Badrinath Temple, Uttarakhand – Poojas & Festivals

Badrinath Temple, Uttarakhand – Poojas & Festivals

The major religious activities (or pujas) performed every morning are Mahabishekam (ablution), abhishek, gitapath and Bhagavat puja, while in the evening the pujas include geet govinda and aarti. Recital in Vedic scripts like Stotram and Sahasranama is practiced during all the rituals. After aarti, the decorations are removed from the image of Badrinath and sandalwood paste is applied to it. The paste from the image is given to the devotees the next day as prasad during the Nirmalya darshan. All the rituals are performed in front of the devotees, unlike those in some Hindu temples, where some practices are hidden from them. Sugar balls and dry leaves are the common prasad provided to the devotees. From May 2006, the practice of offering Panchamrit Prasad, prepared locally and packed in local bamboo baskets, was started.

The temple is closed for winter on the auspicious day of bhatridwityia or later during October–November. On the day of closure, Akhanda Jyothi, a lamp is lit filled with ghee to last for six months. Special pujas are performed on the day by the chief priest in the presence of pilgrims and officials of the temple. The image of Badrinath is notionally transferred during the period to the Narasimha temple at Jyotirmath, located 40 mi (64 km) away from the temple. The temple is reopened around April-May on Akshaya Tritiya, another auspicious day on the Hindu calendar. Pilgrims gather on the first day of opening of the temple after the winter to witness the Akhanda Jyothi.  The temple is one of the holy places where the Hindus offer oblations to ancestors with the help of the priests. Devotees visit the temple to worship in front of the image of Badrinath in the sanctum and have a holy dip in Alaknanda River. The general belief is that a dip in the tank purifies the soul.

Poojas:

Shrimad Bhagwat Saptha Path:

It is a special pooja which the temple performs on request. This pooja continues for seven days and is in honour of Lord Krishna. There are 18000 mantras in the Shrimad Bhagwat Katha. A Yagna is performed on the last day of the Pooja. Moreover, devotees believe that by doing this Pooja, one gets rid of fear and misfortune in life.

Vishnu Sahasranamam:

It is a prayer consisting of the 1000 names of Lord Vishnu, each signifying the different attributes of Lord Vishnu.

Ved Path:

A recitation of verses from the four Vedas – Rig, Sam, Yajur, and Atharva.

Geeta Path:

During this, the complete recital of the Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta takes place in front of the deity.

Akhanda Jyoti:

The temple is not for pilgrims on Vijayadasami. On the last day, the priests light a lamp with a special ghee mixture brought from the Mana village. Moreover, this lamp is luminous for six months.

Worship Protocol:

Though this shrine is located in the northern most part of India, the Chief Priest Ravalji–of Keralite (Namboodri) origins - performs the rituals. Procedures of daily poojas and rituals are supposed to have been prescribed by Adi Sankara. Unlike in most of the Hindu temples all the poojas (including decoration of idols) are performed before the eyes of all devotees.

Temple rituals begin at 7 a.m.

Nimalyan Darshan: 

Chandan (sandalwood paste) left on the image of Badrinarayan from the previous night, is removed to enable devotees to have full view of the image.

Abhishek Darshan:

Process begins with Kalsa Pooja. Abishekam (ablution) is then carried out in the presence of pilgrims.

Alankar Darshan:

After Abhishekam, the decoration process begins in the full view of devotees. Firstly, the entire idol, excluding the face, is covered with sandal paste and followed by the decoration with flowers & jewels.

Aarti Darshan: 

On completion of Alankaras, Aarathi (lighting of camphor) is held. This marks the completion of forenoon pooja rituals and will end around 11.30 am – 12.00 p.m., after which the temple is closed.

Evening Rituals:

Reopening of the temple takes place at 4.00 p.m. for commencement of evening rituals which lasts till 8.00 p.m. During this period, Ashotothram and Sahasranamam recitations take place. Around 7.30 p.m. Mangal Aarathi – called as Geetgovind takes place. On completion of aarti, the Chief Priest removes the flowers & jewels in the full glimpse of devotees. The image of Badrinarayan is now left only with sandal paste, to be removed only the next morning and distributed as prasad.

Festivals:

Badri Kedar Festival:

The Badri Kedar festival is celebrated during the month of June in both the temple and the Kedarnath temple. The festival lasts for eight days; artists from all over the country perform during the function.

Mata Murti ka Mela:

The most prominent festival held at Badrinath Temple is Mata Murti Ka Mela, which commemorates the descent of the river Ganges on mother earth. The mother of Badrinath, who is believed to have divided the river into twelve channels for the welfare of earthly beings, is worshiped during the festival. The place where the river flowed became the holy land of Badrinath.

Janmashtami:

This festival is a celebration of the birth of Lord Krishna (eighth avatar of Vishnu). It occurs in the months of either August or September. Devotees organize several processions for Lord Krishna on this day.