Kedarkantha: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox mountain |
{{Infobox mountain |
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| name = Kedarkantha |
| name = Kedarkantha |
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| other_name = |
| other_name = केदारकंठ |
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| native_name = |
| native_name = केदारकंठ |
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| native_name_lang = |
| native_name_lang = केदारकंठ |
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| photo = Kedarkantha Peak.jpg |
| photo = Kedarkantha Peak.jpg |
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'''Kedarkantha''' is a mountain peak of the [[Himalayas]] in [[Uttarakhand]], India. Its elevation is {{cvt|12500|ft}}.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.hindustantimes.com/travel/want-to-go-trekking-in-the-himalayas-here-s-a-list-recommended-by-experts/story-15k5Sdpv1AgeKqHOswUEPM.html |title= Want to go trekking in the Himalayas? Here's a list recommended by experts |last= Shah |first= Sonali |date= 6 November 2016 |website= Hindustan Times |access-date= 2 January 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/best-treks-to-do-this-winter-adventure-kedarkantha-har-ki-dun-kuari-pass-sandakphu-brahmatal-deoriatal-chandrashila-uttarakhand-haridwar-kathgodam/1/535734.html |title= Best winter treks in India |last= Duttagupta |first= Samonway |date= 1 December 2015 |website= India Today |access-date= 2 January 2017}}</ref> Kedarkantha is located within [[Govind Pashu Vihar National Park and Sanctuary|Govind Wildlife Sanctuary]] in [[Uttarkashi district]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1= Mishra |first1= Gaurav K |last2= Upreti |first2= Dalip K |date= May 2015 |title= Altitudinal distribution of cetrarioid lichens in Govind Wildlife Sanctuary, Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India |url= https://www.academia.edu/17300163 |journal= Geophytology |volume= 45 |issue= 1 |pages= 9–19 |issn= 0376-5156 }}</ref> |
'''Kedarkantha''' ([[Hindi]]: केदारकंठ) is a mountain peak of the [[Himalayas]] in [[Uttarakhand]], India. Its elevation is {{cvt|12500|ft}}.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.hindustantimes.com/travel/want-to-go-trekking-in-the-himalayas-here-s-a-list-recommended-by-experts/story-15k5Sdpv1AgeKqHOswUEPM.html |title= Want to go trekking in the Himalayas? Here's a list recommended by experts |last= Shah |first= Sonali |date= 6 November 2016 |website= Hindustan Times |access-date= 2 January 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/best-treks-to-do-this-winter-adventure-kedarkantha-har-ki-dun-kuari-pass-sandakphu-brahmatal-deoriatal-chandrashila-uttarakhand-haridwar-kathgodam/1/535734.html |title= Best winter treks in India |last= Duttagupta |first= Samonway |date= 1 December 2015 |website= India Today |access-date= 2 January 2017}}</ref> Kedarkantha is located within [[Govind Pashu Vihar National Park and Sanctuary|Govind Wildlife Sanctuary]] in [[Uttarkashi district]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1= Mishra |first1= Gaurav K |last2= Upreti |first2= Dalip K |date= May 2015 |title= Altitudinal distribution of cetrarioid lichens in Govind Wildlife Sanctuary, Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India |url= https://www.academia.edu/17300163 |journal= Geophytology |volume= 45 |issue= 1 |pages= 9–19 |issn= 0376-5156 }}</ref> |
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A trek to the peak of Kedarkantha usually starts from Sankri, a small village, and takes four days to complete. |
A trek to the peak of Kedarkantha usually starts from Sankri, a small village, and takes four days to complete. |
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== Legends == |
== Legends == |
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There are several myths around [[:bn:কেদারকন্ঠ|Kedarkantha]] and Juda ka Talab, a high altitude lake. One legend has it that Lord Shiva sat at the summit to meditate but was disturbed by a bull running below. He instead went to [[Kedarnath]], a town in Uttarakhand, to meditate. A folk legend about Panch Kedar relates to the [[Pandavas]], the heroes of the Hindu epic [[Mahabharata]]. The Pandavas defeated and slayed their cousins — the [[Kauravas]] in the epic [[Kurukshetra war]]. They wished to atone for the sins of committing [[fratricide]] (''[[gotra]] [[hatya]]'') and [[Brāhmanahatya]] (killing of [[Brahmin]]s — the priest class) during the war. Thus, they handed over the reins of their kingdom to their kin and left in search of [[Shiva]] and to seek his blessings. First, they went to the holy city of [[Varanasi]] (Kashi), believed to be Shiva's favourite city and known for its Shiva temple. But, Shiva wanted to avoid them as he was deeply incensed by the death and dishonesty at the Kurukshetra war and was, therefore, insensitive to Pandavas' prayers. Therefore, he assumed the form of a bull ([[Nandi (bull)|Nandi]]) and hid in the Garhwal region. |
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There are several myths around [[:bn:কেদারকন্ঠ|Kedarkantha]] and Juda ka Talab, a high altitude lake. |
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Not finding Shiva in Varanasi, the Pandavas went to [[Garhwal Division|Garhwal]] [[Himalayas]]. [[Bhima]], the second of the five Pandava brothers, then standing astride two mountains started to look for Shiva. He saw a bull grazing near [[Guptakashi]] (“hidden Kashi” — the name derived from the hiding act of Shiva). Bhima immediately recognized the bull to be Shiva. Bhima caught hold of the bull by its tail and hind legs. But the bull-formed Shiva disappeared into the ground to later reappear in parts, with the hump raising in [[Kedarnath Temple|Kedarnath]], the arms appearing in [[Tungnath]], the face showing up at [[Rudranath]], the nabhi (navel) and stomach surfacing in [[Madhyamaheshwar]] and the hair appearing in [[Kalpeshwar]]. It is believed that Shiva's throat fell on the mountain, thus earning the peak its name Kedarkantha (the throat of Shiva). The Pandavas pleased with this reappearance in five different forms, built temples at the five places for venerating and worshipping Shiva. The Pandavas were thus freed from their sins.<ref name=bisht/><ref name=travel>{{Cite web |url=http://traveluttarakhand.com/panchkedar.html#madhyamaheshwar#madhyamaheshwar |title=Panch Kedar Yatra |access-date=2009-07-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524085601/http://traveluttarakhand.com/panchkedar.html#madhyamaheshwar |archive-date=24 May 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=ecology>{{Cite book |author= Kapoor. A. K. |author2=Satwanti Kapoor |title= Ecology and man in the Himalayas |year=1994 |pages=250 |publisher= M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd. |isbn=9788185880167}}</ref> |
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One legend has it that Lord Shiva sat at the summit to meditate but was disturbed by a bull running below. He instead went to Kedarnath, a town in Uttarakhand, to meditate. |
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A variant of the tale credits Bhima of not only catching the bull, but also stopping it from disappearing. Consequently, the bull was torn asunder into five parts and appeared at five locations in the [[Kedar Khand]] of Garhwal region of the Himalayas.<ref name=travel/> After building the Panch Kedar Temples, the Pandavas meditated at Kedarnath for salvation, performed [[yagna]] (fire sacrifice) and then through the heavenly path called the Mahapanth (also called Swargarohini), attained heaven or salvation.{{citation needed|date=September 2012}}. The Panch Kedar Temples are constructed in the North-Indian Himalayan Temple architecture with the Kedarnath, Tungnath and Madhyamaheshwar temples constructed in a similar manner. |
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Another local myth relates to the Pandavas, who went to the Himalayas to seek Lord Shiva’s blessings. He hid from Bheem and disguised himself as a bull. But Bheem recognised him and went after him. So Shiva hid underground. When he rushed out of his hiding place, he let his body parts get divided, and each part fell at a different place. His throat fell on the Kedarkantha, thus earning the peak its name- transliteration- “the throat of Lord Shiva”. |
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After completing the pilgrimage of Shiva's [[Darśana|darshan]] at the Panch Kedar Temples, it is an unwritten religious rite to visit [[Lord Vishnu|Vishnu]] at the [[Badrinath Temple]], as a final affirmatory proof by the devotee that he has sought blessings of Shiva.<ref name=jyoti>{{Cite web |url=http://www.jyotirlinga.com/panchakedar.htm |title=Panch Kedar |access-date=2009-07-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090831110615/http://www.jyotirlinga.com/panchakedar.htm |archive-date=31 August 2009 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> |
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A legend recounts that the Pandavas sought Lord Shiva to pardon them for their sins on the advice of Lord Krishna. They had killed their kin during the Mahabharata. Shiva was angry with them for their conduct and avoided them by taking the form of a bull and leaving for the Garhwal region. The Pandavas sighted Shiva grazing as a bull in the hills of Guptakashi and tried to grab its tail and legs forcibly. The bull disappeared into the ground and later reappeared as Lord Shiva at five places- the hump at Kedarnath, the legs at Tungnath, its face at Rudranath, its stomach at Madhyamaheswar and its hair at Kalpeshwar. |
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==References== |
==References== |
||
Revision as of 04:27, 4 November 2022
| Kedarkantha | |
|---|---|
| केदारकंठ | |
 | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 12,500 ft (3,800 m) |
| Naming | |
| Native name | केदारकंठ Error {{native name checker}}: parameter value is malformed (help) |
| Geography | |
 | |
| Country | India |
| State | Uttarakhand |
| District | Uttarkashi |
| Parent range | Garhwal Himalaya |
Kedarkantha (Hindi: केदारकंठ) is a mountain peak of the Himalayas in Uttarakhand, India. Its elevation is 12,500 ft (3,800 m).[1][2] Kedarkantha is located within Govind Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttarkashi district.[3]
A trek to the peak of Kedarkantha usually starts from Sankri, a small village, and takes four days to complete.
Legends
There are several myths around Kedarkantha and Juda ka Talab, a high altitude lake. One legend has it that Lord Shiva sat at the summit to meditate but was disturbed by a bull running below. He instead went to Kedarnath, a town in Uttarakhand, to meditate. A folk legend about Panch Kedar relates to the Pandavas, the heroes of the Hindu epic Mahabharata. The Pandavas defeated and slayed their cousins — the Kauravas in the epic Kurukshetra war. They wished to atone for the sins of committing fratricide (gotra hatya) and Brāhmanahatya (killing of Brahmins — the priest class) during the war. Thus, they handed over the reins of their kingdom to their kin and left in search of Shiva and to seek his blessings. First, they went to the holy city of Varanasi (Kashi), believed to be Shiva's favourite city and known for its Shiva temple. But, Shiva wanted to avoid them as he was deeply incensed by the death and dishonesty at the Kurukshetra war and was, therefore, insensitive to Pandavas' prayers. Therefore, he assumed the form of a bull (Nandi) and hid in the Garhwal region.
Not finding Shiva in Varanasi, the Pandavas went to Garhwal Himalayas. Bhima, the second of the five Pandava brothers, then standing astride two mountains started to look for Shiva. He saw a bull grazing near Guptakashi (“hidden Kashi” — the name derived from the hiding act of Shiva). Bhima immediately recognized the bull to be Shiva. Bhima caught hold of the bull by its tail and hind legs. But the bull-formed Shiva disappeared into the ground to later reappear in parts, with the hump raising in Kedarnath, the arms appearing in Tungnath, the face showing up at Rudranath, the nabhi (navel) and stomach surfacing in Madhyamaheshwar and the hair appearing in Kalpeshwar. It is believed that Shiva's throat fell on the mountain, thus earning the peak its name Kedarkantha (the throat of Shiva). The Pandavas pleased with this reappearance in five different forms, built temples at the five places for venerating and worshipping Shiva. The Pandavas were thus freed from their sins.[4][5][6]
A variant of the tale credits Bhima of not only catching the bull, but also stopping it from disappearing. Consequently, the bull was torn asunder into five parts and appeared at five locations in the Kedar Khand of Garhwal region of the Himalayas.[5] After building the Panch Kedar Temples, the Pandavas meditated at Kedarnath for salvation, performed yagna (fire sacrifice) and then through the heavenly path called the Mahapanth (also called Swargarohini), attained heaven or salvation.[citation needed]. The Panch Kedar Temples are constructed in the North-Indian Himalayan Temple architecture with the Kedarnath, Tungnath and Madhyamaheshwar temples constructed in a similar manner.
After completing the pilgrimage of Shiva's darshan at the Panch Kedar Temples, it is an unwritten religious rite to visit Vishnu at the Badrinath Temple, as a final affirmatory proof by the devotee that he has sought blessings of Shiva.[7]
References
- ^ Shah, Sonali (6 November 2016). "Want to go trekking in the Himalayas? Here's a list recommended by experts". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
- ^ Duttagupta, Samonway (1 December 2015). "Best winter treks in India". India Today. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
- ^ Mishra, Gaurav K; Upreti, Dalip K (May 2015). "Altitudinal distribution of cetrarioid lichens in Govind Wildlife Sanctuary, Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India". Geophytology. 45 (1): 9–19. ISSN 0376-5156.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
bishtwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b "Panch Kedar Yatra". Archived from the original on 24 May 2011. Retrieved 5 July 2009.
- ^ Kapoor. A. K.; Satwanti Kapoor (1994). Ecology and man in the Himalayas. M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd. p. 250. ISBN 9788185880167.
- ^ "Panch Kedar". Archived from the original on 31 August 2009. Retrieved 15 July 2009.
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