Discover Images and Story of Kedarnath Jyotirlinga in Uttarakhand

Is Kedarnath a Jyotirlinga ?

Kedarnath Jyotirlinga is one of the most special places for people who love Lord Shiva. It’s not just any temple; it’s one of the 12 Jyotirlingas in India. Jyotirlinga means “pillar of light,” and there’s an amazing story behind it.

The Story Behind Jyotirlingas:

A long time ago, Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu were arguing about who was the most powerful. Suddenly, Lord Shiva appeared as a huge column of light and challenged them to find its beginning or end. But no matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t. The places where these columns of light appeared are now where the Jyotirlingas are, and that’s why they’re so important.

Where is Kedarnath Jyotirlinga?

Kedarnath Jyotirlinga is located in Uttarakhand, a beautiful state in India. The temple is really high up, over 3,500 meters above sea level, in the Garhwal Himalayas. It’s at the head of the Mandakini River, and some people even say there’s a mythical river called Saraswati there too!

The History of Kedarnath:

The Kedarnath temple has a long history. The first time people mentioned it was in the Skanda Purana, a really old text from the 7th or 8th century AD. The temple we see today was built about 1,200 years ago by Adi Shankaracharya, a very famous philosopher. But even before that, it’s said that the Pandavas, from the Mahabharata, built a temple there.

Special Features of the Temple:

The temple is made of huge stone slabs and is built on a rectangular platform. The steps have inscriptions in the ancient Pali language. Inside, there are pictures of different gods and scenes from Hindu stories on the walls.

There’s also a big statue of Nandi, the bull who is Lord Shiva’s ride, at the entrance. Inside the temple, the Jyotirlinga is a conical rock formation, representing Lord Shiva in his Sadashiva form.

The Legend of Kedarnath:

The story of Kedarnath is really interesting. After the great Mahabharata war, the Pandavas wanted to get rid of their sins. They were told to seek forgiveness from Lord Shiva. But Lord Shiva didn’t want to forgive them, so he disguised himself as a bull and hid. Bhimasena, one of the Pandavas, tried to pull the bull out by its tail, but Lord Shiva disappeared into the ground. Only parts of him reappeared in different places – his hump in Kedarnath, arms in Tunganath, navel in Madhyamaheshwar, face in Rudranath, and hair in Kalpeshwar. The Pandavas built temples at these five places, which are now called the Panch Kedars.

Kedarnath Jyotirlinga Facts:

The Kedarnath temple is only open from April to November because it’s too cold in winter.
During the winter, the idols from Kedarnath are moved to Ukhimath, where they are worshipped for six months.
In 2013, there were terrible floods, but the Kedarnath temple wasn’t harmed, even though the area around it was badly damaged.
Kedarnath is the first of the Panch Kedars, and it’s also a very holy place for Lord Shiva’s devotees.
Even though the temple is closed during Mahashivratri, there’s a big festival called the Badri-Kedar festival in June that lasts for a week.

Conclusion:

Kedarnath Jyotirlinga is not just a temple; it’s a place full of history, legends, and devotion. People from all over the world come here to seek blessings from Lord Shiva and to experience the beauty of the Himalayas. Visiting Kedarnath is like being part of a magical story from ancient times.