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Uttaranchal
( Badrinath - Kedarnath)
The holy shrines of Badrinath and
Kedarnath have, from the earliest of times, evoked
the deepest devotion from the people of India.
When, according to mythology, the Ganga was
requested to descend to earth it was realised that
the earth would not be able to sustain the might of
the goddess in a single stream. Therefore, the
Ganga, after being received in the matted locks of
lord Shiva, was split into twelve streams, each of
these as holy as the mother.
Four main streams,
Alaknanda, Mandakini,
Bhagirathi & Yamuna, became the premier
pilgrimages, collectively called "Char Dham"
badrinath lies on the banks of the Alaknanda and
Kedarnath near the source of the Mandakini, the
former devoted to Lord Vishnu and the letter to
Lord Shiva.
Legend has the Badrinath was the home of
Lord Shiva. It was only much later when Lord Vishnu
in his incarnations as Narayan made this valley his
abode. Lord Shiva then, it is said took up
residence at Kedarnath in the adjoining valley. And
so it stands to this day.
Again, mythology identifies the deity at
Kedarnath temple with the rump of a bull a form
assumed by rump Lord Shiva when trying to elude the
Pandavas who had come to him for repentance for
killing their Kinsmen.
Legends not with standing, the two shrines
are scenically located and surrounded by high,
snow-covered mountains with wide grassy medows
covering the valley. Adi Shankaracharya visited the
two centres in the 8th century AD and is believed
to have reinstalled the idol of Lord Sadari in the
Temple. It is believed that the temple of Kedarnath
was constructed by the Pandavas.
The routes to Badrinath and Kedarnath separate from
Rudraparyag where the Alaknanda and Mandakini
rivers converge. This region of the inner
Himalayas, besides having many holy shrines, is
amongest the most gifted in natural scenic beauty.
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