Discover Panch Prayag Uttarakhand: Sangam Names, Tour Package
Panch Prayag is the name for five special places in Uttarakhand where rivers come together to form the holy River Ganga. These spots are super important in Hinduism because the Ganga is seen as a goddess who gives life.
The Panch Prayag, in order of where the rivers meet, are Vishnuprayag, Nandaprayag, Karnaprayag, Rudraprayag, and Devprayag. People believe that bathing at Panch Prayag rivers cleanses the soul and helps them get closer to moksha, or spiritual freedom.
Panch Prayag Sangam: A Quick Look
( Uttarakhand Panch Prayag )
- Vishnuprayag: Where the Vishnu Ganga (which becomes the Alaknanda) meets the Dhauliganga. There’s an ancient Vishnu temple here, and it’s also great for trekking.
- Nandaprayag: Where Alaknanda and Nandakini rivers meet. Named after King Nanda, or possibly Lord Krishna’s foster father, it’s home to the Gopalji temple.
- Karnaprayag: The Alaknanda and Pindar rivers meet here. Karna from the Mahabharata and Swami Vivekananda both meditated here. It’s also a route to Almora, Nainital, and Jim Corbett National Park.
- Rudraprayag: Named after Lord Shiva’s fierce form, Rudra, this is where the Mandakini and Alaknanda rivers meet. It’s a key stop for pilgrims going to Badrinath and Kedarnath.
- Devprayag: The final confluence where the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi rivers join to become the holy River Ganga. This town is a major pilgrimage site and was rebuilt after an earthquake in 1803.
Panch Prayag in Uttarakhand
The five major rivers of the state called Panch Prayag – Bhagirathi, Dhauliganga, Nandakini, Pinder, and Mandakini merge into the Alaknanda River and finally become the river Ganga at the end. There are five such spots ( Panch Prayag ) where these rivers meet with each other differently, these spots are named Panch Prayag. Prayag is also known as Sangam in Hindi.
Prayag ( Sangam ) Significance:
- Prayag Sthal has a very great significance in the Hindu religion. Religious followers believe that bathing in the Prayag can remove their sins and wrong deeds in this life.
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1- Vishnu Prayag
- Vishnuprayag: It is the confluence of the Alaknanda River and the Dhauliganga River, named after Lord Vishnu, who is believed to have appeared in his fish (Matsya) incarnation at this place.
- According to the myth, Narad Muni worshipped Vishnu at this place. Pleased with his sincerity, Lord Vishnu himself appeared to bless the sage. Based on this, the name of the place is Vishnuprayag.
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2- Nand Prayag
- Nandaprayag: It is the confluence of the Alaknanda River and the Nandakini River, named after Nanda, the foster father of Lord Krishna, who is believed to have performed penance at this place.
- Nandakini River traces its origin to the Trishul mountains. There is a temple of Gopal Ji beside the spot where these two rivers meet.
The History
Nandaprayag is 1358 meters high from sea level. This place was earlier known as Kandasu. Nandprayag was named after Nanda Ji who worshipped here for a long time, after which he got Krishna as his son. The Gopal Mandir here is devoted to Gopal, another name of Lord Krishna. Nandaprayag opens the route to the Badrikshetra.
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3- Karn Prayag
Karnaprayag: It is the confluence of the Alaknanda River and the Pindar River, named after Karna, a heroic figure from the Hindu epic Mahabharata, who is believed to have meditated at this place. The Karn was a warrior from the Kaurav side in the epic Mahabharata. The famous Karn Temple in Karinprayag is built in his esteem.
The Myth
According to the myths, Karna worshipped the god of seven chariots ‘Sun’ in this place. Karn is said to be the son of Suryadev (the sun) and the Kunti. Karnprayag is a town in the Chamoli district settled at 1451 meters altitude. The place is also famous for the Uma Devi Temple.
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4- Rudra Prayag
Rudraprayag: It is the confluence of the Alaknanda River and the Mandakini River, named after Lord Shiva (Rudra), as it is believed to be the place where Lord Shiva performed his Tandava, the celestial dance. Rudraprayag is an important district of the state in terms of religious importance. It is the home of many highly significant temples and abodes, most of which are devoted to the almighty Shiva.
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5- Dev Prayag
Devprayag: It is the confluence of the Alaknanda River and the Bhagirathi River, which marks the beginning of the Ganges River, the most sacred river in Hinduism.
Mythology
Devprayag got its name after a sage Dev Sharma who is said to have meditated in this place for a long time after adopting the life of asceticism. Dev Prayag is also known as the penance land of Rama and Lakshman. It is said that Lord Rama and his brother Lakhan performed their penance at Devprayag to get over the sins of taking the life of a Brahman.
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Raghunath Temple
- Dev Prayag is among those places in the state that are religiously significant. Dev Prayag has the most famous temple of Rama with name Raghunath. This renowned temple has the 15 feet idol of the Lord made with black granite.
- The temple is accompanied by other temples of Hanuman, Goddess Annapurna, Sage Shankaracharya, and Garud. Devprayag also has temples dedicated to other Gods and Goddesses.
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