Uttarakhand - Pilgrimages and Temples

Religious Traditions of Uttarakhand:

- Moksha Puri → Haridwar
- Place of Kumbha Mela → Haridwar (River Ganga)
- All India Char Dham → Badrinath
- Uttarakhand Char Dham → Badrinath - Kedarnath - Gangotri - Yamunotri
- Swayam Vyakta Kshetra → Badrinath
- Divya Desam → Badrinath (Thiruvadari Asramam)
- Sapta Badri → (1) Badrinath - (2) Adi Badri - (3) Vridha or Vriddha Badri - (4) Dhyana Badri - (5) Ardha Badri - (6) Bhavishya Badri - (7) Yogadhyana Badri
- Jyotirlinga → Kedarnath (Kedarnatha Jyotirlinga) - Jageshwar Dham (Nageshwara Jyotirlinga)
- Paadal Petra Sthalam → Kedarnath (Thirukkedaram) - Gauri Kund (Anekathangapadam)
- Pancha Kedar → (1) Kedarnath - (2) Tungnath - (3) Rudranath - (4) Madhyamaheshwar - (5) Kalpeshwar
- Uttarakhand Pancha Prayag → (1) Dev Prayag - (2) Rudra Prayag - (3) Karna Prayag - (4) Nanda Prayag - (5) Vishnu Prayag
- Shakti Sthala → Haridwar (Daksha Yagna and Sati Kunda)

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1.

Vishnu Tradition of Uttarakhand:
(Skanda Purana - Badarikashrama Mahatmya)

• Badrinath (3300 m) → Lord Vishnu abides in Badrinath (Badarikashrama) as Badri Vishal. Badrinath is a All India Char Dham, Uttarakhand Char Dham, Swayam Vyakta Kshetra, Divya Desam as well as one of the Sapta Badri. The sacred river Alakananda flows through Badrinath. Badrinath is mentioned in Skanda Purana - Badarikashrama Mahatmya.

Sapta Badris:
1. Badri Vishal (3300 m)
2. Adi Badri (3135 m)
3. Vridha Badri or Vriddha Badri (1380 m)
4. Dhyana Badri (2135 m)
5. Ardha Badri (1280 m)
6. Bhavishya Badri (2744 m)
7. Yogadhyana Badri (1920 m)

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2.

Shiva Tradition of Uttarakhand:
(Shiva Purana)
(Skanda Purana - Kedara Khanda)

• Kedarnath (3581 m) → Lord Shiva gave darshan to sages Nara and Narayana in Badaryashrama and abides in Kedarnath as Kedarnatha Jyotirlinga. Kedarnath is a Uttarakhand Char Dham, Jyotirlinga, Paadal Petra Sthalam as well as one of the Pancha Kedar. The sacred river Mandakini flows through Kedarnath. Kedarnath is mentioned in Shiva Purana and Skanda Purana - Kedara Khanda.

Pancha Kedars:
1. Kedarnath (3581 m) → The Hump of the Bull form of Lord Shiva appeared here.
2. Tungnath (3680 m) → The Arms of the Bull form of Lord Shiva appeared here.
3. Rudranath (3600 m) → The Face of the Bull form of Lord Shiva appeared here.
4. Madhyamaheshwar (3497 m) → The Navel of the Bull form of Lord Shiva appeared here.
5. Kalpeshwar (2200 m) → The Hairs of the Bull form of Lord Shiva appeared here.

• Haridwar (314 m) → Lord Shiva destroyed the Daksha Yagna at Kankhal of Maya Kshetra (Haridwar) and abides there as Daksheshwar Mahadev. Lord Shiva also abides there as the famous Bilvakeshwar Mahadev. Haridwar is a Moksha Puri and a Place of Kumbha Mela. The sacred river Ganga flows through Haridwar. The destruction of Daksha Yagna is mentioned in Shiva Purana and Skanda Purana - Kedara Khanda.

• Rishikesh (340 m) → Lord Shiva abides near the Kubjamraka Kshetra (Rishikesh) as the famous Neelkanth Mahadev. The sacred river Ganga flows through Rishikesh.

• Uttarkashi (1158 m) → Lord Shiva abides in Uttarkashi as the famous Lord Vishwanath. The sacred river Bhagirathi flows through Uttarkashi.

• Almora Jageshwar Dham (1870 m) → Lord Shiva protected merchant devotee Supriya from the atrocities of demon Daruka and abides as Nageshwara Jyotirlinga (identified with Jageshwar Dham). Jageshwar Dham is identified as a Jyotirlinga. Nageshwara Jyotirlinga is mentioned in Shiva Purana.

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3.

Devi Tradition of Uttarakhand:
(Shiva Purana)
(Skanda Purana - Kedara Khanda)

• Haridwar (314 m) → Devi Sati gave up her body during the Daksha Yagna at Kankhal and hence the place came to be known as Maya Kshetra (Haridwar). Haridwar also has the famous Hill temples of Devi Chandi and Devi Manasa. There are also famous temples of Maya Devi and Sureshwari Devi. Haridwar is a Moksha Puri and a Place of Kumbha Mela. The sacred river Ganga flows through Haridwar. The destruction of Daksha Yagna is mentioned in Shiva Purana and Skanda Purana - Kedara Khanda.

• Gauri Kund (1982 m) → Devi Parvati performed penance at Gauri Kund and got united with Lord Shiva. Gauri Kund is a Paadal Petra Sthalam. The sacred river Mandakini flows through Gauri Kund. The penance of Devi Parvati is mentioned in Shiva Purana.

• Uttarkashi (1158 m) → Devi abides in Uttarkashi as Devi Shakti near the famous Vishwanath Temple. The sacred river Bhagirathi flows through Uttarkashi.

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4.

Ganga Tradition of Uttarakhand:

• Gangotri (3140 m) → River Bhagirathi Ganga originates near Gangotri. There is a temple of Devi Ganga there and Ganga Aarti is performed near the temple. Gangotri is a Uttarakhand Char Dham. The sacred river Bhagirathi originates near Gangotri (at Gaumukh).

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5.

Yamuna Tradition of Uttarakhand:

• Yamunotri (3291 m) → River Yamuna originates near Yamunotri. There is a temple of Devi Yamuna there and Yamuna Aarti is performed near the temple. Yamunotri is a Uttarakhand Char Dham. The sacred river Yamuna originates near Yamunotri.

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6.

Varaha Tradition of Uttarakhand:
(Skanda Purana - Badarikashrama Mahatmya)

• Badrinath (3300 m) → Lord Varaha stayed in Badarikashrama as a Shila after killing demon Hiranyaksha and recovering the Earth from the nether world (Varaha Shila). Badrinath is a All India Char Dham, Uttarakhand Char Dham, Swayam Vyakta Kshetra, Divya Desam as well as one of the Sapta Badri. The sacred river Alakananda flows through Badrinath. Badrinath is mentioned in Skanda Purana - Badarikashrama Mahatmya.

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7.

Narasimha Tradition of Uttarakhand:
(Skanda Purana - Badarikashrama Mahatmya)

• Badrinath (3300 m) → Lord Narasimha stayed in Badarikashrama as a Shila after killing demon Hiranyakasipu and after being eulogized by the Devas to assume a benign form at Badari (Narasimha Shila). Badrinath is a All India Char Dham, Uttarakhand Char Dham, Swayam Vyakta Kshetra, Divya Desam as well as one of the Sapta Badri. The sacred river Alakananda flows through Badrinath. Badrinath is mentioned in Skanda Purana - Badarikashrama Mahatmya.

• Joshimath (1875 m) → Lord Narasimha abides in Badarikashrama as Narsingh Bhagavan. The hand of the image of Lord Narsingh is getting thinner day-by-day. It is believed that when the hand breaks, the mountains Nara and Narayana will join together. Then Lord Badrinath will disappear and reappear in Bhavishya Badri. Joshimath is a Divya Desam. The sacred river Alakananda flows through Joshimath.

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8.

Sages and Uttarakhand:
(Srimad Bhagavatam)
(Skanda Purana - Badarikashrama Mahatmya)

• Vyasa (Badrinath) → Sage Vyasa had his hermitage in Badarikashrama.

• Nara-Narayana (Badrinath) → Sages Nara-Narayana performs penance in Badarikashrama for the welfare of mankind.

• Narada (Badrinath) → Sage Narada performed penance in Badarikashrama and got the darshan of Lord Vishnu.

• Markandeya (Badrinath) → Sage Markandeya performed penance in Badarikashrama.

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9.

Saints and Uttarakhand:

• Adi Shankaracharya (788 - 820 CE?) (Joshimath) → Sri Adi Shankaracharya established the Jyotir Math in Joshimath which is his northern monastery.

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10.

Sacred Geography of Uttarakhand:

Mountains:
☗ Nara Parvat → Badrinath
☗ Narayana Parvat → Badrinath
☗ Kedarnath Parvat → Kedarnath
☗ Gangotri Glacier → Gangotri
☗ Yamunotri Glacier → Yamunotri
☗ Bilva Parvat → Haridwar
☗ Nila Parvat → Haridwar

Rivers:
► Alakananda Udgam → Satopanth
► Mandakini Udgam → Chorabari Glacier (near Kedarnath)
► Bhagirathi Udgam → Gangotri Glacier (at Gaumukh)
► Yamuna Udgam → Yamunotri Glacier (near Banderpunch peaks)

▬ Alakananda flows → Badrinath - Joshimath - Vishnu Prayag - Nanda Prayag - Karna Prayag - Rudra Prayag - Dev Prayag
▬ Mandakini flows → Kedarnath - Gauri Kund
▬ Bhagirathi flows → Gangotri - Uttarkashi
▬ Ganga flows → Dev Prayag - Rishikesh - Haridwar
▬ Yamuna flows → Yamunotri

Pancha Prayags:
◉ Alakananda - Bhagirathi Sangam → Dev Prayag
◉ Alakananda - Mandakini Sangam → Rudra Prayag
◉ Alakananda - Pindar (Pindari) Sangam → Karna Prayag
◉ Alakananda - Nandakini Sangam → Nanda Prayag
◉ Alakananda - Dhauli Ganga Sangam → Vishnu Prayag

1. Pilgrimages and Temples of Devi: (Uttarakhand)

-- Maya Kshetra (Haridwar) - Devi Sati (MP-3) (KM-2) - Devi Sati destroyed the Daksha Yagna

-- Maya Kshetra (Haridwar) - Devi Chandi - Haridwar; A famous pilgrimage

-- Maya Kshetra (Haridwar) - Devi Manasa - Haridwar; A famous pilgrimage

-- Maya Kshetra (Haridwar) - Maya Devi - Haridwar; A famous pilgrimage

-- Maya Kshetra (Haridwar) - Devi Sureshwari - Near Haridwar; A famous pilgrimage

-- Rishikesh - Devi Kunjapura - Near Rishikesh; A famous pilgrimage

-- Kanatal - Surkanda Devi - Near Rishikesh; A famous pilgrimage

-- Dev Prayag - Devi Chandrabadni - Near Dev Prayag; A famous pilgrimage

-- Srinagar - Dhari Devi - Srinagar; A famous pilgrimage

-- Kalimath - Devi Kali - Close to Ukhimath; A famous pilgrimage

-- Almora - Kasar Devi - Almora; A famous pilgrimage

-- Nainital - Naina Devi - Nainital; A famous pilgrimage

-- Tanakpur - Devi Purnagiri - A famous pilgrimage

-- Dwarahat - Devi Dunagiri - A famous pilgrimage

-- Kashipur - Devi Bala Sundari - A famous pilgrimage

-- Lohaghat - Ahil Tarini Devi - A famous pilgrimage

-- Kurud - Nanda Devi - A famous pilgrimage

-- Gauri Kund - Devi Parvati (PP-11.1) - Starting point of Kedarnath trek; Devi Parvati performed penance.


2. Pilgrimages and Temples of Lord Shiva: (Uttarakhand)

-- Maya Kshetra (Haridwar) - Daksheshwar Mahadev (MP-3) (KM-2) - Lord Shiva destroyed the Daksha Yagna

-- Maya Kshetra (Haridwar) - Bilvakeshwar Mahadev - Haridwar; Famous pilgrimage

-- Rishikesh - Neelkanth Mahadev - Near Rishikesh; Famous pilgrimage

-- Rudra Prayag - Rudranath - Rudra Prayag; Famous pilgrimage

-- Rudra Prayag - Koteshwar Mahadev - Rudra Prayag; Famous pilgrimage

-- Kedarnath - Kedarnath Jyotirlinga (UCD-2) (JL-5) (PP-11.2) - Uttarakhand Char Dham; Lord Shiva granted boon to devotees Nara and Narayana

-- Uttarkashi - Kashi Vishwanath - A famous pilgrimage

-- Jageshwar Dham - Nageshwara Jyotirlinga (JL-10) - Lord Shiva protected devotee Supriya from demon Daruka


3. Pilgrimages and Temples of Sri Rama: (Uttarakhand)

-- Dev Prayag - Raghunathji (UPP-1) (DD-68) - A famous pilgrimage


4. Pilgrimages and Temples of Lord Vishnu: (Uttarakhand)

-- Badarikashrama - Lord Badri Vishal (ICD-1) (UCD-1) (SVK-8) (DD-69) - Char Dham; Place of penance of many sages and divine personages


5. Pilgrimages and Temples of Lord Narasimha: (Uttarakhand)

-- Joshimath - Narsingh (DD-67) - A famous pilgrimage


6. Pilgrimages and Temples of Sri Murugan: (Uttarakhand)

-- Rudra Prayag - Kartik Swami - A famous pilgrimage


7. Pilgrimages and Temples of Sages: (Uttarakhand)

-- Kubjamraka Kshetra - Rishikesh; Place of meditation of the Rishis


8. Pilgrimages and Temples of Rivers: (Uttarakhand)

-- Haridwar - River Ganga (KM-2) - River Ganga Aarti; Place of Kumbha Mela

-- Dev Prayag - Alakananda - Bhagirathi Sangam (UPP-1) (DD-68) → River Ganga - Uttarakhand Pancha Prayag; Source of river Ganga

-- Rudra Prayag - Alakananda - Mandakini Sangam (UPP-2) - Uttarakhand Pancha Prayag

-- Karna Prayag - Alakananda - Pindar (Pindari) Sangam (UPP-3) - Uttarakhand Pancha Prayag

-- Nanda Prayag - Alakananda - Nandakini Sangam (UPP-4) (DD-67) - Uttarakhand Pancha Prayag

-- Vishnu Prayag - Alakananda - Dhauli Ganga Sangam (UPP-5) - Uttarakhand Pancha Prayag

-- Gangotri - Devi Ganga - River Bhagirathi (UCD-3) - Uttarakhand Char Dham; Source of river Bhagirathi; Devi Ganga Aarti

-- Yamunotri - Devi Yamuna - River Yamuna (UCD-4) - Uttarakhand Char Dham; Source of river Yamuna; Devi Yamuna Aarti