History of Chardham - The Real Story of Char Dham of Uttarakhand
Char Dham Yatra is comprised of four holy shrines Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri where all of them were established during the 8th century by the great Hindu philosopher Guru Adi Shankaracharya. The shrines of the circuit are not only known for their spiritual values but also for their historical importance and of you are interested in knowing the history in detail then check out the complete post.
At the height of 3133 mts. Badrinath Temple situated at the right bank of River Alaknanda, Primarily Badrinath shrine is a Matha established by Lord Adi Guru Shankaracharya in 8th-century to give new life to Hindu religion. According to mythology firstly this palace was the residence of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, Later Lord Vishnu made this place his own reside.
Legend: As mentioned in Padma Purana Lord Vishnu performed rigorous penance here over a several year incarnations of Nar and Narayan (as a human), and his wife Goddess Lakshmi protects him from sun and rain to be changed herself in the form of bushes of berry. So due to the presence of Badri (Ber or Berry) that this place became popular as Badri Vishal and Vishnu is the Lord (Nath) of Lakshmi so this place became more popular a Badrinath. Legend also associated with great epic Mahabharata after the battle of Mahabharata Pandavas brother and their wife Draupadi used this going to Swargarohini an ascending hill of Western Himalayas (way to heaven), and on the way to heaven, Draupadi lived her life in Lakshmi Van just a few kilometers from Badrinath. Just 4 km from Badrinath there is caveat village Mana where divine Sage Veda Vyasa wrote Mahabharata.
Situated at the bank of holy river Mandakini in Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand, the temple of Kedarnath is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva, to keep the promise Lord Shiva reside in the form of light(Jyoti) in all temple having Jyotirlinga. Previous this region of Garhwal known as Kedarkhand and Lord shiva worshipped as ”the lord of Kedarkhand” Thus Lord Shiva became popular in Garhwal Himalayas Kedar+nath(Lord) ” Kedarnath”. As mentioned in Purana Adi Guru Shankaracharya built this temple in the 8th-century. It is believed that the ancient temple was built during the age of Mahabharata by Pandavas brothers.
Legend: According to mythology after the battle of Mahabharata Pandavas came to Guptkashi in Kedarkhand to get the bless of Kedarnath & to wash away the sins of killing their own Kith & Kin. But Lord Shiva did not want to give Darshan or appeared in front of Pandavas. So he changed himself into a Bull and tried to hide in a group of cattle and start grazing. But he identified by Bhima. At the time of dust when cattle were returning to their home, Bhima got to stand up by stretching legs over two rocks and make allow to pass all cattle under his legs. Lord Shiva couldn't pass & try to escape from there and start to merge into the earth only back portion or hump was caught by Bhima. Seeing this Lord Shiva became happy and gave Darshan to Pandava. Thus this hump or conical part of bull worshipped at Kedarnath Ji.
As we know the Holy Shrine Gangotri Is dedicated to River mother Ganges who was away from our all sins and make pious our soul and Body and make our way easier to Heaven. The Gangotri shrine is known as the origin point of River Ganges a divine river who gives solace and Salvation to our ancestors and mankind. It is the place where Lord Shiva Received Ganges in his coil Hair while Gaumukh is the place where a stream or river Ganges evolved from Gangotri glacier just 19 km trek from Gangotri.
It is believed that the temple of Gangotri has been consecrated by Adi Guru Shankaracharya in the 8th-century. Later constructed by Gorkha General Amar Singh Thapa in the 18th-Century in white stone. Later King of Jaipur ‘Maharaja Madho Singh’ renovated the temple in 1935, who gave some Rajasthani architecture style to temple.
Legend: There is a Bhagirath Shila (a stone slab) near to temples it is believed that King Bhagirath did penance over it to please & bring the Goddess Ganga from heaven. There is also a submerged Shivling where Lord Shiva seated and received the Ganges from Heaven in his matted hair. Hindu performs a puja and Pind Daan at Gangotri to give salvation to their ancestors.
The Yamuna is also called as Kalindi as she touched the Peak of Kalind Mountain. Champasar Glacier (4,421 m) is the origin point Yamuna River situated just below the Bandarpoonch Mountain.
The shrine of Yamunotri dedicated to Goddess Yamuna's consort of Lord Shri Krishna descended from heaven to give life and Wash away the sin of mankind.
As mentioned in the record the temple of Yamunotri discovered by James Frazer, a British Army officer in 1816. He saw a three-foot-high temple made of stone and a priest performing worship there. Besides this, he also found some tridents & Idol of other devotees. In 1850 the king of Tehri Sudarshan Shah constructed this temple by wood and the deity set apart in the temple. The later successor of Sudarshan Shah, king Pratap Shah re-constructed the temple in stone. But periodically the temple got damaged by heavy snow and rain. The present temple of Yamunotri constructed by Queen of Jaipur Maharani Guleria in the late 19th-century. In 1994 The Surajmal Jalan Trust renovated the temple. In winter the worship of Goddess Yamuna performed at Kharsali village near to Jankichatti.
Legend: According to the legend ancient, Sage Asit Muni had he reside here when he was unable to get take bath at Gangotri a stream of Ganges appeared opposite to Yamunotri. The Yamuna is the Daughter of lord Sun and Goddess Sandhya and twin Sister of Yama (God of Death). Thus if you take bath in the holy water source of Yamuna devotees get relief from a painful death. Like Ganga, Yamuna is also a divine river look-after and nurturing India civilization.
As mentioned in Hindu Mythology Yamuna are a Daughter of God Sun (Surya Dev) and his wife Goddess Sandhya, daughter of Vishwakarma. Later Sandhya gives birth to twins Yama & Yamuna. But the Goddess Sandhya could not bear the dazzling shine of the Sun. So she made her clone name Chhaya and instructed her to live with Sun and not revealed this truth against anyone. Chhaya agreed with the condition that if ever Suryadev punished her by pulling her hair she will tell truth. After this Sandhya left her husband home. One day, the Chhaya got struck by the foot of child Yama. The insulted Chhaya cursed Rama that his legs would rot and fall off. Seeing this God Surya got surprised and angry by this cruel curse, how a mother can give a curse to her child. In anger, he pulled Chhaya hair then Chhaya told all the truth to Surya that she was not his wife. After this Yamuna came down to earth at Yamunotri and performed a rigorous penance over Divya Shila to get rid of the curse and save her brother. Later the Yamuna got succeeded in his penance and Yama became healthy. Yama (the God of Death) gave a boon to the Yamuna that he will save the life of Yamuna’s Devotee from Akaal Mrityu (an untimely death). It is said that a holy bath in river Yamuna at Yamunotri save the life from untimely death and give salvation or Moksha to the devotee. The Surya Kund (a Hot curative water spring) near Divya Shila presented by God Surya to his daughter. Devotees take holy bath in Tapt Kund (near to Surya Kund) and cook rice or potato in the Surya Kund, offering this cooked rice to Deity take it as Prasad of the goddess. Pilgrim also carries water from Yamunotri and used in the worship of Lord Krishna during Janmashtami or another related auspicious day.
History of Badrinath
At the height of 3133 mts. Badrinath Temple situated at the right bank of River Alaknanda, Primarily Badrinath shrine is a Matha established by Lord Adi Guru Shankaracharya in 8th-century to give new life to Hindu religion. According to mythology firstly this palace was the residence of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, Later Lord Vishnu made this place his own reside.
Legend: As mentioned in Padma Purana Lord Vishnu performed rigorous penance here over a several year incarnations of Nar and Narayan (as a human), and his wife Goddess Lakshmi protects him from sun and rain to be changed herself in the form of bushes of berry. So due to the presence of Badri (Ber or Berry) that this place became popular as Badri Vishal and Vishnu is the Lord (Nath) of Lakshmi so this place became more popular a Badrinath. Legend also associated with great epic Mahabharata after the battle of Mahabharata Pandavas brother and their wife Draupadi used this going to Swargarohini an ascending hill of Western Himalayas (way to heaven), and on the way to heaven, Draupadi lived her life in Lakshmi Van just a few kilometers from Badrinath. Just 4 km from Badrinath there is caveat village Mana where divine Sage Veda Vyasa wrote Mahabharata.
History of Kedarnath
Situated at the bank of holy river Mandakini in Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand, the temple of Kedarnath is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva, to keep the promise Lord Shiva reside in the form of light(Jyoti) in all temple having Jyotirlinga. Previous this region of Garhwal known as Kedarkhand and Lord shiva worshipped as ”the lord of Kedarkhand” Thus Lord Shiva became popular in Garhwal Himalayas Kedar+nath(Lord) ” Kedarnath”. As mentioned in Purana Adi Guru Shankaracharya built this temple in the 8th-century. It is believed that the ancient temple was built during the age of Mahabharata by Pandavas brothers.
Legend: According to mythology after the battle of Mahabharata Pandavas came to Guptkashi in Kedarkhand to get the bless of Kedarnath & to wash away the sins of killing their own Kith & Kin. But Lord Shiva did not want to give Darshan or appeared in front of Pandavas. So he changed himself into a Bull and tried to hide in a group of cattle and start grazing. But he identified by Bhima. At the time of dust when cattle were returning to their home, Bhima got to stand up by stretching legs over two rocks and make allow to pass all cattle under his legs. Lord Shiva couldn't pass & try to escape from there and start to merge into the earth only back portion or hump was caught by Bhima. Seeing this Lord Shiva became happy and gave Darshan to Pandava. Thus this hump or conical part of bull worshipped at Kedarnath Ji.
History of Gangotri
As we know the Holy Shrine Gangotri Is dedicated to River mother Ganges who was away from our all sins and make pious our soul and Body and make our way easier to Heaven. The Gangotri shrine is known as the origin point of River Ganges a divine river who gives solace and Salvation to our ancestors and mankind. It is the place where Lord Shiva Received Ganges in his coil Hair while Gaumukh is the place where a stream or river Ganges evolved from Gangotri glacier just 19 km trek from Gangotri.
It is believed that the temple of Gangotri has been consecrated by Adi Guru Shankaracharya in the 8th-century. Later constructed by Gorkha General Amar Singh Thapa in the 18th-Century in white stone. Later King of Jaipur ‘Maharaja Madho Singh’ renovated the temple in 1935, who gave some Rajasthani architecture style to temple.
Legend: There is a Bhagirath Shila (a stone slab) near to temples it is believed that King Bhagirath did penance over it to please & bring the Goddess Ganga from heaven. There is also a submerged Shivling where Lord Shiva seated and received the Ganges from Heaven in his matted hair. Hindu performs a puja and Pind Daan at Gangotri to give salvation to their ancestors.
History of Yamunotri
The Yamuna is also called as Kalindi as she touched the Peak of Kalind Mountain. Champasar Glacier (4,421 m) is the origin point Yamuna River situated just below the Bandarpoonch Mountain.
The shrine of Yamunotri dedicated to Goddess Yamuna's consort of Lord Shri Krishna descended from heaven to give life and Wash away the sin of mankind.
As mentioned in the record the temple of Yamunotri discovered by James Frazer, a British Army officer in 1816. He saw a three-foot-high temple made of stone and a priest performing worship there. Besides this, he also found some tridents & Idol of other devotees. In 1850 the king of Tehri Sudarshan Shah constructed this temple by wood and the deity set apart in the temple. The later successor of Sudarshan Shah, king Pratap Shah re-constructed the temple in stone. But periodically the temple got damaged by heavy snow and rain. The present temple of Yamunotri constructed by Queen of Jaipur Maharani Guleria in the late 19th-century. In 1994 The Surajmal Jalan Trust renovated the temple. In winter the worship of Goddess Yamuna performed at Kharsali village near to Jankichatti.
Legend: According to the legend ancient, Sage Asit Muni had he reside here when he was unable to get take bath at Gangotri a stream of Ganges appeared opposite to Yamunotri. The Yamuna is the Daughter of lord Sun and Goddess Sandhya and twin Sister of Yama (God of Death). Thus if you take bath in the holy water source of Yamuna devotees get relief from a painful death. Like Ganga, Yamuna is also a divine river look-after and nurturing India civilization.
As mentioned in Hindu Mythology Yamuna are a Daughter of God Sun (Surya Dev) and his wife Goddess Sandhya, daughter of Vishwakarma. Later Sandhya gives birth to twins Yama & Yamuna. But the Goddess Sandhya could not bear the dazzling shine of the Sun. So she made her clone name Chhaya and instructed her to live with Sun and not revealed this truth against anyone. Chhaya agreed with the condition that if ever Suryadev punished her by pulling her hair she will tell truth. After this Sandhya left her husband home. One day, the Chhaya got struck by the foot of child Yama. The insulted Chhaya cursed Rama that his legs would rot and fall off. Seeing this God Surya got surprised and angry by this cruel curse, how a mother can give a curse to her child. In anger, he pulled Chhaya hair then Chhaya told all the truth to Surya that she was not his wife. After this Yamuna came down to earth at Yamunotri and performed a rigorous penance over Divya Shila to get rid of the curse and save her brother. Later the Yamuna got succeeded in his penance and Yama became healthy. Yama (the God of Death) gave a boon to the Yamuna that he will save the life of Yamuna’s Devotee from Akaal Mrityu (an untimely death). It is said that a holy bath in river Yamuna at Yamunotri save the life from untimely death and give salvation or Moksha to the devotee. The Surya Kund (a Hot curative water spring) near Divya Shila presented by God Surya to his daughter. Devotees take holy bath in Tapt Kund (near to Surya Kund) and cook rice or potato in the Surya Kund, offering this cooked rice to Deity take it as Prasad of the goddess. Pilgrim also carries water from Yamunotri and used in the worship of Lord Krishna during Janmashtami or another related auspicious day.
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