Why is the Kedarnath pilgrimage so important? Five key points

The famous Kedarnath temple in the district of Rudraprayag in Uttarkhand has been one of the worst hit in the flash floods. According to reports, while the temple is safe, the outer compound has been damaged and the town around the temple has suffered massive losses as it felt the full force of the rising waters. Thousands of pilgrims who were attending the trek are believed to be stranded and according to the IAF, Kedarnath remains the worst hit area in the floods. The IAF has said that by tomorrow all critical evacuations from Kedarnath should be over and nearly 15,000 people have been rescued for now. So why is the Kedarnath trek so important? Here are five quick facts to know. • Kedarnath trek is part of Chota Char Dhams (four minor pilgrimage sites) for Hindus and the temple of Kedarnath is located in a nagar panchayat in Rudraprayag district. The other three Chota Char Dhams are Yamunotri, Gangotri and Badrinath. Badrinath is also a part of the major Char Dhams for Hindus. Kedarnath is located at about 3584 metres (11759 feet) above sea level. The town is located near the Chorabari Glacier, which forms the the head of the Mandakini river. This closeness to the glacier also made it the worst hit due to the incessant rains which eventually led to the flash floods. [caption id=“attachment_890293” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] The damaged Kedarnath temple and valley. PTI[/caption] • Kedarnath is believed to have been named in honour of King Kedar, who ruled in the Satya Yuga. The land is around the temple is named Vrindavan in honour of King Kedar’s daughter. There’s also a legend that says this is the temple where the Pandavas finally found Lord Shiva in order to seek forgiveness for the sin of killing their cousins. The temple is over 1000 years old. • The lingam at Kedarnath unlike the usual form is pyramidal and is regarded as one of the 12 Jyotirlings. Kedarnath is highest among the 12 Jyotirlingas. The trek to Kedarnath can only be made by foot or you can take a helicopter service. In 2012, the temple saw over 5,48,166 pilgrims. • The temple opens on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya which usually falls in April end or first week of May and closes on Bhai Duj (in October or November after Diwali). The temple is closed for six months because of heavy snowfall. Once winters begin, the statue of Shiva is carried down from Kedarnath to Ukhimath, and later reinstated at Kedarnath, in the first week of May. The Monsoons are not a recommended time for visiting Kedarnath due to threat of landslides. • Bhairon Temple which is close to Kedarnath, is a temple where the god Bhaironathji is ceremoniously worshipped at the opening & closing of Kedarnath. The belief is that he protects the land around Kedarnath from evil during the time when temple of Kedarnath is closed. According to a report in the Deccan Chronicle, Uttarakhand CM has said that the trek to Kedarnath could be suspended for a whole year due to the damage caused due to floods.