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Badrinath is a Hindu holy town and a nagar panchayat in Chamoli district in the state of Uttarakhand, India. It is the most important of the four sites in India's Char Dham pilgrimage.It is located on the right bank of the river Alaknanda in the district of Chamoli in the Garhwal region of Uttaranchal. Badrinath is surrounded by the two mountain ranges of Nar and Narayan on its two sides with the Neelkanth peak on the background. This hill resort is a famous pilgrimage for the Hindus as the temple of the God Vishnu is situated here.
Guru Adi Shankaracharya has established the present temple. The temple has three parts - Garbha Grih (The Sanctum Sanctorum), Darshan Mandap (for pujas) and Sabha Mandap (for devotees to assemble).
On the right bank of Alaknanda lies the sacred Badrinath Temple at an altitude of 3,133 metres above sea level. Encircled by a beautiful valley, this high temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is built in the form of a cone with a small gilded cupola. Built by Adi Guru Shankaracharya - the philosopher - saint of the 8th century, the temple has been refurbished several times due to damage by avalanches. Its colorful 'Singh Dwara' or the main entrance gate renders it a new, modern look.
The temple is divided into three parts - the garbha griha or sanctum sanctorum, the darshan mandap where the rituals are conducted and the sabha mandap where devotees assemble. The complex has 15 idols. Especially attractive is the one metre high image of Badrinath, delicately sculpted in black stone. It represents Lord Vishnu seated in a meditative pose.
Inside Badrinath Temple
A flight of steps takes pilgrims to the main gate & then into the temple. The temple is divided into three parts - the 'Garbha Griha' or the sanctum sanctorum, the 'Darshan Mandap' where the rituals are conducted and the 'Sabha Mandap' where devotees assemble. The Garbha Griha portion has its canopy covered with a sheet of gold offered by Queen Ahilyabai Holkar. The complex has 15 idols especially attractive is the one-metre high image of lord Badrinath, finely sculpted in black stone. It represents Lord Vishnu seated in a meditative pose called padmasan.
Darshan Mandap: Lord Badrinath is sitting meditating in the padmasana (lotus yogic posture). As you look at the Deities, standing to the right side of Badrinarayana is Uddhava. To the far right side are Nara and Narayana. Narada Muni is kneeling in front on the right side and is difficult to see. On the left side are Kubera, the god of wealth, and a silver Ganesh. Garuda is kneeling in front, to the left of Badrinarayana.
Special pujas are also performed on behalf of individuals. Every puja must be preceded by a holy dip in the Tapta Kund. Some of the special morning pujas are Abhishek, Mahaabhishek, Geeta Path. Some special evening pujas are Aarti & Geet Govind. Such pujas are to be booked in advance. The temple opens at 0430 hrs & closes at 1300 hrs. Once again it opens at 1600 hrs & closes at 2100 hrs after the divine song Geet Govind. Rawal is the administrator-Pujari of the temple well versed in puja ceremonials & Sanskrit language and is expected to be celibate..
Badri refers to a berry that was said to grow abundantly in the area, and nath refers to Vishnu. Badri is the Sanskrit name for the Indian Jujube tree[3], which has an edible berry. Some scriptural references also refer to Jujube trees being abundant in Badrinath. Legend has it that Goddess Lakshmi took the form of the berries to protect Lord Vishnu from the harsh climate during his long penance.
The opening of Badrinath shrine
The temple opens every year in the month of April-May & closes for winters in the third week of November. Joshimath is the winter deity of Badrinath.
Badrinath's four subsidiary Badris include Bhavishya Badri, Yogdhyan Badri, Bridha Badri and Adi Badri. It is popularly believed that with spread of Buddhism, the Buddhists enshrined the statue of Lord Buddha there and during the Hindu renaissance, the statue of Buddha was later restored by Adi Guru as the idol of Vishnu. This possibly explains the deity sitting in Padmasan posture, typical of Buddha icons. However, also according to Hindu mythology, Buddha was considered to be the ninth incarnation of Lord Vishnu
Before entering the temple, devotees take a holy dip in the Tapt Kund (a natural thermal hot spring) on the banks of the river Alaknanda. The water of the kund is believed to have medicinal properties. Other natural springs in the area include Surya Kund and Narad Kund.
Neelkanth, popularly known as ‘Garhwal Queen’, is a pyramidal-shaped snowy peak towering above Badrinath.
Mata Murti Temple is located on the right bank of Alaknanda and is dedicated to the mother of Sri Badrinathji. There is also the Vyas Gufa (Vyas Cave), a rock cave of saint Ved Vyas.
Yog Dhyan Badri :
The temple of Yog dhyan Badri, one of the five Badris is located at Pandukeshwar ( 1920mts.) just 24kms. short of Badrinath on Rishikesh - Badrinath highway. The image, depiciting a meditative posture of the Lord, is worshipped here. the Pandavas are said to have handed over Hastinapur to king Parikshit and retired here.
Bhavishya Badri :
The temple of Bhavishya Badri is at an elevation 3641mts., and is surrounded by dense forests. It is located at Subain near Tapovan, about 17kms. east of Joshimath on Joshimath - Lata Malari route. Pilgrims have to trek beyond Tapovan, up the Dhauliganga river.
It is believed that a day will come when the present route to Badrinath will become inaccessible and Lord Badrinath will then be worshipped here. Hence the name ' Bhavishya Badri' which literally means the " future Badri".
Adi Badri :
Approachable from Karnprayag by a motorable road on the way to Ranikhet, are remains of 16 small temples. Seven among them are ancient ones, belonging to the late Gupta period. The credit for building these temples is generally given to Shankaracharya. The main temple of Narayan is distinguished by a raised platform in the pyramidal from where the idol is enshrined. sculpted out of black stone, the idol of Lord Vishnu is a metre high.
Vriddha Badri :
Situated at an altitude of 1380mts. and at a distance of 7kms. from Joshimath is Animath, the place where several centuries before the advent of Adi Guru Shankaracharya, the idol of Badrinath was enshrined and worshipped. The idol is known as vriddha old or the first Badri and the temple remains open throughout the year.
General Information
Area: 3 sq.kms.
Altitude: 3133 mts.
Season: From opening to closing, generally from April to November.
Clothing: Heavy woolen garments required throught.
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