Char Dham Yatra In Uttarakhand State of India (By - B.S.Bisht)

 Chardham  Yatra in Uttarakhand State of India

 Introduction:

Every person living in India and abroad having faith in Sanatani culture, the religion of all, dream to visit  Chardham, one's in his /her life. Centuries ago, when there were no means of convenience and communication, people used to travel on foot. It would take months and years to travel and called pilgrimage. Mostly the pilgrimage was performed in old age, if lost, not considered to be evil but sacrifice for the sake of God almighty.  The pilgrimages were performed in groups not alone, so the news of some one's lost or death received or conveyed by the group of people. The pilgrimage have a certified route. It was not possible to complete four Dhams in one trip. It was possible only for monks, saints and Sanyasis. The pilgrimage was to be started from Hardware, Rishikesh, or Bageshwar or a confluence nearby holy shrine taken a bath there. These are the gate way to Chardham Yatra.

Name of Char Dham, The Abode of Gods:

1. Yamunotri Dham: Dedicated to Godess Yamuna.
2. Gangotri Dham   : Dedicated to Godess Ganga.
3. Kedarnath Dham: Dedicated to Lord Shiva.
4. Badrinath Dham : Dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

The pilgrims visit these temples in a specific sequence, traditionally started from Yamunotri and ending at Badrinath. The Chardham Yatra is not only a significant religious journey but also a search and exploration of Himalayan culture and geographical survey looking at the breathtaking natural beauty of nature.

Step - 2 Importance of Chardham Yatra

The Char dham Yatra concerns to religious and spiritual significance in Sanatan Sanskriti, that holds the entire world for blessings. It is believed in Hinduism that undertaking this pilgrimage, wash away our sins and makes a way for salvation. Here are some of the key aspects that make this Yatra so important globally.

• Spritual Purification
• Seeking Blessings of the Deities for Prosperities and Well- being
• An opportunity to connect with Nature's Beauty and feel realisation.
• Himalayan Mountains remind Divine Power and experience serenity.
• A sense of Unity and Harmony among the people of different states and abroad.

Step-3: The Chardham Temples

The Chardham Yatra covers four temples, so in this web story we try to explain their history,  significance and unique attributes

Yamunotri temple, the abode ofgoddess Yamuna

Yamunotri Temple:

• This is the temple of Mata Ymunotri, dedicated to Godess Yamuna.
• The Sister of Lord Yama, ( The God of Death) 
• The daughter of Lord Sun, the planet

Some more key features of this temple are described here

• Location:
•  It is situated at an altitude of about 3293 meters (10804 feet)
• It takes 6 km, onfoot journey through rocks froot from Janki Chatti, Hot water lake.
• Importance: The temple marks source of the Yamuna River.
• The Hot water Spring is used for cooking rice and potatoes, at temple premises
• The rice and potatoes wrapped in a cloth are cooked in 10 minutes and considered Prasad (Holy Offering)
• History:
• People used to go on foot centuries ago, to offer prayer, before road construction
• Kharsali is the last village, in this area. the others are Kothar, Janki Chatti,Deep gaon, Narayan puri, Banas, Pitkimodesh, KupraWajri, Trikhuli, who managed the temple in ancient time.
• The doors of the temple are opened for six months, by the last day of Deepawali festival
• This temple is constructed by Maharani Guleria, of Jaipur in 19th century.
• The godess shifts to lower altitude for prayer in winter, as this area is covered by snow fall.

Gangotri Temple:

The second destination of theChardham Yatra is The Gangotri Temple, dedicated toGodess Ganga, the holiest river in Sanatani Sanskriti. We mention some features of this temple as follows: 

Gangotri temple, the abode of Goddess Ganga

Location:
• It is located in Garhwal Himalayas, at the height of 3100 meters (10200ft)

Importance:

• The temple denotes the mark of emerging the holy River Ganga. Now, the glaciers have gone behind.
• The sacred River Ganga is known for its purifying properties

History:

• The temple is said to have been built by General Amar Singh Thapa, in the early 18th century
• Pilgrims from Uttarakhand, Nepal and other parts of India, would come covering a long distance on foot before the temple was built, once in life.
• The Temple in form of "Than" exists centuries ago. THAN is a symbol of temple,carved by local people temporarily with stones , available.

Kedarnath Temple:

Kedarnath, the third destination of Chardham Yatra, is a significant shrine, dedicated to Lord Shiva, the destroyer and regenerator of this universe. In Indian mythology, it is considered that Lord Shiva was angry at the Pandavas afterthe Mahbharata War, killing their cousins, relatives and friends from the Kauravas side, Legend spoke of the Pandavas' quest for redemption after the great war of Mahabharata, where Lord Shiva eluded them. In the form of Bull, Shiva dived in to the ground, leaving behind his hump. The revered conical rock formation inside the temple was believed to be this divine hump. Before centuries, the mountains were the symbol of the lesend, and pilgrims would worship Lord Shiva in form of Nature after a hard and rigorous journey on foot chanting of "Om Namah Shivaya" resonated through the air with the whispers of the mountains. But now it is only 18 km journey on foot climbing rocks and hills. We mention some details of this temple here:

Kedarnath temple, the abode of Lord Shiva

Location:

• The temple is situated in the Rudra Himalayan Range 
• It stands at an elevation of about 3583 meters (11755 feet), at the base of glacier
• Last stop by vehicles is Gaurikund, (hot water lake) 17 km away from Kedarnath, the mid points for rest and holt are Jangal Chatti, Bhimbali,  Choti Lincholi, Big Lincholi and Base camp.

Means of convenience:

• Helicopter service from Guptkashi and Fanta
• Horse ride, basket,and dandi ( comfortable chair carried by four men)

Importance:

• Kedarnath is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas.
• The Kedarnath temple is surrounded by snow capped Himalayas
• It is believed K edarnath, to be a holy place where Lord Shiva manifested  as a fiery pillar of light
• Now, the statue of Aadi Shankracharya, is placed in Kedarnath.
• Dhayan Gupha (the cave for meditation) and Bhairav Ghati are worth seeing places
• The Kedarnath Valley, snow capped Himalayas and the peaks in surrounding inspire and motivate for self realisation

Badrinath Temple:

The final and last destination of the Chardham Yatra is Badrinath, the abode of Lord Vishnu. The Badrinath Temple, with its special architecture  and idol of Lord Badrinarayan, as well as the speedy River Alaknanda, is the main attraction. Nar- Narayan hills are inform of Lord Vishnu. The five peaks shelter in form of the hoods of the giant snake-king Sheshnag over the peak marked for Lord Vishnu in itself. Pilgrims also visit Mana, the last village, now named the first village of India, 4 km away from Badrinath. 

Location:

Badrinath temple, the abode of lord Vishnu

• Situated in the Garhwal Himalayas at an altitude of about 3133 meters (10279 feet)
• Distance from Karnprayag 218 km, by road, by flight only 45 km.
• Sonprayag to badrinathis 211 km by road via Rudraprayag.
• Distance between Kedarnath nd Badrinath is approximately 245 km, including 17 km Kedarnath trek and 5 km of the Gaurikund - Sonprayag route.
• Road distance between Delhi to Badrinath by road -462 km
• Nearest railway station is Rishikesh.
• Nearest Airport Joly Grant Dehradun,-330 km

Importance:

• Badrinath Temple is one of the 108 Divya Desam temples of Lord Vishnu.
• According to Skand Puran, the idol of Lord Vishnu was recovered by Aadiguru 

• The temple has been revered by Peyalvar and Tirumangal Alwar
• The temple is opened for six month a year-April to November
• The Deity is shifted to the temple in the nearby Joshimath.

History:

• The temple was restablished by Aadi Guru Shankaracharya in 8th century
• The black colour idol of Badrinarayana is made of Saligram.
• He is found in the Padmasan seating posture.
• Badrinath is guarded by Kuber and Garud on his either side
• The hot water springs Tapt Kund is known as the Sthala Teerth (holy waters)

Step 5:Conclusion

The chardham Yatra is not just a physical journey but a profound  spiritual experience. It leaves an unforgettable mark on th soul and minds.It's a realm of spiritual awakening and inner peace.for those who undertake it.It brings people together from different areas, culture, and nations to experience the spirituality and natural beauty of the Himalayas. The Yatra is an examination to the enduring power of faith and culture in harmony.

Literally, the pilgrims set out on their sacred journey to Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath, they are not just visiting  four shrines, they are stepping into a world of spirituality, self realisation, and well-being of all. The Chardham Yatra reminds us that the human life is short but the spirituality and nature is permanent. It is an experience of real life that can change lives, leaving a lasting impression on the hearts,souls and minds who undergo this Journey. The Yatra usually takes around 10-12 days to complete depends on your physical condition, and weather condition. Don't forget to carry a raincoat and woollen clothes even in summer.