Badrinath Temple History

Badrinath Temple is one of the holiest sites in the state of Uttarakhand, India.

In fact, Char Dham of Uttarakhand better known as Chota Char Cham comprises four holy sites such as Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri.

Moreover, Badrinath has its individual and legendary history. Badrinath is known for its greatness and mysticism. It’s a sacred pilgrimage destination for all the Hindus.

Today, we share with you Badrinath Temple History.

Badrinath Temple or Badrinath Dham is regarded as one of the oldest pilgrimage destinations in the Hindu religion.

The Badrinath Temple is located in the town of Badrinath in Uttarakhand. In fact, the Badrinath Temple is part of the 108 Divya Desha that is holy shrines for the Vaishnavites.

The Badrinath Temple or Badrinath Dham is dedicated to Lord Vishnu who is considered as the protector in the Hindu Trimurti of Gods (the other being Brahma and Shiva).

The Badrinath Temple has been located in a very beautiful natural locale. The temple is at the height of 3,133 m (10,279 ft) above the sea level and surrounded with Garhwal hills in the Chamoli District on the banks of Alaknanda River.

The Badrinath Temple sees over 10 lakh visitors in a year. However, the temple is only open from April to November because of extreme weather conditions.

History of Badrinath Temple

According to the Badrinath temple history, the presiding deity here measures about 1 meter and is a black stone idol of Lord Vishnu named as Badrinarayan. The image is said to be one of the eight Swayam Vyakta Kshetras wherein Lord Vishnu is portrayed as being self-manifested.

As far as the history goes with this place, it is said that Lord Vishnu came to this spot to sit in meditation seeking a silent, unpolluted and divine place.

The Lord Vishnu was so deeply engrossed in meditation that He forgot about his body and was completely unaware of the biting cold which gripped the place.

Goddess Lakshmi stayed with Lord Vishnu throughout and took care of Him. She protected Lord Vishnu from the extremities of weather and took the form of a Badri Tree.

The Badri Tree is known as Indian Dates or Jujube. Impressed by the deep devotion of Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Vishnu named this place as Badrikashram.

If we go by the historical accounts, this place was once filled with Badrika trees. However, nowadays these trees are not to be seen today.

According to Vishnu Purana, the Badrinath Dham was frequented by the two sons of Dharam, who were named as Nara and Narayana. Both Nara and Narayan were, in fact, the human incarnations of Lord Vishnu.

Nara and Narayan were in search of an ideal place as they wanted to set up their hermitage. They discovered hot as well as cold springs beside the Alaknanda River. So, they named the place as Badri Vishal and went on to set up their ashram for spreading religion.

Even the Hindu Vedas mention the deity Badri Narayan as well as the temple dedicated to Him in the region of Uttarakhand in Badrinath. Historical accounts state that there existed a temple at this place between 1750 and 500 B.C.

Some state that the temple remained as a Buddhist Shrine till the 8th century when Adi Shankaracharya converted it into a Hindu Temple. In fact, the temple architecture reflects Buddhist Vihara type architecture.

It has brightly painted facades. Moreover, there are numerous other aspects which justify that it was originally a Buddhist monument.

It is also said that Adi Shankaracharya got the Buddhists expelled from this site with the help of King Kanak Pal. The King also offered huge endowments for taking care of the temple.

However, other historical records state that the Badri Dham was established by Adi Shankaracharya in the 9th Century as a pilgrimage destination. Moreover, Adi Shankaracharya resided here between 814 and 820.

It is even said that Adi Shankara discovered the deity from the Alaknanda River and established it in a cave near the Tapta Kund hot springs. Later on, he constructed a temple for the Lord Vishnu at this very place. During his stay, Adi Shankara resided at Badrinath for six months and at Kedarnath for another six months.

So, we can now appreciate that the Badrinath Temple has a rich and long history. Plus, the temple got renovated for several times between the seventeenth century and nineteenth-century CE.

The Kumbh Mela played a very important role in increasing the number of visitors to the Badrinath Temple significantly to the present numbers which now run in Lakhs every year.

The temple town of Badrinath has been located amidst serene beauty of nature. It’s regarded as a pre-eminent abode of Lord Vishnu. In fact, the Badrinath Dham is one of the holiest shrines of the Char Dham Pilgrimage Circuit in India. The other Char Dham sites are Puri, Rameshwaram, and Dwarka.

Badrinath also belongs to the Chota Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand which comprises sites such as Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. The Badrinath is the most celebrated spot in the Chota Char Dham Pilgrimage tour of the Garhwal Himalayas.

The Badrinath Dham is situated between the Nar and Narayan peaks. Badrinath Dham is easily accessible with motorable roads. It can even be reached by walking along an easy trek. Pilgrims can easily spot the Peak of Neelakantha which stands strong spreading its mighty aura.

Famous Legends Related with Badrinath

Badrinath Dham is famous for its myriad legends. These legends go on to supplement to the glory of this place. With its snow-capped mountain peaks, gracefully flowing Alaknanda River, and the incredible landscape, all help to create the perfect background for a spiritual connection.

One of the legends states that Lord Shiva and Mata Parvati were performing tapas in Badrinath. Lord Vishnu appeared before them in the disguise of a small boy and cried out loudly, disrupting them.

Goddess Parvati asked about the mournful behavior. The boy said that he wanted to meditate in Badrinath. Further up, Lord Shiva and Mata Parvati discovered that the little boy was none other than Lord Narayan himself. So, they left Badrinath and moved to Kedarnath.

There is another famous tale behind the formation of Badrinath. It is related to Nar and Narayan, the two sons of Dharma. Both Nar and Narayan wished to set up their hermitage to expand their religious endeavors amidst the pious Himalayas.

During their quest for a suitable place for their hermitage, they discovered the four sites of Panch Badri named as Yoga Badri, Dhyan Badri, Vridha Badri, and Bhavishya Badri.

Finally, they discovered a spot which had two fascinating cold and hot springs behind the Alaknanda River. Both Nar and Narayan were extremely overjoyed on finding this place. They named the place as Badri Vishal. Thus, Badrinath came into being.

Another famous legend related to Badrinath states that Pandavas of the Mahabharata Era climbed the Swargarohini, the ascent to heaven, via the north of Badrinath, while they were on their route to heaven.

Lastly, we share with you another legendary tale associated with Badrinath. The legend states that the River Ganges had granted the request of King Bhagirathi that she would relieve humanity from the curse of humanity and sins.

The flow of River Ganges was so immense that it could have immersed the whole of the earth under its waters. However, it was Lord Shiva who ultimately bore her onto his tresses, and the River Ganges got divided into twelve holy rivers. The River Alaknanda was one of them which flow past the sacred Badrinath Temple.

What can you see in the Badrinath Dham?

Badrinath Temple

The Hindu Puranas hold high esteem for the Badrinath Dham. They have stated that there are many pilgrimage sites in the world, but none is equal to Badrinath. The Badrinath Temple stands proudly with its rich past along the banks of River Alaknanda.

Hindus regard the Badrinath Shrine as the most important temple of Lord Vishnu. Adi Shankaracharya established the Badrinath Temple. He got the Shaligram idol of Lord Vishnu (Lord Badri) immersed in the Alaknanda River. He then installed it in a cave near the Tapta Kund.

It was in the 16th Century that a Garhwal King erected a temple and housed the idol of Lord Vishnu in it. The present structure has undergone plenty of restorations as much damage was caused by earthquakes and avalanches. Here, Lord Vishnu is worshiped in the form of a black stone idol made from Shaligram stone.

He sits in a meditative posture and is surrounded by other Gods such as Nar, Narayana, Ganesh, Garud, and Kuber. In the winter season, the Lord Badri idol is shifted to the Yoga Dhyan Badri in Pandukeshwar of Chamoli District.

Tapt Kund

Tapt Kund is a natural thermal spring just below the temple. It has been infused with therapeutic properties. People are required to take a dip in the holy waters of the Tapt Kund before they can visit the Holy Shrine of Badrinath.

There are five boulders which lie near the Tapt Kund. As per the Hindu mythology, these five boulders are namely Narsingh, Narad, Varah, Markanday, and Garud.

Brahma Kapal

It’s a flat platform by the banks of the Alaknanda River. The Brahma Kapal is situated 100 meters north of the Badrinath Temple. Devotees perform propitiating rites for their deceased family members who would free them from the vicious circle of life and death.

Neelakanth Peak

The Neelakanth Peak stands tall and proud at the background of the Badrinath Shrine. It is known as the “Queen of Garhwal.” The Neelakantha Peak rises to a height of 6597 meters (approx). It is named after Lord Shiva. With its snow-covered peak, the Neelakanth is simply awesome to watch. The Neelakantha Peak receives the first rays of the Sun at the crack of dawn.

Other noteworthy places in Badrinath Dham include:

• Charan Paduka
• Mata Murty Mandir
• Vasudhara Falls
• Sheshnetra

Some important facts about the Badrinath Temple?

Q. Who built the Badrinath Temple?

The Badrinath Temple has a great historical significance attached to it. Adi Shankara built the temple. Adi Shankara was born in Kerala in a place called Kaladi over a thousand years ago.

He was a prodigal child with almost super-human capabilities. At the age of twelve, he took Sannyas and left his home. He walked throughout the country and re-established the spiritual sciences.

Q. Which God is worshiped in the Badrinath Temple?

The Badrinath temple is a Hindu Temple which is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is situated in the town of Badrinath in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. The Badrinath Temple is the holiest shrine for the Vaishnavites. The temple is one of the 108 Vaishnava Divya Desams dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

Here, Lord Vishnu is worshiped as Badrinath or Badrinarayan. The temple is open for six months between April and November. The temple houses a black stone idol (Shaligram Stone) of Lord Vishnu in the form of Badrinarayan. The Badrinath temple finds a mention in the ancient Hindu religious texts such as the Vishnu Purana and Skanda Purana.

Q. Which river flows through Badrinath?

River Alaknanda flows through Badrinath.

Q. How you can reach the Badrinath Dham?

By Air: Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun, is the nearest airport to Gangotri. You can go for hiring a cab, or you can even board a bus from here.

By Train: Regular train service is available to Haridwar and Dehradun. You can go for hiring a cab or else you can even board a bus from here.

By Bus: The Badrinath town is well connected with motorable roads from all the important destinations in Uttarakhand.

Q. What is the most suitable time for visiting the Badrinath Dham or Badrinath Temple?

The best time to visit the Badrinath Temple is from April or May to June and from September to October or November.

Badrinath Temple Images

Here, you will find some of the most beautiful Badrinath Temple images which give you a glimpse of this historical and religious site in its full grandeur.

The temple architecture is not only beautiful but also soothing to the eyes. Plus, the natural beauty surrounding the Badrinath Temple is simply breathtaking.

So, let’s witness the most beautiful Badrinath Temple Images. Here, we have compiled and showcased a vivid collection of Badrinath Temple images for you. Let’s take a look at them:

We hope that you are now aware of the Badrinath Temple History. The Badrinath Temple happens to be the holiest shrine for the Vaishnavites. It’s one of the most visited Lord Vishnu temples in India. Please don’t forget to share the post on the popular social networking sites. We welcome your comments and suggestions.

Jai Ho Badrinarayan!!
Jai Ho Badrinath Dham!!
Jai Ho Lord Vishnu!!