बद्रीनाथ

प्रिंट

Badrinath is one of the ‘four dhams’ of the country and is situated at an elevation of 3,133 mts. above sea-level. Is is flanked by two mountain ranges known as Nar & Narayan, with the towering Neelkanth peak providing a splendid backdrop. This reversed spot ws once carpeted with wild berries which gave it the name ‘Badri Van’,meaning ‘forest of berries’.

Facing the temple at the bank of Alaknanda river is a hot water spring known as ‘Tapt Kund’. A bath in this spring is very refreshing. a separate tank is available for women. the temple opens every year in the month of April-May and closes during the winter around the third week of November. It is believed that worshipping at this shrine is a means of liberating the soul from the bound of transmigration.

The original temple that was here is said to have been of very great antiquity and that it was destroyed by avalanches or by the Buddhists, other temple build from time to time also being destroyed by avalanches. The present temple was build about 400 years ago bye the king of Garhwal. The principal idol in the temple, which is of black stone or marble and is about a metre in height,is that of Vishnu seated in the meditative pose, flanked by the idols of Nar and Narayan on the right nad of Kubera and Narada on the left. The other important idols are those of Uddhava and Garuda (Vishnu’s vehicle). In the courtyard of the temple, to the right , stands a small shrine dedicated to Lakshmi, Vishnu’s consort, and the idols of Ghantakaran ( the kshetrapal on guard) , Hanuman and ganesa stand in the wings.