Badrinath Temple, Uttarakhand – The Temple

Badrinath Temple, Uttarakhand – The Temple

The temple is located in Garhwal hill tracks along the banks of the Alaknanda River in Chamoli district in Uttarakhand, a state in North India. The hill tracks are located 3,133 m (10,279 ft.) above the mean sea level. The Nar Parbat mountain is located opposite to the temple, while the Narayana Parbat is located behind the Neelakanta peak. The temple has three structures: the Garbhagriha (sanctum), the Darshan Mandap (worship hall), and Sabha Mandap (convention hall).

The conical-shaped roof of the sanctum, the garbhagriha, is approximately 15 m (49 ft.) tall with a small cupola on top, covered with a gold gilt roof. The facade is built of stone and has arched windows. A broad stairway leads up to the main entrance, a tall, arched gateway. Just inside is a mandap, a large, pillared hall that leads to the sanctum, or main shrine area. The walls and pillars of the hall are covered with intricate carvings.

The main shrine houses the 1 m (3.3 ft.) Shaligram (black stone) idol of Lord Badrinarayan, which is housed in a gold canopy under a Badri Tree. The idol of Lord Badrinarayan shows him holding a Shankha (conch) and a Chakra (wheel) in two of His arms in a lifted posture and the other two arms resting on his lap in a Yogamudra (Padmasana) posture. He is in sitting posture facing east. The sanctum also houses images of the god of wealth – Kubera, sage Narada, Uddhava, Nar and Narayan. Vimana over the sanctum is called as Tapta Kanjana Vimaanam. 

Mahalakshmi, also known as Aravindhavalli is housed in a separate shrine in the southern courtyard. There are fifteen more images that are also worshipped around the temple. These include that of Lakshmi (the consort of Vishnu), Garuda (the vahana of Narayan), and Navadurga, the manifestation of Durga in nine different forms. The temple also has shrines of Lakshmi Narasimhar and for saints Adi Shankara (ad 788-820), Nar and Narayan, Ghantakarna, Vedanta Desika and Ramanujacharya. All the idols of the temple are made of black stone.

The Tapt Kund, a group of hot Sulphur springs just below the temple, are considered to be medicinal; many pilgrims consider it a requirement to bathe in the springs before visiting the temple. The springs have a year-round temperature of 55 °C (131 °F), while outside temperature is typically below 17 °C (63 °F) all year round. The two water ponds in the temple are called Narad Kund and Surya Kund.

There is a big rock by name Brahma Gopalam on the north side of the temple is found in the banks of Ganga river. It is believed that if we dedicated Pindam (a ball made of rice) here for our forefathers, the next 14 generations people are said to go to heaven and Moksha. And thereafter, if one performs this, there is no need to do the Shrardham from then. Sthala Viruksham is Badri Viruksham (Date tree).

The route to Badrinath is one of the most fascinating one due to the lofty hilly terrain, curves and cliffs amidst the most scenically beautiful place on the earth. Throughout the route to Badrinath there are numerous pilgrimage sites at Deo Prayag, Rudraprayag, Karnaprayag, Nandaprayag and Vishnuprayag; as well as Pandukeshwar where king Pandu observed Tapasya with his queen Madri and where his sons Pandavas, stayed during their pilgrimage to heaven, and the site where Bhima and Hanuman (sons of Vayu) met.