SHRI KEDARNATH Temple in Himalayas
Location and Surroundings of Kedarnath
Among the twelve JyotirLingas of Bhagwan
Shankara, the one at Kedarnath is located in the snow-covered area of the
Himalayas. This JyotirLinga can be visited only during six months in a year.
From the month of Vaisakha to Ashwin (Ashwiyaja) is the time when pilgrims can
make the journey to this. The rest of the year it is too cold and the Himalayas
are covered in snow. Therefore, the Kedarnath temple remains closed for
pilgrims.
During the month of Karthik, due to snowfall, Sri
Kedareshwar idol is brought out of the temple after lighting a ghee lamp,
“Nanda Deepa”. Then the temple is closed for the winter. From the month of
Karthik to Chaitra Sri Kedareshwar’s abode is shifted to the Urvi Math, which
is in the valley. In the month of Vaishakh, when the temple doors are opened
the lamp “Nanda Deepa” still keeps burning. People come to see this glorious
lamp and the Shiva devotees consider themselves blessed.
Hardwar is considered to be the gateway to
heaven, the magic city or Mayapur. Ahead of Haridwar, there are holy places
like Rishikesh, Devprayag, Sonprayag and Triyugi Narayan, Gaurikund. To
Kedarnath one has to pass through these places. Some part of the journey is
motorable and the rest has to be walked upon. This part of the way through the
Himalaya is very difficult. But devotees go through all this with dedication
and determination. They overcome all the difficulties with perseverance.
To climb the steep path, some use mules, some use
Dolis (swing like carriages) and some others use walking sticks. There are
arrangements for acquiring these here. There are chowltries and resting places
in between for the tired yatris. At Gaurikund, the pilgrims get to have a bath
in the hot springs there. After this, they take a Darshan of the head-less
Ganesha. It is here in Gaurikund, that Lord Shiva cut off Ganesha’s head with
the trident and later replaced with the head of an elephant.
A little farther from Gaurikund, near the
snow-clad mountains, on the banks of River Mandakini, the Kedarnath temple of
the glorious JyotirLinga of Lord Shankar becomes visible. This is where Lord
Shankar had made His abode. The shivalinga here is self-manifest and not
installed by anyone. It is said that this is the hind part of Mahisha
(he-buffalo).
Purana of Kedarnath
During the war between the Kauravas and Pandavas,
their own kith and kin gor killed. In order to absolve themselves of this sin,
the Pandavas went for a pilgrimage. But Lord Vishweshwara was away in Kailasa
in the Himalayas. On learning this, the Pandavas, left Kashi. They reached the
Himalayas via Hardwar. They saw Lord Shankar from a distance. But Lord Shankara
hid from them. Then Dharmaraj said: “Oh, Lord, You have hidden yourself from
our sight because we have sinned. But, we will seek You out somehow. Only after
we take your Darshan would our sins be washed away. This place, where You have
hidden Yourself will be known as Guptkashi and become a famous shrine.”
From Guptakashi (Rudraprayag), the Pandavas went
ahead they reached Gaurikund in the Himalayas valleys. They wandered there in
search of Lord Shankara. While doing so Nakul and Sahadev found a he-buffalo.
It was unique to look at.
Then! Bhemma went after the buffalo with his
mace. The buffalo was clever and Bheema could not catch it. But Bheema managed
to hit the buffalo with his mace. The buffalo had its face hidden in a
crevice-in the earth. Bheema started to pull it by its tail. In this tug-of
war, the face of the buffalo went straight to Nepal, leaving its hind part in
Kedar. The face of the buffalo is known as Pashupatinath in Nepal.
On this hind part of Mahesha, a glorious
JyotirLinga appeared. Lord Shankara appeared from this great light. He appeared
before the pandavas. By getting a Darshan of Lord Shankar, the pandavas were
absolved of their sins. The Lord told the Pandavas, “From now on, I will remain
here as a triangular shaped JyotirLinga. By taking a Darshan of Kedarnath,
devotees would attain piety”. Near Kedarnath, there are many symbols of the
Pandavas Raja Pandu died here, when he tried to make love to Madri. This place
is famous as Pandukeshwar. The tribals here perform a dance called “Pandav
Nritya”. The mountain top where the Pandavas went to Swarga, is known as
“Swargarohini”. When Darmaraja was leaving for Swarga, one of his fingers fell on
the earth. At that palce, Dharmaraj installed a Shiva Linga, which is the size
of the thumb.
To gain Mashisharupa, Shankara and Bheema fought
with maces. Bheema was struck with remorse. He started to massage Lord
Shankara’s body with ghee. In memory of this event, even today, this triangular
Shiva JyotirLinga is massaged with ghee. Shankara is worshipped here in this
manner. Water and Bel leaves are used for worship.
When Nar-nrayan went to Badrika village and
started the worship of Parthiva, Shiva appeared before them. A few days later,
a pleased Shiva granted them some boons. Nar-narayan wished that for the
welfare of the humanity, Shiva should remain there in his original form.
Granting their wish, in the snow-clad Himalayas, in a place called Kedar, Mahesha
himself stayed there as a Jyoti. Here, He is known as Kedareshwara.
By visiting Kedareshwar, sorrows do not come even
in dreams. By worshipping Shambara (Kedareshwar) Pandavas were rid of all theor
sorrows. Badri-Keshwar’s darshan rids one of the material ties. Whoever gives
Dan (alms) at Kedareshwar, just gets assimilated into Shivaroopa.
Around the main Kedarnath temples, there are many
holy places. At the back, there is the Samadhi of Shankarachrya. A little
further up, there is dangerous cliff called Bhariguptan (Bhairav Udan). One has
to pass through dreadful, and life threatening circumstances. But what one gets
is not Mrityu (Death) but Moksha (Salvation). On all the eight sides of the
temple, there are eight shrines.
In short, it is to say that in order to visit
Kedarnath, JyotirLinga, one has to go through a treacherous route. But when
people are determined and dedicated, they never get tired. Every one keeps
chanting Jay Kedarnath! Jay Kedarnath!!
Srimat Shankaracharya praised Lord Shiva thus:
mahAdripArshve cha taTe
ramantaM sampUjyamAnaM satataM munIndraiH |
surAsurairyaxa mahoragADhyaiH kedAramIshaM shivamekamIDe ||
surAsurairyaxa mahoragADhyaiH kedAramIshaM shivamekamIDe ||
Meaning:
Oh Lord, who resides in the great heights of Himalayas, oh Lord, thou, who art worshipped forever by saints, Hermits, Demons, Gods, Yakshas and Maha Nag (giant snakes), I bow and offer millions of Pranams.
Oh Lord, who resides in the great heights of Himalayas, oh Lord, thou, who art worshipped forever by saints, Hermits, Demons, Gods, Yakshas and Maha Nag (giant snakes), I bow and offer millions of Pranams.
sambandhar, and sundharar have sung one padhikam
(1) each on the Lord of Kedharam.
No comments:
Post a Comment