Kedarnath Dham has become very famous among tourists after the natural disaster in 2013. Although religiously its recognition is the same as before. This is because Kedarnath is one Jyotirlinga in 12 Jyotirlingas, one Kedar in Panch Kedar, and one of the four small Dhams of Uttarakhand.
Now let’s talk about the history of Kedarnath. Many devotees have this question in their mind who built the Kedarnath temple or what is the story of Kedarnath? That’s why today we will tell you the complete history of Kedarnath Temple.
History of Kedarnath Temple:
Repentance of the Pandavas after the Mahabharata war
Who does not know about the fierce war of Mahabharata fought for 18 days on the land of Kurukshetra? All relations were sacrificed in this war, be it the relation of teacher-disciple or brother-brother or uncle-nephew. For 18 days continuously, the land of Kurukshetra became red with the blood of the army of Kauravas and Pandavas.
After the Mahabharata war was over, the Pandavas had certainly won, but by then it was too late because they too had lost a lot. Sometime after the end of the war, when all the Pandavas were sitting with Lord Krishna discussing the results and effects of the war, Shri Krishna asked them to repent.
According to Shri Krishna, the Pandavas had committed many sins like Brahmahatya, Gautrahatya, Kulhatya, Guruhatya, etc. For this, he needed to atone. When the Pandavas asked for a solution, Shri Krishna told them that only Lord Bholenath can give them freedom from these sins. After this, all the Pandavas went towards the city of Kashi to meet Lord Shiva by the order of Lord Krishna.
Discovery of Lord Shiva by Pandavas
As per the orders of Shri Krishna, all the Pandavas reached Kashi (Banaras or Varanasi), the city of Lord Shiva. Although Lord Shiva had already received information about the Pandavas coming to meet him, he did not want to meet them. Lord Shiva was highly enraged by the sins of Brahmahatya and Gautrahatya committed by the Pandavas, so he left the place without meeting the Pandavas.
The Pandavas searched for Lord Shiva everywhere in the city of Kashi but could not find him. After this, all the Pandavas went to the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand situated in the Himalayan mountains. Lord Shiva also came here to hide from the Pandavas.
Then Lord Shiva took the form of a bull
When Lord Shiva saw the Pandavas marching behind him toward the Garhwal region, he found a solution. There were many animals grazing in the meadow between the mountains. Lord Shiva went among those animals and took the form of a bull so that the Pandavas could not recognize him.
Apart from this if you ever plan to go near Joshimath, then you will get many houses there for a night stay. There are many clean homestays in Joshimath that are budget-friendly and where you can rest before and after finishing your trip to recharge your strength.
Bhima caught the bull-like incarnation of Lord Shiva
Even in the mountains of Garhwal, the Pandavas searched for Lord Shiva everywhere but could not find him. At last Mahabali Bhima thought of a solution and he made his body bigger than the mountains. He kept one foot on a hill and the other foot on another hill and started searching for Mahadev intensely.
Seeing the giant form of Bhima, all the animals of the mountains got agitated and started running hither and thither, but one bull stood firm in its place. There was no effect of Bhima’s giant form on that bull. Seeing this, Bhim understood that this bull is the form of Mahadev, who is hiding from us by taking the incarnation of a bull.
Mahadev also came to know that Bhima had recognized him. Seeing this, he started merging with the earth in the form of a bull. Seeing the bull’s incarnation of Lord Shiva absorbed in the earth, Bhima quickly rushed towards him and grabbed the bull’s back with his hands.
Due to Bhim holding the bull’s back in his hands, it remained there while the other four parts of the bull came out at four other places in Uttarakhand. Today there are four other kedars in the same places. In these, the face of Lord Shiva’s bull-like incarnation appeared in Rudranath, arms in Tungnath, navel in Madmaheshwar, and hair in Kalpeshwar. And these five places are collectively known as Panch Kedar.
Who built the Kedarnath temple?
She remained there after Bhima grabbed the back of Lord Shiva’s bull avatar. When he came to know that the remaining four parts of the bull appeared at four other places, then he understood the glory of Shiva. After this, Shiva temples were constructed by Pandavas by establishing Shivling at these five places. This made Lord Shiva extremely pleased with all the Pandavas and freed them from all sins.
However, after this Janmejaya, the grandson of the Pandavas furthered the construction of the Kedarnath temple and allowed common people to worship here. That’s why Janmejaya also contributed to the construction of the Kedarnath temple.
Over time, this temple built by the Pandavas became dilapidated and got damaged in many places. Then when Adi Shankaracharya was born in the land of India, he traveled the entire land of India on foot and established Char Dham in all four directions.
Then Adi Shankaracharya got this Kedarnath temple rebuilt which we see today. After this, in the last days of his life, Adi Shankaracharya meditated near this Kedarnath temple and took samadhi. His tomb is still located near the Kedarnath temple. Then between the 10th and 13th centuries, many Indian kings renovated the temple.
