Kedarnath Temple, Uttarakhand – Legends

Kedarnath Temple, Uttarakhand – Legends

Lord Shiva stayed here due to the request of Nara-Narayana:

Legend also has it that Nara and Narayana - two incarnations of Vishnu practiced severe penances at Badrikashramam, in front of a Shivalingam fashioned out of earth. When Shiva appeared in front of them, they requested him to take up a permanent abode as a Jyotirlinga at Kedarnath.

Panch Kedar:

After the Kurukshetra War, the Pandava brothers, came here to meet Shiva on the advice of the sage Vyasa, because they wanted to seek forgiveness for killing their kin during the war. However, Shiva did not want to forgive them: so, he turned into a bull and hid among the cattle on the hill. When the Pandavas managed to track him, he tried to disappear by sinking himself head-first into the ground. One of the brothers grabbed his tail, forcing him to appear before them and forgive them. The Pandava brothers then built the first temple at Kedarnath. The portions of Shiva's body later appeared at four other locations; and collectively, these five places came to be known as the five Kedaras ("Panch Kedar"); the head of the bull appeared at the location of the Pashupatinath Temple in present-day Nepal.

Parvathi worshipped Lord Shiva to unite with Shiva as Ardhanareeswarar:

Legend has it that Parvati worshipped Kedareshwar to unite with Shiva as Ardhanareeswarar.

Sage Kedara established this shrine:

Sage Kedara is also said to have established this shrine visited by the Pancha Pandavas.

Pandavas Visit to this place:

The Pandavas are believed to have visited this area several times. Arjuna is believed to have come here to pray to Shiva to obtain the coveted Pasupataastra. The other Pandavas are believed to have come here in search of him, where Draupadi came across the heavenly lotus Kalyana Saugandikam, and requested Bhima to bring her some more of the same. It was during his venturing out to seek these flowers that Bhima met Hanuman.