Tungnath
| Tungnath | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Hinduism |
| Location | |
| Location |  Uttarakhand, India |
| Geographic coordinates | 30°29′22″N 79°12′55″E / 30.48944°N 79.21528°E[1] |
| Architecture | |
| Type | North Indian architecture |
| Creator | Pandavas |
Tungnath is one of the five and the highest Panch Kedar temples located in the mountain range of Tunganath in the Chamoli district of Tehri Garhwal, in Uttarakhand, India. The Tunganath (literal meaning is lord of the peaks) mountains form the Mandakini and Alaknanda river valleys. Located at an altitude of 3,680 m (12,073.5 ft), the Tungnath temple is the highest Hindu shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple is believed to be 1000 years old and is the second in the pecking order of the Panch Kedars. It has a rich legend linked to the Pandavas, heroes of the epic Mahabharata fame.[1][2]
Legend
According to Hindu mythology lord Shiva and his consort Parvati both reside in the Himalayas: Lord Shiva at Mount Kailash and Parvati (Shail Putri) is considered to be the daughter of hills.[1]
The Tunganath myth is indelibly linked to the origin of the Panch Kedar temples built by the Pandavas. The legend states that sage Vyas Rishi advised the Pandavas that since they were culpable to the slaying of their own relatives (Kauravas, their cousins) during the Mahabharata war or Kurukshetra war, their offense could be pardoned only by Lord Shiva. Consequently, the Pandavas went in search of Shiva who was avoiding them since he was convinced of the guilt of Pandavas. In order to keep away from them, Shiva took the form of a bull and went into hiding in an underground safe haven at Guptakashi, where Pandavas chased him. But later Shiva’s body in the form of bull’s body parts rematerialized at five different locations that represent the “Panch Kedar” where Pandavas built temples of Lord Shiva at each location, to worship and venerate, seeking his pardon and blessings. Each one is identified with a part of his body; Tungnath is identified as the place where the bahu (hands) were seen: hump was seen at Kedarnath; head appeared at Rudranath; his navel and stomach surfaced at Madhyamaheshwar; and his jata (hair or locks) at Kalpeshwar.[2][3][4][5]
Legend also states that Lord Rama, the chief icon of the Ramayana epic, meditated at the Chandrashila peak, which is close to Tungnath. It is also said that Ravana, also of Ramayana fame did penance to Shiva, the lord of the peaks, when he resided here.[2]
Structure
It is an ancient temple built in the North Indian style of temple architecture. It is small in size and can barely accommodate ten people in the sanctum. Surrounding this temple, there are a number of small shrines (about a dozen) of several gods. The sanctum part of the temple abuts the hills where the sacred standing black rock (swayambu or self manifest linga) with tilt to the left, of 1 ft (0.3 m) height, denoting the form of arms of Lord Shiva is worshipped. The construction of this temple is credited to Arjuna, the third of the Pandava brothers, who also worshiped here.[1][2][6]
Just at the entrance, at the end of the trek path to the temple, there is a gateway with name Tungnath painted on the top of the arch, which is of recent construction. A signage at the gate entrance gives distance to the temple as 4 km (2.5 mi) and also states that pilgrims unable to undertake the trek could leave their donations in the box (kept next to the gate).[7]
The architectural design of the temple is similar to the temples at Guptakashi, Madhyamaheshwar and Kedarnath. The temples inside the enclosure are made of stones with decorations painted on the outside and they depict tall towers. The highest dome has a wooden stage at the top. The dome has sixteen openings (pictured). The temple roofs are also made of stone slabs. At the entrance to the temple there is a Nandi stone image facing towards the sanctum where Shiva’s idol is deified. The Nandi’s flank is normally sanctified for worship with flowers and with three lines (tripundra) in yellow clay, with a mark denoting Shiva's third eye, which is symbolic to Shiva's devotees. At the right of the temple entrance there is the mandatory image of Ganesha. In the main sanctum, ashtadhatu (made of eight metals) idols of sage Vyas and Kala Bhairav (demi-god), disciples of Shiva, are also installed in the sanctum sanctorum. The temple also houses the images of the Pandavas and silver plaques of other four Kedar shrines.[3][6][7][8]
Among the smaller shrines, the central temple is of goddess Parvati, Shiva’s consort. Away to the far right there is a group of five small shrines dedicated to the Panch Kedar, which include Tungnath also as one of the Panch Kedar, in addition to the main Tunganath temple.[7]
Near the Akash Ganga water fall, close to Tungnath, a temple to Nanda Devi is located to denote that it is descending from heaven. A 2.5 ft (0.8 m) statue of Adi Guru Shankaracharya is installed next to the main deity of Shiva.[3]
Worship
The priest at this temple is a local Brahmin from Maku village, unlike the other Kedar temples where the priests are from South India, a tradition set by the 8th century Hindu guru Sankaracharya. It is also said that the Khasi Brahmins officiate as priests at this temple. During the winter season, the temple is closed and the symbolic image of the deity and the temple priests are moved to Mukunath, which is 19 km (11.8 mi) from here. It is near Duggalbitha (10 km (6.2 mi) before Chopta towards Ukhimath.[6][9][10]
Geography
Tungnath is at the top of the ridge dividing the waters of the Mandakini River (raising from Kedarnath) from those of the Alaknanda River (raising above Badrinath). The Tungnath peak on this ridge is the source of three springs, which form the Akashkamini River. The temple lies about 2 km (1.2 mi) below the Chandrashila Peak (4,000 m (13,123.4 ft)). The road to Chopta is just below this ridge and hence provides the shortest bridle approach path for trekking to the temple from Chopta, over a short distance of about 4 km (2.5 mi). From the top of the Chandrashila peak, picturseque views of the Himalayan range comprising snow peaks of Nanda Devi, Panch Chuli, Banderpoonch, Kedarnath, Chaukhamba and Neelkanth on one side, and the Garhwal valley on the opposite side could be witnessed. The valley between Chopta and Tunganath temple has wooded hills with rich alpine meadows with rhododendron coppices and also agricultural fields. The rododendrons, when they are in full bloom during March, display dazzling colours ranging from crimson to pink. A high-altitude botanical station of the Garhwal University is located here. Nearing the top of the temple, there is a forest rest house at Dugalibitta, just opposite to the Kedarnath range of hills. The Kedaranth Wild Life Sanctuary, also called the Kedarnath Musk Deer Sanctuary, set up in 1972 to preserve the endangered musk deer, which lies in the region, also has a musk deer breeding centre at Kharchula Kharak near Chopta.[11][12][13][14]
Trekking and access
Other than being a religious destination, it is also a well known trekking destination. The trek starts from Chopta (9,600 ft (2,926.1 m)), the nearest road head on the NH 58 from Rudraprayag via Shivpuri, Devprayag and Srinagar. Of all the Panch Kedar trek routes, the route to Tungnath is the shortest: only4 km (2.5 mi) from Chopta (on the Ukimath Gopeshwar road) that can be covered in approximately 3–4 hours (depending on the trekker's physical ability). Trek is a moderate (and sometimes steep) climb (9,600–12,000 ft (2,926.1–3,657.6 m)), the trek path is stone paved with benches provided en-route at intervals to rest and enjoy the beautiful views of the Chowkhamba, Nanda Devi, Neelkanth and Kedarnath peaks.[11] Generally, the pilgrimage to Tunganath is undertaken as part of the Panch Kedar trekking covering all five temples over a 170 km (105.6 mi) route (road cum trek length) starting from Rishikesh in the order of: Kedarnath, Tungnath, Rudranath, Madhyamaheswar and Kalpeshwar. The few pilgrims who undertake this trekking pilgrimage to the shrine do so in summer months (end April or early May to October) as the temple remains snow bound and unapproachable. During this period even Chopta, the nearest road head remains deserted. But it is said that few adepts come to the area during the winter avoiding the pilgrims. The climb to Chandarshila is for 2 km (1.2 mi).[1][2][11]
The nearest airport is Jolly Grant, Dehradun (258 km (160.3 mi)). The nearest railway station is in Rishikesh (241 km (149.8 mi)).[15]
Gallery
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Tungnath idol being taken up to the temple. -
Downhill view from Tungnath -
Cairn on Chandrashila Peak, above Tungnath -
Rhododendrons enroute Tungnath temple -
Temple At Chandrashila Submit -
View of Tungnath & Chandrashila Submit from cemented Walkway -
Tungnath in winter -
Chandra (Moon) shining over Chandrashila and Tungnath -
The beautiful trek to Tungnath during winter -
Enjoying the heavenly beauty of Himalayas while trekking down from Tungnath -
Slopes below Tungnath -
Himalayan Monal on the way to Tungnath -
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Approaching Tungnath on a winter morning
_shining_over_Chandrashila_and_Tungnath.JPG)
References
- ^ a b c d "Chopta, Tungnath and Chandrashila". euttaranchal. Retrieved 2009-07-11.
- ^ a b c d e Rajmani Tigunai (2002). At the Eleventh Hour. Himalayan Institute Press. pp. 93–94. ISBN 0893892122, 9780893892128. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help); Check|isbn=value: invalid character (help) - ^ a b c "Tungnath". Retrieved 2009-07-11.
- ^ "Panch Kedar Yatra". Retrieved 2009-07-05.
- ^ Kapoor. A. K. Ecology and man in the Himalayas. M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd. p. 250. ISBN 8185880166, 9788185880167.
{{cite book}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help); Check|isbn=value: invalid character (help); Unknown parameter|coauthor=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ a b c "Pancha Kedar". Retrieved 2009-07-15.
- ^ a b c "Tungnath". Retrieved 2009-07-11.
- ^ "Panch Kedar – Tungnath". Retrieved 2009-07-15.
- ^ "Panch Kedar Yatra". Retrieved 2009-07-15.
- ^ Jha, Makhan (1998). India and Nepal. M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd. p. 143. ISBN 8175330813, 9788175330818.
{{cite book}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help);|work=ignored (help); Check|isbn=value: invalid character (help) - ^ a b c Roma Bradnock (2000). Indian Himalaya handbook. Footprint Travel Guides. pp. 114–115. ISBN 1900949792, 9781900949798.
{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help); Check|isbn=value: invalid character (help) - ^ Vishwambhar Prasad Sati (2004). Uttaranchal: Dilemma Of Plenties And Scarcities. Mittal Publications. pp. 202–204. ISBN 8170998980, 9788170998983. Retrieved 2009-07-15.
{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help); Check|isbn=value: invalid character (help); Unknown parameter|coauthor=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ "Panch Kedar-Tungnath". Retrieved 2008-10-17.
- ^ Bill Aitken (2003). Footloose in the Himalaya. Orient Blackswan. pp. 134–137. ISBN 8178240521, 9788178240527.
{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help); Check|isbn=value: invalid character (help) - ^ "Panch Kedar: Rudranath". Shri Badrinath -Shri Kedarnath Temple Committee. 2006. Retrieved 2009-07-16.
External links
