Mount Nilakantha
It is seated on
the slopes of the Narayan mountain. The beginning of Guru-Shisya parampara
is supposed to have blossomed from here. This is symbolised by the
Nar-Narayan mountains – Nar range being the individual soul - Jeevatma and
Narayan range being the supreme reality - Paramatma. Lord Narayana is
supposed to have given the Ashtakshara mantra to Nar at this place. The belief is
that even today, Narada is chanting this Ashtakshara mantra here.
The significance of
the temple lies in this land where Lord Vishnu meditated under a Badri tree for
thousand incessant years and taught us the ultimate way of welfare of mankind
is incomparable in the world.Today, it is considered as one of the holiest
Hindu temples and is also one of the 108 Divya Desams, holy shrines for
Vaishnavites.
Badrinath is also famous among one of the Panch Badris. The other four
Badris are Yogadhyan Badri, Bhavishya Badri, Bridha Badri or Old Badri and Adi
Badri. Badri refers to a berry that was said to grow abundantly in this area
and nath means “lord of”. Badri is also the Sanskrit name for the Indian Jujube
tree, which has an edible berry.It is said that Goddess Lakshmi took form of berries to protect Lord Vishnu from harsh climate during his penance.It has been eulogised as Bhu Vaikunta
or earthly abode of Lord Vishnu. Many religious scholars such as
Ramanujacharya, Madhawacharya and Vedanta Desika visted this place and wrote
sacred texts like commentaries on Brahmasutras and other Upanishads here.
In the 8th century "Jagath Guru Shri Adi Shankaracharya" founded
the idol of Badrinarayan and restored this ancient Badrinath idol from
the Narad Kund and consecrated it in a cave near Tapt Kund(It is the hot water
spring with natural curative properties believed to be abode of Lord Agni faces
the shrine). The pilgrims take a holy dip in the Tapt Kund before entering
into the main temple. The present temple was built by Garhwal rulers in the
16th century and they moved the main deity to the present temple.
TAPT KUND
The
Badrinath Temple has a small cupola on the top,
covered with a gold gilt roof and the frontal is composed of stone with arched
windows. The temple is adorned with several murtis (idols) but the
most important one is a one meter tall statue of Vishnu as Lord Badrinarayan made
of black Saligram stone sitting under a gold canopy in meditative pose. He is armed with Conch (Shankh) and Chakra in two arms in a lifted
posture and two more arms rested on the lap in Yogamudra.
The sanctum here houses Lord Badrinarayan. He is flanked on his left by Kuber (God of wealth), and to His right by the Utsava murthy who is called
Udhavar. This is in honour of Sri Krishna's dearest friend by the same name who
came here to Badrikashram after Krishna went
back to Vaikuntam. Further right are the combined figures of Nar & Narayan.
Narayan is sitting in a posture of delivering advice to his sishya, Nar; Nar is
standing ready for action bowing slightly to listen to his Guru's advice. Under
Narayan's statue is Urvashi. She is supposed to have been brought out by
Narayan from his thighs when Indra tired to disturb the Lord's penance. Just
below Udhavar's statue is a small one of Narada Rishi. He is supposed to have
asked the Lord to come down on earth and show the way to meditate and
pray. Between Kubera and the Lord, is a tall, thin, finely engraved silver
statue of Garuda standing with folded hands.
The temple was built on "SUDHARSHAN CHAKRAM" and therefore
the temple always glows with spiritual power. Holy Deepam is enlighten in the
Garbha Griha through out the year. In the temple the
daily puja's, naivedyam and rituals are being offered to the lord by the
priests belong to the caste of Nambrudri of Kerala State.The Goddess Mahalaxmi called Arvindavalli has a separate sanctum sanctorum outside the temple. However, you can also see her inside the sanctum sanctorum, as the badari tree standing over the Lord, providing him shade and shelter. Hence the Lord is named Badrinarayana. The temple also houses idols of Anjaneya, Adi Sankara, Swami Desikan and Shri Ramanujar.
Miracle At the
Note: The kapat of
Generally, The Temple doors are closed down around October (dates are fixed on Vijayadashmi) at the advent of winters and are opened again for worship at around Mid April (dates are decided on Basant Panchami ).
On the closing day, the Namboodri pujari, does abhishekam for the Lord and then dresses him up for the onset of the cold biting winter. He puts a thin cotton muslin dress first and then covers up the lord with Ghee to keep him warm. Then the Lord is given a woollen vest to wear on top of which another cotton muslin dress is put. Now He is bedecked in the finest silks and jewellery and orange flowers. A huge lamp is lit with ghee and a wick with the thickness of a finger. Goddess Mahalakshmi is taken into the Lord's chambers and Udhavar is moved out to the lower reaches of the
ALAKNANDA
Now the main door of the Sanctum Sanctorum are closed. Then the 3 doors to the main hall are closed and finally the doors to the temple. The whole town vacates and goes away except for the Indian Army which takes solace in inhuman cold weather from the boiling hot waters of the Tupt Kund. In the ensuing months, the temple gets completely covered by heavy snowfall with no possible room for air to get into the temple.On the opening day, Ravalji along with all the dharma karthas of the temple bring Udhavar from his winter sojourn to the Mata Murthi Mandir, a temple dedicated to the mother of Shri Badrinath. Udhavar proceeds to the main temple only after taking the blessings of his mother. The long retinue of the Ravalji, dharma karthas, villagers from nearby villages, other devotees, trek the entire route from Pandukeshwar to Matamurti mandir and then onwards to the Badrinath temple on foot carrying the Udhavar idol.
VASUDHARA

JUJUBEE TREE & BADRI Fruits
The Badrinath temple is opened at the auspicious moment and the miracle is visible for all to see!! ...The lamp is burning still with same size of wick and same amount of ghee as if we had just lit it! The lord has shed all the orange flower decorations that was put for him!! Instead he is adorned with rare delicate flowers which are available only in the inaccessible higher reaches of theHimalayas !! What beats all logic is this -
How did the lamp stay lit for 6 months when there is no source of oxygen
inside; The temple is completely snowed out and doors are all locked. Also
where did the new flowers come from? Who threw the old ones away? The answers to
these questions lie only in our faith. The belief here is that Narada rishi
does puja for the lord for the 6 months when we humans are unable to. This is
the miracle that thousands of believers come to see on the opening day.
Narada's decorations for the Lord are kept for all to see till about 1.30 pm on
the opening day.
BHIMPUL IN MANA VILLAGE
Though Badrinath is the sacred place on earth. It is a heavenly beautiful location, might be the reason for even god to choose it.
The Badrinath temple is opened at the auspicious moment and the miracle is visible for all to see!! ...The lamp is burning still with same size of wick and same amount of ghee as if we had just lit it! The lord has shed all the orange flower decorations that was put for him!! Instead he is adorned with rare delicate flowers which are available only in the inaccessible higher reaches of the
BHIMPUL IN MANA VILLAGE
Though Badrinath is the sacred place on earth. It is a heavenly beautiful location, might be the reason for even god to choose it.
*** OM NAMO BHAGAVATHE VAASUDEVAYA***