Badrinath Temple, Uttarakhand
Badrinath or Badrinarayan Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, located in the town of Badrinath in Uttarakhand, India. The temple and town form one of the four Char Dham and Chota Char Dham pilgrimage sites. The temple is also one of the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Badrinath – holy shrines for Vaishnavites. It is open for six months every year (between the end of April and the beginning of November), because of extreme weather conditions in the Himalayan region. The temple is located in Garhwal hill tracks in Chamoli district along the banks of Alaknanda River at an elevation of 3,133 m (10,279 ft.) above the mean sea level. It is one of the most visited pilgrimage centers of India, having recorded 1,060,000 visits.
It is an arduous mountain route to Badrinath from Rishikesh or Haridwar in the Garhwal Himalayan region, where roads get blocked with landslides during the monsoon season. Badrinath stays closed 6 months a year from Deepavali all the way until the full moon day in the month of Chittirai (late spring in the Himalayas). Enroute are the pilgrimage sites of Devaprayag, Rudraprayag, Karana Prayag, Nanda Prayag and Vishnuprayag. Enroute are Pandukeshwar where the Pandavas are believed to have been born, and the site where Bhima and Hanuman (sons of Vayu) met.
The Badrinath Temple is surrounded by two peaks named Nar and Narayan (twin forms of Lord Vishnu as the fifth avatar) against the backdrop of the Neelakanta Mountain. The image of the presiding deity worshipped in the temple is a 1 m (3.3 ft.) tall, black stone statue of Vishnu in the form of Badrinarayan. The statue is considered by many Hindus to be one of eight Swayam Vyaktha Kshetras, or self-manifested statues of Vishnu. The village also boasts of Keshav Prayag – Sangamam (confluence) of Rivers Saraswathi and Alaknanda.
Although Badrinath is located in North India, the head priest, or Rawal, is traditionally a Nambudiri Brahmin chosen from the South Indian state of Kerala. The temple was included in the Uttar Pradesh state government Act No. 30/1948 as Act no. 16,1939, which later came to be known as Shri Badrinath and Shri Kedarnath Mandir Act. The committee nominated by the state government administers both the temples and has seventeen members on its board.
Legends
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History
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The Temple
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Poojas & Festivals
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Pooja Timings
Timings
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From
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To
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Opening
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4:30 AM
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9 PM
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Afternoon Break
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1 PM
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4 PM
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Abhishekam
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7:30 AM
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12:00 PM
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Geet Govind and Aarti
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6 PM
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9 PM
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Sayana Aarti
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10:30 PM
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11 PM
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Pilgrimage
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Religious Significance
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Literary Mention
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Administration
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Prayers
It is said that there are many sacred spots of pilgrimage in the heavens, earth and the nether world, but there has been none equal to Badri, nor shall there be. Rituals offerings to Pithrus (souls of the dead) are performed at Brahma Kapaalam (located at a distance of 200 ft from the main shrine) on the banks of Alaknanda, by offering prasad (rice food) of Lord Badri Narayan.
Best Time to Visit
The ideal time or peak season to go for a Char Dham Yatra is from May to October, except monsoons. This is because; all the four sacred sites are perched in Garhwal Himalayas, which is prone to heavy snowfall. As a result, all the passage leading to the shrines are blocked. Moreover, during the monsoon season, there is undue threat of having landslides, which can further disrupt the journey.
This temple is opened only six months in a year, from mid of May to the third week of November. But, it depends only upon the temple authorities. The temple is closed for next six months due to heavy snow-fall in winter. Lord Vishnu is transformed from this temple to Joshimath temple for that six months when the Badrinath temple is closed. And after 6 months, he is taken back to Badrinath temple itself.
Useful Tips
One should, without fail, carry Sweaters, woolen clothing, Umbrella and required medicines during the trip. Minimum luggages should be preferred. Non-vegetarian food and alcoholic drinks are strictly prohibited in this place. Reasonable accommodation, at cottages managed by Temple committee. is available at Badri. Postal and Banking facilities are available. A State Allopathic Dispensary is also available.
Connectivity
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Location
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