The Char Dham Yatra covers the main four pilgrims of Hindus namely
Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamnotri. All of these are located in
Uttarakhand State. People from all over India have a belief that such kind
of Yatras are good for the prosperity of the individual and his family. So
these Holy yatras are carried out keeping in with this faith and ideology.
The Legend :
Kedarnath : Kedarnath is supposed to be one of the twelve
Jyotirlings of Lord Shiva. Lying at an altitude of 3,581 mts above the sea
level on the head of river Mandakini, Kedarnath is considered revered. As
per the Hindu legend, after the completion of the Mahabharata war, Pandavas
seeked blessings from Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva eluded them and fled to
Kedarnath. Here he took the form of a Bull as disguise. But the Pandavas
followed him, so he dived in the earth leaving his hump back. this protusion
is now worshipped as the Holy Shrine of Kedarnath.
Badrinath : On the banks of Alakhnanda
River
lies the Badrinath Temple lying at a height of 3,133 mts above the sea
level. This 15mts high Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The Badrinath
Temple is divided into three parts - the Garba Graha or sanctum sanctorum,
Darshan Mandap or ritual place and the Sabha Mandap or the meeting place of
devotees. There in the centre of the Badrinath Temple lies the 1 metre high
idol of Badrinath. Apart from the main Idol of Badrinath, there are other 15
idols in the Temple.
Gangotri : Gangotri is the birth place of River
Ganga. As per the
mythology, the Daughter of Heaven took the form of a river to absolve the
sins of King Baghirathi's predecessors. But the impact of the Ganges flow
was so high that Lord Shiva had to take the Ganges in his hair locks. Thus
she came to be known as Bhagirathi at her legendary source. Along the right
of the bank of Bhagirathi is the idol of the Goddess - Ganges or Gangotri.
This shrine is known as Gangotri.
Yamunotri : Lying just opposite to Gangotri, atop a flank of Bandar
Poonch peak is the Yamunotri. Dedicated to the River Yamuna, it attracts a
number of devotees in the months of May to October. Yamuna River originates
from the Champasar Glacier at an altitude of 4,321mts above the sea level.
