BADRINATH - ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS TEMPLES ON THE GREAT HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINS

 

This Divya Kshetram is located at  a height of 10500 feet on the Himalayan Mountains, and can be reached by road from Haridwar. One passes through Pancha Prayags  en -route.

Dev prayag - (confluence of Bhagirathi and Alakananda)

Rudra prayag - (confluence of Alakananda and Mandakini )

Karna Prayag - (confluence of Alakananda and pindari river)

Nanda prayag - ( confluence of Alkananda and Nandakini)

Vishnu prayag - (confluence of Vishnu ganga and Dhauliganga)

The presiding deity is Badrinarayanan, carved out of salagramam by viswakarma, installed under the Badari tree flanked by Kubera and Garudan. The goddess is Aravindavalli and has a sanctum in the temple. The sacred water is Taptakundam and the sanctum santorum is Taptakanchana vimanam.

There are five shrines for Lord Vishnu called Pancha Badri.

Vishal Badri - Badrinath Temple

Yogadhyan Badri -  (where the Lord is in a meditative posture)

Bhavishya Badri - (Badri of the future)

Vridha Badri (the original shrine where vishwakarma carved the idol)

Adi Badri (Installed by Adi sankaracharya)

Hot  water springs are found close to the temple. Pilgrims perform remembrance rites to the departed elders at Brahma Kapalam on the banks of Ganga.