank of river
Mandakani
Kalimath
Shree Yantra at Kalimath
Vishwanath temple at Guptkashi
Triyuginarayan temple
Can you see the white smoke coming out; this is smoke
from the eternal fire
Winter abode for Kedarnath idols
shiv
shilla cannot be moved anywhere, during winters some panchdhatu (five metal
combination) idols which are kept with the chief priest are moved down to the
Omkareshwar temple in Ukhimath (Okhimath) one of them is the Bhog Murti (this idol
has to be offered food daily)
Palanquin (doli) in which idols are carried to
their winter abode and back
People who stay in Kedarnath during winters
No
one stays over in Kedarnath in winters and it is completely abandoned
Visiting Kedarnath
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 required to visit Kedarnath
The
old trek route started from Gaurikund to Kedarnath via Rambara, a total treking
distance of 14 kms after this route was
destroyed in 2013 after that the trek was from Sonprayag to Kedarnath- Total 24 Kms which
required two night halts. From 2015 new trekking route starts from Gaurikund to
Rambara (7 km), then to Limchuli (5 km), Limchuli to Kedarnath (3 km), Total
distance 15 km.
Never attempt this trek in winters 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
Kedarnath temple in future will be shifted
There
is a prophecy that in the time to come the present day Kedarnath will be
destroyed, the new temple will be at Joshimath.
A Swayambhu
(self-manifested or that which is created by its own accord ) Shiv Shilla is
currently in the process of formation at Bhavishya Kedar Temple in Joshimath
The Swayambhu (self-manifested or that which is
created by its own accord ) Shiv Shilla at Bhavishya Kedar Temple in Joshimath
Very old photos of Kedarnath temple—year 1882
Old road to Kedarnath in 1882
1962 photo
Old photo year 1882 of Ukhimath temple which is the winter
abode of Kedarnath idol
