Famous Temples in India

Architecture

The name “Kedarnath” means “the lord of the field“. It is derived from the Sanskrit language ‘Kedara’ meaning fields and ‘Natha’ meaning lord. According to mythology, Lord Shiva agreed to live here at the request of Nara-Narayana. Kedarnath is situated at the Rudra Himalayan Range on a mountain named Kedar, at a height of 12,000 feet. It is one of the 4 Dhams along with Yamunotri, Gangotri, and Badrinath. Kedarnath Temple is made from gray hunk of stones. The stone slabs are interlocked with each other with the use of iron clamps. No mortar has been used in the construction of the temple. The most striking feature of Kedarnath Temple is the magnicent Kedarnath. An unusual feature of the temple is the head of a man carved in the triangular stone fascia. Such a head is seen carved in another temple nearby constructed on the site where the marriage of Shiva and Parvati was held. A small hall in front of the Kedarnath Temple beams with images of Parvati and the five Pandavas. The hall at the entrance of Kedarnath Temple is decorated with statues of Lord Krishna, the Pandavas, Draupadi, Nandi, Virbhadra (one of the guards of Shiva) and other deities of the Hindu mythology. The grand statue of Nandi greets you outside the temple door. A “Garba Griha” for worship and a Mandap for pilgrims is placed inside the temple.

The head priest (Raval) of the Kedarnath temple belongs to the Veerashaiva community from Karnataka. However, unlike in Badrinath temple, the Raval of Kedarnath temple does not perform the pujas. The pujas are carried out by Raval's assistants on his instructions. The Raval moves with the deity to Ukhimath during the winter season. There are five main priests for the temple, and they become head priests for one year by rotation. The grand and impressive structure of Lord Shiva's shrine is made of grey stone. Steep climb stretching to 14 km from Gauri Kund brims with abundant beauty of nature. A large stone statue of Nandi Bull stares at the shrine, guarding it and sitting right opposite it. The temple has withstood natural calamities like avalanches, earthquakes and floods for over thousand years and still stands as strong and elegant as it must have originally been.

During winter the deity is brought down to a village called Ukhimat and the temple is closed. In summer when the weather improves, the deity is carried back to the temple amid much fanfare and rituals. With the onset of winters, the portals of the temple are closed on the 1st day of Karthik (Oct/Nov) amid elaborate rituals, and a moveable idol of Shiva is shifted to Omkareshwar temple in Ukhimath (Rudraprayag district). The Shiva idol is welcomed back and the temple is opened again after 6 months in the Vaisakh (Apr/May) period of Hindu calendar.