Thread by @VivanVatsa

After Mahabharata Epic WAR ended, Pandavas felt guilty for KILLING their Guru & Brothers.

Pandavas WON but at cost of their loved ones. So they sought Shiva’s help; For their sins Shiva AVOIDED them.

But emerged as highest 'Jyotirlinga' later in mysterious “Kedarnath Temple”…

Shiva

Kedarnath. Vrishabanadharishwara.

Mahadev.

Shiva's inner sanctum is in Kedarnath.

This is the story of the EPIC history of Kedarnath Temple built by Pandavas after seeking Shiva’s blessing & how even after the massive 2013 floods Kedarnath Temple stands undisputed…

The story of Kedarnath Temple begins after the cataclysmic Kurukshetra war in the Mahabharata.

After the devastating war, Pandavas despite emerging victorious, were overwhelmed with guilt and sorrow for the massive bloodshed, including the killing of their own kin.

According to the epic, the Pandavas decided to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva to atone for their sins, especially the deceit and fratricide that occurred during the war. But Shiva was deeply displeased with the destruction and ethical breaches in the war, making him reluctant to grant the Pandavas the audience and absolution they sought.

To avoid the Pandavas, Shiva decided to go incognito. He transformed into a bull (Nandi) and hid in the Garhwal region of the Himalayas. This act of evasion was not out of fear, but rather a divine test for the Pandavas—to gauge their determination and sincerity in seeking redemption from the Devon ke Dev, Mahadev.

Unwilling to give up, Pandavas ventured to the Himalayas in search of Shiva. It was Bhima, the second of the five Pandava brothers, who finally spotted the bull.

Determined to confront the Mahadev, Bhima grabbed the tail of the bull as it tried to disappear into the ground. In a dramatic tug of war, Shiva, still in the form of a bull, tried to escape by sinking further into the ground, but Bhima managed to hold onto parts of the bull as it disappeared.

As the bull form of Shiva disintegrated, different parts of his body reappeared at five different locations in the Himalayas. These locations, where Shiva’s body parts surfaced, later became sacred sites known collectively as the Panch Kedar:

Kedarnath (the hump) - Located in Uttarakhand, this is the site where the hump of the bull was found. Kedarnath is now one of the most sacred shrines in Hinduism and forms part of the Char Dham pilgrimage.

Tungnath (the arms) - Situated in Uttarakhand, Tungnath is where Shiva's arms reappeared. It is the highest Shiva temple in the world.

Rudranath (the face) - Also in Uttarakhand, this is where Shiva’s face showed up. It is revered as a natural rock temple where Shiva is worshipped as Neelkanth Mahadev.

Madhyamaheshwar (the navel) - This site, where the navel of Shiva emerged, is known for its serene beauty and the middle (Madhya) part of Shiva is represented in the form of a lingam.

Kalpeshwar (the hair) - The jata (hair) of Shiva appeared in Kalpeshwar, which is famous for its cave temple dedicated to Shiva, also in Uttarakhand.

Kedarnath is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, which are sacred shrines where Shiva is worshipped in the form of a lingam of light. It is said to be the site where Shiva released the holy water from his matted hair, creating the Ganges.
The temple is situated amidst majestic mountains and near the head of the River Mandakini, adding to its historical and serene atmosphere. This remote location is believed to be conducive to spiritual practices and meditation.

But all of these divine synergy of Shiva was tested. In June 2013, Kedarnath witnessed one of the most devastating natural disasters in recent Indian history. The area was hit by extremely heavy rainfall, which led to catastrophic flooding and massive landslides.

The Kedarnath Temple was surrounded by fast-flowing floods, causing widespread destruction in the region. The floods resulted in significant loss of life and property. Thousands of pilgrims and local residents were stranded or went missing.

The town surrounding the temple suffered immense damage, with many buildings, roads, and bridges washed away. It was sadness and sorrow, all around. There was no space to escape. Everything vanished with the stroke of the waves, crushing everything in its way.

Remarkably, the ancient temple itself survived the flood with minimal damage. While shops and amenities around it were destroyed, the temple stood firm amidst the rubble; this is where Shiva’s presence was felt.

In that lumber of despair, the ray of hope was that Temple. Everything was almost finished, sweeped away in that flood for the people of Kedarnath and beyond; but the Temple remained immovable.

Large boulders that settled behind the temple reportedly diverted the flow of debris and water away from the structure. Devotees believe that these boulders were placed by Lord Shiva himself to protect the sanctum sanctorum.

For many, the temple’s endurance reaffirmed their faith in Lord Shiva’s protection and the sacredness of the site. The event led to a renewed spiritual fervor and a surge in pilgrimages once the area was reopened for travel. The disaster prompted significant efforts from the government and various organizations to rebuild and restore the pilgrimage site. New infrastructure designed to better withstand future floods and facilitate safer pilgrimages was introduced.

Now the mysterious Kedarnath temple has broken all records possible. Kedarnath temple recorded the highest footfall of pilgrims in the first 45 days since the portals of the Char Dham Yatra were opened in 2019, with over 7 lakh pilgrims visiting the temple. The pilgrim influx at Kedarnath Dham crossed the million mark, breaking all previous records, with a total of 10,17,196 pilgrims visiting the shrine till Tuesday. This influx was unprecedented, with the daily number of pilgrims to the Kedarnath shrine reaching 13,730 on Tuesday.

That’s the supreme energy and power of Devon ke dev — Mahadev.

Om Namah Shivay.

Har Har Mahadev.

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