BADRINATH TEMPLE

History

The popular legend says that that Badrinath was the domain of Lord Shiva, but Lord Vishnu managed to unseat Shiva who later took up residence in Kedarnath.

The mountains around Badrinath even find mention in Mahabharata. Local legend has it that the Pandavas passed through Badrinath and the town of Mana on their way to Swarga (heaven). There is also a cave in Mana, where according to folklore, Vyasa wrote the Mahabharata.

At Badarinath, Lord Vishnu is believed to have performed his penance. Seeing the Lord doing his penance in the open, Goddess Mahalaxmi is believed to have assumed the form of Badari tree to provide him shelter and hence, the name Badari Narayan. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Vishnu revealed to Narad that Nar and Narayan were his own manifestations.

According to another legend goddess Ganga was requested to descend on earth to help the suffering humanity, but earth was unable to withstand the force of her descent. So the mighty Ganga was split into 12 holy channels with Alaknanda being one of them.

The Temple's present structure was built by the Kings of Garhwal. Adi Shankaracarya installed the idol of Badrinath and appointed Namboodiri priests from Kerala just as he appointed priests from Ayodhya to perform the rituals at Rameshwaram.

                                                             

Culture

The main Badrinath temple is divided into three parts - the 'garbha griha' or sanctum sanctorum, the 'darshan mandap' where the rituals are conducted and the 'sabha mandap' where the devotees gather. The temple complex has 15 idols.

The attractive image of Badrinath is finely sculpted in black stone and is one meter high. The image fashioned out of Saligramam shows Vishnu seated in meditative pose. Badarinarayan is seen under the Badari tree, flanked by Kuber and Garuda, Narad, Narayan and Nar. Mahalakshmi has a separate shrine. Temple also has shrines dedicated to Adi Shankaracharya, Desikacharya and Ramanujacharya.
The temple facade is made of wood and repainted each May, once the snows recede
                          



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