As one of the Pancha Kedar, Badrinath is mentioned in oldest scriptures of Hinduism. Many legends were associated with Bandrinath, and the site is replete with mythological events, each one of these is charming. Situated along the Alakananda river, Badrinath is one of the most important Char Dham (four holy destinations) for Hinduism. Other three are Kedarnath, Gangotri & Yamunotri and Rishikesh. Badrinath is also known as Badrinarayan and Badri.
At a height of 3,133 metres above the sea level, Badrinath is on the top of Garhwal hills between the mountains Nara and Narayana and in the backdrop of massive Neelakanthha peak. Neelakanthha peak is 6,560 metre high and before it Badrinath stands in half a size. From Rishikesh Badrinath is 301 kms in northern hills, and from Gouri Kund the shrine is 233 kms by the constructed road.
Mythologically the site is dedicated to Bhagwan Vishnu and a centre for the Vaishnavites, for whom Badrinath is one of the 108 Divya Desams (holy shrines). There are many idols worshipped in Badrinarayan Temple, the main idol is that of Bhagwan Badrinarayan or Bhagwan Vishu. The idol is made of Shaligram Shila ( a sacred stone, revered as the a symbol of Bhagwan Vishnu, without which no worship can be started. According to Hinduism the Shaligram Stone is a self-manifested symbol of Bhagwan Vishnu, “Swayan Vyakta kshetras”.
A legend has it, that once when Bhagwan Shiva and Bhagawati Parvati were on a meditation, (tapasya), Bhagwan Vishnu appeared there in form of a child and strated crying loudly to break their meditation. Disturbed and frowning. Bhagwan Shiva wanted to know of the by whyc he was crying? The boy replied that he wanted to live in Badrinath and would not like if anybody else live there. The answer of the boy was writ large with the intent of an adult, and it was not difficult for Bhagwan Shiva and Bhagawati Parvati to make out as who actually the boy was. Bhagwan Vishnu was in a way the son-in-law of Bhagwan Shiva and Bhagwati Parvati, because their eldest daughter Bhagwati Lakshmi was married to Bhagwan Vishnu. Both, therefore, decided to leave Badrinath and left it in charge of Bhagwan Vishnu. Since then, Badrinarayan was dedicated to Vaisnavites. Bhagwan Vishnu sits here in a Padmasana posture and not reclined couched on the coil of Sheshnag.
The mythology also has an explanation to this fact. It is said that once The word ‘badri’ in sanskrit also means a berry. The word ‘Nath’ is generally mentioned for husband or ‘swami’ and Vishnu in scriptures is always mentioned as ‘Natha’, hence Badrinath refers to God Vishnu.
According to scriptures ‘badri’, therefore is an edible fruit, just jatropha’ or ‘jujuba’. These trees are aplenty in the of Badrinath. Scriptures also mention a legend that Goddess Lakshmi once metamorphosed Herself into a berry tree to provide nourishment to Bhagwan Vishnu, when He was lost in a very austere penance in the hostile Himalayan climate.
There is a mention in Srimad Bhagavatam that at Badrikashram, Bhagwan Vishnu is in austere penance in forms of sages Nara and Narayana who gradually metamorphosed himself into mountains across the immense Neelkanthha. The penenace is aimed at ensuring welfare to humanity. This fact has also been mentioned in Skanda Puran, the holiy scriptures of Hinduism.
There is another interesting legend of Bhagwan Vishnu having been chastised by a pious sage, who once found the Bhagwan Vishnu’s feet was being massaged by His better-half Goddess Lakshmi. Having been chastised, Bhagwan Vishnu went to sit for a long tapasya in repentence in His Padmasana posture. This perhaps was the augury of what in later aeons became a long traffic to mountains for tapasyas by the ascetics. According to the town administration norms, Badrinath is a hill town of Uttarakhand. It has a nagar panchayat under the district of Chamoli. Being one of the most important Char Dham destinations for the Hindus, the Temple draws lakhs of pilgrims and travellers every year.
During winter months Badrinath is closed to pilgrims and travellers, as the Nature become wildes. The idol is shifted to nearby Jyotirmath for daily pujas.
Though the site is profusely mentioned in almost all Indian scriptures, the first worthwhile Temple was indeed constructed by Adi Shankaracharya in the 7th century AD. The temple is 15 metres tall with a small dome as its roof, which is gold in shade. The walls of the temple is made of stone, wondows arched, stairway broad wending up to a tall arched gateway. Bhagwan Badrinarayan is constructed of black stone. There is a golden canopy-type construction uinder a badri tree. The posture is that of meditation. There are [2:37 pm, 20/08/2022] Vibhi Di: many idols, alongside Bhagwan Badrinarayan. The idols are of other smaller gods, Nara-Narayan (metamorphosed into mountains, meditating), Lakshmi, Ganesh, Narad Muni, Uddhav, Kuber, Garud and Nava Durga.
HOW TO REACH THE HEIGHTS
● By Air
Nearest airstrip is at Jolly Grant, Dehradun at 232 kms
● By Train
Rishikesh Railway Station.
● By Road
From Rishikesh to Badrinath is 301 kms in northern hills via Rudraprayag and Gouri Kund.
SOME MAJOR DISTANCE:
Rishikesh 297 km, Joshimath 42 km, Haridwar 321 km, Karnaprayag 123 km, Rudraprayag 155 km, Devprayag 225 km, Dehradun 343 km
Badrinath Temple is famous for its hot spring. It is said, devotees take bath for cure from ailments. The Kund is said to have medicinal effect through its warm water. The spiring water has a temperature of 45° celsius.
Badrinath is worshipped by a special clan of Brahmins who hail from Kerala. They are the Nambudiri Brahmins. The tradition was started by Adi Shankaracharya, who also hailed from Kerala. Garhwal-based Dimri Pundits are called in to assist the Rawals at the rituialistic services to the Bhagwan. The tradition has ordained a special style of worshipping which is known as ancient Tantra Vidhi of Shrauta tradition which is common in southern part of the country.
PLACES TO VISIT
● Hot springs
● Scenic beauty, Recreational spots Narad Kund
● Brahma Kapal (Place to propitiating rites to ancestors on Alakananda bank)
● Shesh Netra, Sheshnag’s Eyes.
● Charan Paduka
● Neelkanthha vicinity, Pyramid-shaped snow-clad massive peak.
● Mata Murti Temple
● Alka Puri
● Sato Panth
● Mana Village
● Arwatal
● Maharshi Vyasa’s Guha
● Bhim Pul
● Vasudhara
WHAT PILGRIMS MUST KNOW
● Though minimum luggage is acceptable to the rest houses near the site, yet pilgrims and travellers must carry woollen clothes, umbrella and high-altitude medicines such as anti-pyretics, anti-inflammation, fins al boxe is strictly prohibited there.
● Visit Pancha Badri temples in the vicinity.
● Alakananda sites.
● As prescribed by Adi Shankaracharya, the worship at Badrinath is very special from other Holy sites in the Himalaya All worship, offerings and prayers are done in presence of devotees. So the devotees are required to follow com defined worship protocol, beginning generally at 7 a.m.
● Several stages of worshipping have been prescribed. These are: Nimalyan Darshan, Abhishek Darshan, Alanlar Danta and Aarti Darshan.
● The temple is open in the evening at 4 p.m. for four hours upto 8 p.m. During that stage chants take place for abour three and a half hours, which is known as ‘Ashotothram’ and ‘Sahasranamam’.
● At about 7.30 p.m. ‘Mangal Aarti’ is carried out which is known as ‘Geeta Govinda”.
WHAT PILGRIMS MUST KNOW
● Altitude: 3,133 mtrs. the highest of all temples on the Gharwal Hills.
● Source: Alakananda river.
● Location: Between the mountains Nara and Narayana, in the backdrop of massive Neelakanthha peak (6,560 mtrs.) high.
● Trekking: Time to reach Badrinath Temple from Gouri Kund is about 4 hours. It is also an easy trek liked than to Tunganath Temple.
● Temperature: Always very cold. In winters, the temperature goes down to sub-zero level. The entire mountain becomes covered in snow.
● Where to rest: Gouri Kund has facilities for the travellers and pilgrims. This apart, Temple management Committee runs guest house at reasonable cost. Kale Kambli Wale’s Ashram nearby, Private hotels, Modi Bhavan, Gujarat Bhavan, PWD Inspection House are also there to provide accommodation to pilgrims and travellers.
● Time to visit: Between April to November.
