The
Kedarnath Temple is among the holiest of holy shrines for a pious pilgrim
seeking redemption from the cycle of life. This temple is part of the group of
five Shiva temples scattered in the beautiful Gharhwal Ranges of the Himalayas,
known as the ‘Panch Kedar Temples’. The other four being - Rudranath, Tungnath,
Madhyamaheshwar and Kalpeshwar.
The
Kedarnath shrine, built around the 10th century AD, is believed to
be one of the oldest temples in India. It is built of stone cut into huge slabs
which are interlocked without the use of a binding material such as cement or
mortar. Almost certainly it has withstood the test of time and also the
vagaries of nature in these parts.
The flash
floods of 2013 stand testimony to the above fact, is that, the shrine was the
only structure standing in the entire valley, in the aftermath of the disaster.
It claimed thousands of lives and left the survivors in a grip of terror. The
full gravity of the situation came into view, when pictures started flowing in.
There was a stark reality in the fact that the entire trail and the villages
that dotted it had been completely wiped from the face of the earth. But, as
history shows that faith is not something that can be so easily shattered, the
Kedarnath Yatra resumed the next season without much fanfare.
But
now, as I have traversed this trail which is of great antiquity, I can firmly
say that there is nothing more greater force that has had influenced humanity
as faith. The grit and determination of hundreds of pilgrims combined with
their veneration for Shiva creates an aura of sanctity which surrounds the
whole valley.
The
temple sits on the lap of nature at a lofty height of about 12,000 ft. The
gurgling Mandakini River flows and makes its presence felt by its sound. The
stillness and freshness of the air, along with a steady drizzle is what greets
you on this journey.
But
once inside the sanctum, there is warmth in the atmosphere. The aura created by
the thundering reverberations of “Hara Hara Mahadev”chant by the devotees is
simply intoxicating. After the
circumambulation (act of moving around a sacred object or idol) and worshipping the deity, once again the fresh draft of air
greets you on the outside. The peaks of the Himalayan ranges surround the
valley and stares back unabashedly at the onlookers. These are the sentinels
that stood guard, against invaders since the dark ages.
Thus,
as I start to descend, thoughts of returning to this part of the world race through
my mind, thus concluding an experience whose beauty no words will do justice.
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