Let’s go to a place where divinity is in the air.
Have you ever been to a place where unblinking celestials dwell, where air feeds on the calmness since the time immortal? If not, you should visit Kedarnath Dham once. Kedarnath Temple, the sacred Dham of Lord Shiva is one of the most integral parts of Uttarakhand Char Dham Yatra.
Every year devotees from around the world come to Uttarakhand in the pursuit to attain Moksha or feel the spiritual bliss. It is one of the most difficult Yatra and spiritual pursuits when it comes to Hindu pilgrimage sites darshan.
Kedarnath Yatra is a yatra to discover God and become one with him. It is believed that Kedarnath is a place where wishes are granted and karmas are purified. Set in the background of Himalayan mountains in Garhwal range near the meandering Mandakini river, Kedarnath Temple has many stories of its origin and history.
Recommended Tour Packages
- 11 Nights 12 Days Chardham Yatra Package
- 7 Nights 8 Days Kedarnath Badrinath Yatra Package
Shri Kedarnath Dham/Temple Interesting Facts
Today, we will unveil some of the most amazing and interesting facts about Kedarnath temple that are lesser known.
The lord himself protects the temple
The Kedarnath temple is protected by Lord Shiva. In 2013 intense rains of monsoon caused floods and landslides, resulting in the destruction of the entire surroundings of Kedarnath. Many locals and devotees died that year due to the devastation of nature but the temple of Kedarnath remained intact as if some divine power was protecting it from destruction.
People who witnessed this said that a massive boulder was blocking the rear portion of the mandir because of which the water and debris changed their course and the Kedarnath Mandir was saved.
The connection of Udak Kund with Kedarnath Temple
Udak Kund is located at the south of Kedarnath Mandir. It is of great spiritual significance for the devotees. The water of Udak Kund is poured on Lord Shiva of Kedarnath Mandir. It is believed that if someone drinks the holy water of Udak Kund before his death, that person will be free forever from the karmic circle of birth and death. It is one of the most amazing facts about Kedarnath Temple as water holds the most important spiritual value in the Himalayas. It is in Kedarnath where mother Ganga descended. Water has a very liberating power to heal people from bad karmas. The water of the Himalayas purifies the soul.
Kedarnath Tirth Purohits
Kedarnath Tirth Purohits are often called as Panda or Tirth Gurus of Kedarnath. Kedarnath Tirth Purohit perform rituals on the behalf of their patron and collect payments. They live in three specific areas in the valley of Kedarnath. Bamsu area of Guptkashi, Fata (North of Guptkashi) and Ukhimath at the other side of river Mandakini.
The most interesting fact is that these purohits consider them as the descendants of the original group of 360 purohit families. They carry the family names of Purohit, shukla, sharma, katiyal, vajpai etc.
The head priest of Kedarnath belongs to the Vaishnava community of Raval but does not perform any pooja in the temple by himself. He instructs his assistants to perform religious rituals. During winters he moves with the deity of Kedarnath in Ukhimath.