Kedarnath TempleKedarnath Temple

Kedarnath Temple

root  map for Kedarnath Temple

root  map for Kedarnath Temple 2

Kedarnath Temple

Kedarnath From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search This article is about Kedarnath town. For the temple, see Kedarnath temple. For the mountain, see Kedarnath (Mountain). Kedarnath — town — Kedarnath Kedarnath is located in Uttarakhand Kedarnath Coordinates: 30°44′N 79°04′E / 30.73°N 79.07°E / 30.73; 79.07Coordinates: 30°44′N 79°04′E / 30.73°N 79.07°E / 30.73; 79.07 Country India State Uttarakhand District Rudraprayag Elevation 3,553 m (11,657 ft) Population (2001) • Total 479 Languages • Official Hindi Time zone IST (UTC+5:30) Kedarnath is a town located in the Indian state of Uttarakhand and has gained importance because of Kedarnath Temple. It is a nagar panchayat in Rudraprayag district. The most remote of the four Char Dham sites, Kedarnath is located in the Himalayas, about 3,583 m (11,755 ft) above sea level near Chorabari Glacier, the head of river Mandakini, and is flanked by breathtaking snow-capped peaks. The nearest road head is at Gaurikund, at a distance of 14 k.m. The town suffered extensive destruction during June 2013 from flash floods caused by torrential rains in Uttarakhand state. Contents [hide] * 1 Etymology * 2 Location * 3 Accessibility * 4 Overview * 5 Demographics * 6 Climate o 6.1 2013 flash floods * 7 Places of interest * 8 Gallery * 9 See also * 10 References Etymology[edit] Kedarnath is named in honor of King Kedar, who ruled in the Satya Yuga. He had a daughter named Vrinda who was a partial incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi. She performed austerities for several years and the land is named after her as Vrindavan. However, Kedarnath and its temple exist from the Mahabharata Era when the Pandavas are supposed to have pleased Lord Shiva by doing penance there.[citation needed]. It is one of the most important dhams amongst the char dhams (Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, Yamunotri). Location[edit] Kedarnath is located at a distance of 223 km from Rishikesh in Uttarakhand and close to the source of Mandakini river at a height of 3,583 m (11,755 ft) above sea level.[1] The township itself cannot be called attractive, as it is built on a barren stretch of land on the shores of Mandakini river but the surrounding scenery of Himalayan mountains makes it very attractive place for pilgrimage and trekking. Behind the town and Kedarnath temple, stands the majestic heights of Kedarnath peak 6,940 m (22,769 ft), Kedar Dome 6,831 m (22,411 ft) and other peaks of the range.[1] Accessibility[edit] There are 2 ways to reach the town: One is the traditional 14 km (8.7 mi) trek on a paved briddle path or on horses or palanquin service which are available for rent from Gaurikund. Gaurikund is is conntected by road from Rishikesh, Haridwar, Dehradun and other known hill stations of Garhwal and Kumaon regions in Uttarakhand. From Gaurikund, the briddle path passes through Rambada, a hamlet located at adistance of 7 k.m.[1] The alternative way is by helicopter service from Dehradun, on such days when the weather is clear. Overview[edit] Statue of Adi Shankara Bhagavat Pada at his Samadhi Mandir in Kedarnath The temple opens on Akshaya Tritiya (April end or first week of May) and closes on Bhai Duj (October end or 1st week of November) due to heavy snowfall and extreme cold weather during winter. Gaurikhund is 75 km (47 miles) from Rudraprayag. In between Rudraprayag and Kedarnath there are several places of pilgrimage such as Agastyamuni, Ukhimath, Phauli- Pasalat Devi Maa, Bamsu (Lamgoundi) Vanasur, Maa Jwalamukhi Devi village Andarwari, Maa Chandika Devi village lwara, Maa Kali at Kalimath, Trijugi Narayan (7 km (4 mi) from Son Prayag) (Where Lord Shankar got married to Goddess Parwati from when the fire of hawan kund is still alive) and Kashi Vishwanath at Guptakashi. Udar Kund is located here. It is written in Kedar Khand of Shiva purana that the water of Udak Kund is mixture of all the 5 Oceans and always remain fresh even when kept for many years. The holy water of Udak Kund is used for purification rituals. Hans Kund, Bharo Nath, Navdurga Mandir, Shankaracharya Samadhi, Ishaneswar Mahadev Temple, Ret Kund, Panch Ganga Sangam, Chaurwari Taal now known as Gandhi Sarowar, Bashuki Taal are also places to visit here. There are several guest houses in Kedarnath with reasonable rates. Demographics[edit] As of 2001[update] India census,[2] Kedarnath had a population of 479. Males constitute 98% of the population and females 2%.[citation needed] Kedarnath has an average literacy rate of 63%: male literacy is 63%, and female literacy is 36%. In Kedarnath, none of the population is under 6 years of age. The floating population from May to October every year is more than 5000 per day.[citation needed] Climate[edit] During winter due to heavy snowfall, the Temple is closed and no one stays in Kedarnath. For six months (November to April) the Palki with the utsava murti of Lord Kedarnath is transferred to a place near Guptakashi called Ukhimath. People shift their settlement too from Kedarnath to nearby villages. Around 360 families of Tirtha Purohit of 55 villages and other nearby villages are dependent on Kedarnath for livelihood.[citation needed] 2013 flash floods[edit] Main article: 2013 North India floods In June 2013, in the middle of pilgrimage season, torrential rains and resulting flash floods nearly destroyed the Kedarnath town. Hundreds of people were feared killed and thousands of others (mostly pilgrims) were reported missing or stranded due to landslides around Kedarnath. Although the surrounding area and compound of the Kedarnath temple are destroyed, the temple itself stood amid surrounding debris. [3][4] The Uttarakhand Chief Minister said that pilgrimage to Kedarnath would not be possible for next two years. Places of interest[edit] Other than Kedarnath temple, on the eastern side of the town is Bhairava temple[1] and the deity of this temple, the Bhairava, is believed to protect the town during winter months. About 6 k.m. upstreams from the town, lies Chorabari Tal, a lake cum glacier also called Gandhi Sarovar. [1] Near Kedarnath, there is a cliff called Bhairav Jhamp, from where pilgrims used to jump to death, believed to get instant moksha or salvation and this practice was banned by British Government in 19th Century.[1] Gallery[edit] * The 14 km route to Kedarnath * Bhairavnath Ji considered as the protector of the area * View from hill top * Horses on the hill near Kedarnath * The Kedarnath temple See also[edit] Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Kedarnath * Kedarnath Temple * Kedarnath (Mountain) * Badrinath References[edit] 1. ^ a b c d e f Abram, David (2003). The Rough guide to India (2003 ed.). New York: Rough Guides. p. 354-355. ISBN 9781843530893. 2. ^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. Retrieved 2008-11-01. 3. ^ "Monsoon fury leaves Kedarnath shrine submerged in mud and slush". The Indian Express. Jun 19 2013. 4. ^ "Thousands missing near Kedarnath shrine". * Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend (ISBN 0-500-51088-1) by Anna Dhallapiccola * Helicopter Service for kedarnath * Website for Kedarnath Information * Kedarnath travel guide from Wikivoyage * Kedarnath Temple Photos * Kedarnath Travel Guide [show] * v * t * e Shaivism History * History of Shaivism India statue of nataraja.jpg Deities * Shiva * Bhairava * Ishana * Sadyojata * Vamadeva * Devi * Durga * Kali * Parvati * Sati * Ganesha * Murugan * Nandi * Virabhadra Texts * Shvetashvatara Upanishad * Shivarahasya Purana * Shiva Purana * Shiva Sutras of Vasugupta Mantra/ Stotra * Mahamrityunjaya Mantra * Om Namah Shivaya * Shiv Chalisa * Shiva mahimna stotram * Shri Rudram Chamakam * Shiva Sahasranama * Shiva Tandava Stotram Philosophies * Advaita * Pashupata Shaivism * Kashmir Shaivism * Shaiva Siddhanta * Lingayatism Jyotirlingas * Bhimāśankara o Moteshwar * Ghuṣmeśvara * Kedāranātha * Viśveśvara * Mallikārjuna * 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