Shri Badrinath Dham

Shree Badrinath Dham is located in the town of Badrinath in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, India. It is also known as the Badarinarayana Temple and is a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu. It is one of the Char Dham pilgrimage sites and one of the 108 Vishnu and Lakshmi temples sacred to Vaishnavism, where Vishnu is worshipped as Badrinath.

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Due to extreme weather conditions in the Himalayas, the temple is open for six months each year, from late April to early November. It is one of the most visited pilgrimage centres of India, having recorded 2.8 million visits in just two months in 2022.

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Location and Surroundings

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The temple is situated in the Garhwal Himalayas, along the banks of the Alaknanda River in Uttarakhand. It lies at an elevation of 3,133 metres above mean sea level.

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Nar Parbat stands opposite the temple, while Narayana Parbat is located behind the Neelkanth peak. The Tapt Kund, a group of hot sulphur springs just below the temple, are considered medicinal. Many pilgrims consider it a requirement to bathe in the springs before visiting the temple. The springs have a year-round temperature of 55°C, while the outside temperature is typically below 17°C all year round.

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The two water ponds in the temple are called Narad Kund and Surya Kund.

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The Deity and Temple Structure

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The image of the presiding deity worshipped in the temple is a 1 ft (30 cms) black granite deity of Vishnu in the form of Badrinarayan. The deity is considered by many Hindus to be one of the eight self-manifested deities of Vishnu.

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The main shrine contains a 30 centimetre Shaligram (black stone) deity of Badrinarayana, placed beneath a gold canopy under a Badri tree. The deity is depicted holding Panchajanya Shankha (conch) and Sudarshana Chakra (discus) in two raised arms, while the other two arms rest on his lap in padmasana posture.

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The sanctum also houses images of Kubera (god of wealth), sage Narada, Uddhava, Nara and Narayana. All of the temple's deities are carved out of black stone.

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The temple comprises three structures:

• Garbhagriha (sanctum)

• Darshan Mandapa (worship hall)

• Sabha Mandapa (assembly hall)

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Historical Background

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There is no historical record about the temple, but there is mention of the presiding deity Badrinath in Vedic scriptures (c. 1750–500 BCE), i.e., before the Christian Era.

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According to some accounts, the shrine was worshipped in some form during the Vedic period. Later, during Ashoka's reign, because of the spread of Buddhism, the shrine might have been converted into a Buddhist shrine. It is believed that the temple remained a Buddhist shrine until the 8th century, when Adi Shankara revived the shrine and converted it into a Hindu temple.

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The architecture of the temple resembles that of a Buddhist vihara, and the brightly painted façade typical of Buddhist temples supports this argument. Other accounts relate that it was originally established as a pilgrimage site by Adi Shankara in the ninth century. It is believed that Shankara resided in the place for six years from 814 to 820 CE.

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Hindu followers assert that he discovered the deity of Badrinath in the Alaknanda River and enshrined it in a cave near the Tapt Kund hot springs.

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The throne of Badrinath was named after the presiding deity. The king enjoyed ritual obeisance by devotees before proceeding to the shrine. This practice continued until the late 19th century.

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During the 16th century, the King of Garhwal moved the murti to the present temple. When the state of Garhwal was divided, the Badrinath Temple came under British rule, but the King of Garhwal continued as the chairman of the management committee. The temple has undergone several major renovations due to its age and damage by an avalanche. In the 17th century, the temple was expanded by the Kings of Garhwal. After significant damage during the great 1803 Garhwal earthquake, it was largely rebuilt by the King of Jaipur. It was still under renovation as late as the 1870s, but these were completed by the time of the First World War.

The Kumbh Mela festival held every twelve years raised the number of visitors to 50,000.

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In 2006, the state government announced the area around Badrinath as a no-construction zone to curb illegal encroachment.

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Mythological Legends

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According to Hindu legend, Vishnu sat in meditation at this place. During his meditation, he was unaware of the cold weather. Lakshmi, his consort, protected him in the form of the Badri tree. Pleased by her devotion, Vishnu named the place Badrika Ashrama. Vishnu in the form of Badrinath is depicted in the temple sitting in padmasana posture.

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According to the Brahma Vaivarta Purana, Vishnu was chastised by sage Narada, who saw Lakshmi massaging his feet. Vishnu then went to Badrinath to perform austerity and meditated for a long time in padmasana.

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The Vishnu Purana narrates another version of the origins of Badrinath. According to the tradition, Yama had two sons, Nara and Narayana - modern names of Himalayan mountains. They chose the place to spread their religion, and each of them selected the spacious valleys in the Himalayas.

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Pilgrimage Significance

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Devotees of all faiths and all schools of thought of Hinduism visit the Badrinath Temple.

The four monasteries are located across the four corners of India and their attendant temples are:

• Badrinath Temple at Badrinath in the North

• Jagannath Temple at Puri in the East

• Dwarakadheesh Temple at Dwarka in the West

• Rangnath Temple at Srirangam, Tamil Nadu in the South

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The journey across the four cardinal points of India is considered sacred by Hindus, who aspire to visit these temples once in their lifetimes. Traditionally, the pilgrimage starts at the eastern end from Puri, proceeding clockwise in a manner typically followed for circumambulation in Hindu temples.

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Festivals and Religious Practices

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Major Festivals

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1. Mata Murti Ka Mela
   The most prominent festival held at Badrinath Temple. It commemorates the descent of the river Ganges on mother earth. The mother of Badrinath, who is believed to have divided the river into twelve channels for the welfare of earthly beings, is worshipped during the festival. The place where the river flowed became the holy land of Badrinath.

2. Badri Kedar Festival
   Celebrated during the month of June in both the Badrinath Temple and the Kedarnath Temple. The festival lasts for eight days

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Daily Rituals and Practices

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The major religious activities (pujas) performed every morning are:

• Mahabhishek (ablution)

• Abhishek

• Gitapath

• Bhagavat Puja

In the evening, the pujas include:

• Geet Govinda

• Aarti

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After aarti, the decorations are removed from the image of Badrinath and sandalwood paste is applied. The paste is given to devotees the next day as prasad during the Nirmalaya Darshan.

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All rituals are performed in front of devotees, unlike in some Hindu temples where certain practices are hidden. Sugar balls (misri) and dry leaves are the common prasad provided to devotees.

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Winter Closure and Reopening

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The temple is closed for winter during October–November. On the day of closure, Akhanda Jyothi, a lamp filled with ghee, is lit to last for six months. Special pujas are performed on that day by the chief priest in the presence of pilgrims and temple officials. The image of Badrinath is notionally transferred during this period to the Narasimha Temple at Jyotirmath, located 64 km away. The temple is reopened around April–May on Akshaya Tritiya, an auspicious day on the Hindu calendar. Pilgrims gather on the first day of reopening after winter to witness the Akhanda Jyothi.

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Spiritual Importance

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The temple is one of the holy places where Hindus offer oblations to ancestors with the help of priests. Devotees visit the temple to worship before the image of Badrinath in the sanctum and take a holy dip in the Alaknanda River. The general belief is that a dip in the river purifies the soul.

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JAY BADRINARAYAN

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