Panch Kedar
Panch Kedar refers to five Hindu temples or sacred locations of the sect known as the Shivaites. They are situated in Uttarakhand, India’s Garhwal Himalayan area. Numerous traditions surround them, many of which explicitly connect the Pandavas, the protagonists of the Hindu epic Mahabharata, with their conception.
According to the legend, the Pandavas proceeded to seek Lord Shiva’s blessings to atone for their misdeeds during the battle of Kurukshetra. But Lord Shiva, who didn’t want to see them, finally eluded. Shiva hid himself as a bull when the Pandavas understood where he was. The Pandavas weren’t willing to accept it. One of the Pandavas, Bhima, made an effort to lift up the bull (Lord Shiva), but was unsuccessful, and the bull broke into pieces.
The pieces fell to the ground, but Bhima was able to save the bull’s hump. Impressed by the determination of Pandavas, Lord Shiva eventually blessed the Pandavas and absolved them of their misdeeds. Then, in Kedarnath, the Lord commanded them to worship his hump. The idol in the shrine is this conical protrusion.
The other body parts of the bull (Lord Shiva) were the Arms (Bahu) at Tungnath, the Face (mukh) at Rudranath, the Navel (nabhi) at Madmaheshwar, and the Hair (jata) at Kalpeshwar. As well as Kedarnath, these four shrines are revered as Panch Kedar.
Photo Credit: Unsplash and iStock
Panch Kedar – Kedarnath / Photo Credit: Piyush Bhardwaj on iStock
The term “Panch Kedar” refers to five Hindu temples or sacred locations of the sect known as the Shivaites. They are situated in Uttarakhand, India’s Garhwal Himalayan area. Numerous traditions surround them, many of which explicitly connect the Pandavas, the protagonists of the Hindu epic Mahabharata, with their conception.
Panch Kedar – Tunganath / Photo Credit: Mrinal Pal on iStock
Tunganath, the second of the Panch Kedar temples, is situated on top of a hill. The highest shrine lies 3 kilometers uphill from Chopta, on the inner Himalayan range. Tunganath can be reached by following a path that passes through alpine meadows and rhododendron patches. It lies just below the Chandrashila peak. Devotees come to this temple, located at 3,886 meters, to worship Shiva’s arm.
Panch Kedar /
Located in a dense forest, Rudranath, the 3rd Pancha Kedar, stands at a height of 2286 m. The shrine is situated 23 kms away from Gopeshwer. This natural rock temple is home to the Mukh of Lord Shiva, referred to as Neelkantha Mahadeva, and is worshipped here.
This place is known for worshiping Lord Shiva as Neelkantha. This is the one and only temple in India where Shiva is venerated as a symbol of his face, a sublime, gentle appearance of Shiva, unique, tranquil, and truly wondrous.
Panch Kedar – Madmaheshwar / Photo Credit: Funks on iStock
Madmaheshwar is the fourth temple of the holy Pancha Kedar. It is situated near the bottom of the Chaukhamba peak at an altitude of 3289 meters above the sea level, 30 kms northeast of Guptakashi.
Shiva is worshipped at Madmaheshwar in the form of navel – shaped lingum. This temple architecture follows the North-Indian style. From this location, Kedarnath and Neelkanth peaks are visible. It is said that these peaks make up the full circle of mountains related to Shiva’s life.
Panch Kedar – Kalpeshwar / Photo Credit: Flickr
Kalpeshwar, the fifth Pancha Kedar, is a small rock temple and a preferred site for sages to meditate. You can find this shrine in Urgam Valley at an altitude of 2134 meters. Here the locks (hair) and head of Lord Shiva are worshipped as Jatadhar.
Origin
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Geographic Details
| District | N/A |
| Area | N/A |
| Elevation | N/A |
| Latitude | N/A |
| Longitude | N/A |
Other Details
| Language | Hindi, Garhwali and Kumaoni. |
| Place Famous For | Pilgrimages and Tourist Places. |
| Best Time to Visit | Summers and Autumn. |
| Clothing | When visiting in the winter, wool and jackets are advised. |
How To Reach
The best way to reach Panch Kedar is by road. The nearest major town is Rudraprayag, which is well-connected to other parts of Uttarakhand and the neighboring states by a network of roads. From Rudraprayag, you can hire a taxi or take a bus to reach the respective base camps of the five temples.By Train:
The nearest railway station to Panch Kedar is Rishikesh, which is about 200 km away from Rudraprayag. From Rishikesh, you can hire a taxi or take a bus to reach Rudraprayag and then further to the base camps of the respective temples.By Air:
The nearest airport to Panch Kedar is Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun, which is about 250 km away from Rudraprayag. From the airport, you can hire a taxi or take a bus to reach Rudraprayag and then further to the base camps of the respective temples.
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Puja Songs
The Puja songs of Uttarakhand, India, are a significant component of its cultural history. These songs, which are performed in adoration of the gods and goddesses, are a crucial component of the numerous religious and cultural celebrations held in the area. Traditional instruments like the dhol, damau, and hurka are used to accompany the lyrics of these songs, which are typically written in the regional Kumaoni or Garhwali dialects.
Pawada
The Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, India, is well known for its pawada style of folk song. In the same category as the folk ballads, Khuded and Laman, which portray a woman’s loneliness while her husband is in war, is Pawada. Love, care, fear, and pride are all expressed in abundance in these songs. These songs provide the woman with the inner strength to deal with daily struggles when she is by herself and without her husband. The Hills people are extremely brave and committed to serving their Nation, it should be noted. They have repeatedly shown their courage during war and warfare.
Maangal
During auspicious events like marriages, childbirth, and other religious and social festivals, the folk music genre known as “Maangal” is traditionally performed in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. The songs are said to bring luck and fortune because the word “Maangal” is an auspicious or blessing. Traditional instruments like the dhol, damau, and hurka are used to accompany the lyrics of Maangal songs, which are typically written in the regional Kumaoni or Garhwali dialects.
Laman
Traditional folk music known as laman originates from the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, India. A single artist or a small group of musicians will typically perform this unusual style of music, which combines singing and playing an instrument. Laman songs frequently have deep and depressing tunes and are sung in the regional Garhwali language. The anguish and suffering of the common people and their struggles with poverty, love, and loss are frequently reflected in the lyrics of the Laman songs.
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