Triyuginarayan Temple, Rudraprayag – Legends

Triyuginarayan Temple, Rudraprayag – Legends

Venue of the celestial marriage of Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati:

According to Hindu mythology, goddess Parvati was daughter of Himavat or Himavan - the personification of the Himalayas. She was the rebirth of Sati, the first wife of Lord Shiva, who sacrificed her life when her father insulted Lord Shiva. Parvati initially tried to allure Shiva by her beauty but fails. Finally, she won Shiva by practicing rigorous penance at Gauri Kund, 5 Kms away from Triyuginarayan. Pilgrims visiting Triyuginarayan temple also visit the Gauri Kund Temple, dedicated to Parvati, which is the base camp for trek to Kedarnath Temple. Mythology states that Lord Shiva proposed to Parvati at Guptkashi, before they got married in the small Triyuginarayan village at the confluence of Mandakini and Sone Ganga rivers.

It was the venue of the celestial marriage of Lord Shiva and Parvati, during the Satya Yuga, witnessed in the presence of the holy fire that still burns eternally in front of the temple in a Havana-Kund or Agni-Kund, a four-cornered fireplace on the ground. Lord Vishnu formalized the wedding and acted as Parvati's brother in the ceremonies, while the creator-god Brahma acted as the priest of the wedding, that was witnessed by all the sages of the times. The exact location of the wedding is marked by a stone called Brahma Shila, in front of the temple.

Kunds:

Before the marriage ceremony, Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra are believed to have taken bath in three Kunds namely, Rudra Kund, Vishnu Kund and Brahma Kund. The inflow into the three Kunds is from the Saraswathi Kund. It is believed that Saraswathi Kund was originated from Vishnu's navel. Hence, the water of these Kunds is considered to cure infertility.

Triyugi Narayan:

The word Triyugi Narayan is formed of three words tri means three, yugi denotes the period of time - Yuga and Narayan is another name of Vishnu.

Havana Kund:

Pilgrims have been offering wood to the fire in the Havana - Kund (fireplace) since the three Yugas - hence the place is given the name Triyugi Narayan.

Akhand Dhuni Temple:

The temple is also called as Akhand Dhuni Temple. The name Akhand Dhuni Temple originates from the eternal flame legend, Akhand means perpetual and Dhuni means flame.