Kedarnath Dham History and Legends

Perched on an elevation of 3,583 metres above sea level and placed on the lap of the Garhwal Himalayan ranges, a visit to Kedarnath will make you wonder how our ancestors made their way to this holy Dham without any such help or support.

The history of Kedarnath Dham dates back to the ancient ages, to the time of peak Hindu religion. People make their way to this Dham on their holy journey to attain moksha.

The entire valley of Kedar is completely drenched in a feeling of historical relevance and deep unmatched spirituality owing to its magnificent and colorful historical and mythological accounts, which are as follows:

Legend of Pandavas

One of the most important stories about the creation of Kedarnath Dham tells how the Pandava brothers made their way here in search of Shivji.

The story starts from the time when the Pandava brothers had won the Mahabharata war by killing all their kin and committed a horrible sin. According to the advice of their chief saint and philosopher, the Pandava siblings were advised to go to the Himalayas in search of the Lord.

They made this pilgrimage via Haridwar and, while searching for the Lord, made their way to Guptkashi, where the Lord had disguised himself in the form of a bull. However, Bheem recognized him, and at that very moment, the bull started to sink into the ground.

Bheem grabbed the bull by its tail, and in this tug of war, the face of the bull emerged in Nepal while its rear end appeared in Kedar. When this happened, a Jyotirlinga was established, and the Pandavas were graced by the presence of the Lord himself.

The Pandavas asked for forgiveness and were granted the same. The Lord told them that he would now reside inside the triangular-shaped lingam. Ever since then, devotees make their way to the temple in search of piety.

Legend of Nara and Narayana

Two great sages, Nara and Narayana, meditated for years in the peaceful surroundings of Kedarnath. Their devotion was so deep that Lord Shiva was pleased with their faith. As a blessing, they were granted a permanent place at the temple, inspiring pilgrims to this day. Visitors often feel the lingering spiritual energy of these sages in the sacred mountains.

Legend of the Lingam

The Kedarnath Lingam, representing Lord Shiva, is believed to have been naturally formed by earth, air, water, and fire. This self-manifested lingam is unique and holds immense spiritual power. Devotees believe it can cleanse sins and bring inner peace. Many visitors feel a profound sense of reverence and calm while seeing it.

Panch Kedar Connection

According to Hindu beliefs, the different body parts of Lord Shiva appeared at five locations after he took the form of a bull. These five sacred sites together form the Panch Kedar, with Kedarnath being the most prominent among them.

The other four Panch Kedar temples are located at Tungnath, Rudranath, Madhyamaheshwar, and Kalpeshwar, further strengthening Kedarnath’s spiritual importance in Shaivism.

Historical Account

Kedarnath’s historical account can be dated back to the 8th century, to the great sage, saint, and philosopher Adi Shankaracharya.

He travelled from his birthplace in Kerala to Kedarnath and, along the way, established several mathas, temples, and pilgrimage centres. He established the Chota Char Dham Yatra in Devbhoomi Uttarakhand with the aim of reviving Hinduism among the general Hindu population.

He is believed to have spent a significant part of his life in Kedarnath Dham and also took his last breath here. To commemorate his contribution, a sacred shrine dedicated to Adi Shankaracharya was established behind the temple.

After the devastating flash floods of 2013, this Samadhi is being rebuilt in an underground chamber to keep it safe for future visitation.

Buried in Snow for 400 Years

Although the exact date of construction of the Kedarnath Temple is still a mystery, scientists have shown interest in uncovering the secrets held within this pristine temple.

A research team from Dehradun conducted studies on the temple walls to determine its age. The results were shocking. It was discovered that the main temple of Kedarnath was buried under a thick covering of snow for nearly 400 years.

This conclusion was drawn after observing yellowish lines on the outer walls of the temple. Further research showed that these lines were a result of a mini ice age, during which the entire region of Rudraprayag was covered in massive ice sheets.

It is astonishing that even after this period, the temple remained completely intact, without a single crack. This clearly shows that the builders had taken the harsh weather conditions into account and designed the structure to survive even the most extreme climates.