Astha Svayam Vyakta Kshetras, Part 8

BY: SUN STAFF

Lord Badri-Narayan, Presiding Deity of Badrinath

Dec 12, 2019 — CANADA (SUN) — A serial presentation of svayambhu Lord Visnu's eight abodes.

The seventh temple among the svayam-vyakta kshetras, or abodes of the self-manifest Form of Lord Visnu, is that of Sri Badrinarayan at Badrinath, near Nainital, Uttarakhand. Here, the image of Lord Badrinarayanar is manifest from Saligrama. In the sanctum, the Lord is seated in padmasana (lotus pose) beneath the badari tree, flanked by Kubera and Garuda, Narada, and Narayana and Nara. The Lord's consort, Mahalakshmi (Aravindavalli) has a separate sanctum nearby in the prakaram.

Badrinath dhama is situated in a valley of the Nara-Narayan Parvat, In the background is the imposing Neelkanth, a Himalayan peak rising 21,000 feet above sea level. Badrinath itself sits at approximately 10,350 ft. There, in a wide valley carved out by the headwaters of Alakananda River, the largest tributary of the Ganges, is one of the most famous mountain passes leading from India to Tibet.

Neelkanth Mountain

Lord Badri-Narayan's abode is protected by two mountain ranges, the Nar and the Narayan. The place is called Badrinath because it was once carpeted in wild berries (badris).

Badrinath temple is visited by countless numbers of pilgrims each year, who wait for the snows to melt and give them access. Even so, it is a difficult journey, as are the other holy abodes on the Char-dhama route. The temple stands facing the Alakananda River. Devotees stop to take bath at the nearby Tapt Kund, a thermal spring, before going to the temple.

Badrikashrama (foreground) on the Alakananda, with Badrinath Temple (background)

As described in sastra, Lord Vishnu was reprimanded by Narada for indulging in worldly pleasures, and came here to Badri-van to perform austerities. The River Alakananda was created when Ganga Ma was requested to descend to the earth. Lord Shiva took her flow onto his head, down the locks of his hair, so the earth planet could withstand the force. River Alakananda is one of the streams from that water flow.

About Badrinath, the Skanda Purana says: "There are several sacred places of worship in heaven, on earth, and in the hell; but there is no one of them like Badrinath." Here, the sages Nara-Narayana performed austerities. Krishna's dear friend Uddhava visited 5,000 years ago, and it was been visited by many saints over the ages, including Gautama Rishi, Kapila, Kasyapa, Ramanujacharya, and Madhvacharya.

Badrinath Dham

Like Kedarnath, the main temple at Badrinath has been built and re-built many times due to aging, storms and avalanches. It was established in the 8th century by Adi Shankaracharya, but the present structure was built just three centuries ago by the Garhwal kings. It stands five metres and features a conical top with a small cupola of gilt bull and spire. As one can see from the many available photos, the temple façade has been re-painted many times, in different color combinations.

It is generally accepted that prior to the time of Shankaracharya, the temple was a Buddhist site. Local residents say that the Tibetans would cross over the Mana pass each fall for the temple's closing, and would bring a woolen robe to drape around the Deity before moving Him to new quarters.

In the garbha griha, or innter sanctum, where Lord Badri-narayan resides, there is a darshan mandap for puja and a sabha mandap for devotees to assemble. Fifteen black stone Deities also reside there, including Lakshmi, Garuda, Lord Shiva, Parvati, and Ganesha. A group of hereditary pandas (priests) serve as temple functionaries, and offer Lakshmi-Narayan puja at Badrinath. They also serve as local guides and offer various resources to pilgrims.

Charan Paduka

Nearby the main temple there is a place called Charanpaduka, where a large boulder bears the actual footprints of Lord Vishnu, imprinted in the rock when He descended from Vaikuntha. Devotees make offerings of pada-seva at this site.

The Brahma Kapalam, north of the temple on the banks of the Ganga, is the site of performance of remembrance rites for the ancestors. Behind the temple of Badrinarayanar is the Lakshmi Narasimha mandir, with shrines to Desikacharyar and Ramanujacharya.

Lord Visnu's Footprint

Badrinath-dhama also serves as the summer meeting place of the Shankaracharyas, whose leader established a monastery here, as well as at Puri, Dvaraka, Udipi, and Joshimath (where the Deity of Badrinath spends the winter). There is a building here that houses the Shankaracarya's office as well as a public restaurant.

Four other temples or 'badris' are found near the main Badrinath temple, and together they form the Panch Badri. Located just a few kilometres from the Badrinath temple are Yog Dhyan Badri, where the Pandavas handed over their empire to King Pariksit before retiring, along with Bhavishtya Badri, Adi Badri, and Vriddha Badri.

Badrinath Dham

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