Badrinath Temple, Uttarakhand – Legends

Badrinath Temple, Uttarakhand – Legends

Badrika Ashram:

According to Hindu legend, god Vishnu sat in meditation at this place. During his meditation, Vishnu was unaware of cold weather. Lakshmi, his consort, protected him in the form of the Badri tree (jujube or Indian date). Pleased by the devotion of Lakshmi, Vishnu named the place Badrika Ashram. This place used to be a jujube forest, which are not found there today.

Badri Vishal:

The Vishnu Purana narrates another version of the origins of Badrinath. According to the tradition, Dharam had two sons, Nar and Narayan - both of which are modern names of Himalayan mountains. They chose the place to spread their religion and each of them wed the spacious valleys in the Himalayas. Searching for an ideal place to set up a hermitage, they came across the other four Badris of the Pancha Badri, namely Bridha Badri, Yog Badri, Dhyan Badri and Bhavish Badri. They finally found the hot and cold spring behind the Alaknanda River and named it Badri Vishal.

Association with Narada Rishi:

Legend has it that Lord Vishnu identified Nar & Narayan forms to be of his own to Narada Rishi. Narada Rishi did his penance here and is believed to be worshipping these forms of supreme God with the Astakshara mantra even now. It is also believed that Narada attained salvation atop the Narada Shila located at Badrinath. 

Association with Adi Shankara:

According to Skandapuranam, Adi Shankara found a black statue of Vishnu lying on the banks of Narada Kund. He established it in a cave near the Tapt Kund which later became famous as the Badrinath Temple.

Lord Vishnu, in the form of Kid cried to take this place from Lord Shiva:

According to a legend, Lord Shiva initially chose this place for his Tapasya, but Lord Vishnu wanted the place to himself. So, he took the form of a little boy and cried lying down on the rock. Both Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati could not console him. Eventually on Parvati’s insistence, Lord Shiva left to Kedarnath to do his Tapasya.

Sages performed penance here:

Sages Kapila, Gautama and Kashyapa also did penance here.