Joshimath – The Temple

Joshimath – The Temple

Presiding Deity is called as Paramapurushan and Mother is called as Parimalavalli. It is said that he in in reclining posture (Bhujanga Sayanam) facing east. There is a temple for Vasudeva near to Narasimha Temple. He is in standing posture. The black carved stone Deity of Lord Vasudeva is about 2m (6 ft) tall. The temple of   Vasudeva houses Vasudeva in the sanctum sanctorum as well as Sridevi, Bhoodevi, Leela Devi, Urvasi Devi & Balarama in the outer praharam. To the left of the main entrance is a deity of dancing Ganesh, which is said to be one of only two such deities in India.

There are separate shrines for Vinayaka, Brahma, Indira, Chandran (Moon), Navadurgas & Gauri Shankar in the Temple premises. This Temple is considered as Divya Desam. Vasudeva is being worshipped by the devotees as considering him as the Paramapurushan. Vimaanam is called as Govardhana Vimaanam. Theerthams associated with this Temple are Maanasaras, Govardhana Theertham and Indira Theertham.

The Salagrama Narasimha, found in the Sankara Mutt the prime deity of Joshimath. The presiding deity Lord Narasimha is believed to have been established by Adi Sankara. It is said that Adi Shankaracharya meditated in a cave here under the Kalpavriksa tree (Shahtoot / Mulberry). Shankaracharya Math is located on the ridge above the upper part of the town. If you enter the temple and follow the signs to your left, you come to the cave where Shankaracharya is said to have meditated.

If you go up the steps to the right of the temple entrance (before entering the temple complex), you come to the Kalpavriksa tree, where Shankaracharya is said to have attained self-realization. This 38m (125 ft) tall tree has a huge trunk and is said to be more than 2,400 years old. This is so big that the hollows in the trunk are large enough that a person could stay in them. Tapovan is situated to north of Joshimath along the Curzon Trail, is known for its hot springs.