Information of Rudranath Temple, Chamoli, Uttarakhand

Rudranath Temple is a famous Hindu Cave Temple of Lord Shiva built atop the Gharwal region of the greater Himalayan mountain ranges in India. This is one of the Hindu pilgrimage temples on the Himalayas. This temple is filled with devotees in the panch kedhar seasons. These are naturally formed caves and known since the Vedic Era. The legends for its creators are known to be the Pandavas. It is a beautiful place to see and best for a trek to reach these temple areas. This is scenically surrounded by Alpine forest and few renowned Himalayan mountain peaks like Nanda Devi, and Trishul. It is blissfully located at Chamoli District of Uttrakhand State in India.

Rudranath Temple Religious Significance

Rudranath Temple cave temple is the 2nd temple to be visited in the Panch Kedhar pilgrimage season that starts from May to October of every year. The other six months are closed due to rough weathers of winter and the monsoon rainy season. Here Lord Shiva is worshiped of his face that is emerging out of land from his chest level. This is a rear idol of Lord Shiva to see in Indian temples. During the Panch kedhar seasons, the daily rituals and ceremonies happen in this temple. The priest is from the Bhatt and the Thivari cast of the nearby village known as Gopeshwar. This is a tradition followed here as two different Hindu cast priest indulge in managing temple activities. This is the most important temple for the Shivites, a sect of Hindus whose main god is Lord Shiva. But this is also visited by all sects of Hindus down beyond the Himalayas. Visiting this temple is a must as per mythical believes in Hinduism. Lord Shiva is known to be a supreme god and getting blessed from his once abode place is really sacred.

Rudranath Temple Mythology & History

As per the Hindu mythology, the Pancha Pandava of Mahabharata Epic were responsible to build these pancha kedars. This happened when they came to meet Lord Shiva to get blessed by him after the great war of Kurekshetra. But Lord Shiva avoided them and went to hide out. But the Pandavas followed to all of these five places and while noticing his absence they worshiped the place instead, that's how these temples took shape since the ancient times. Since these were once the abode place of Lord Shiva, these are considered as the divine and sacred place for the Hindus to visit here once in a life time.

Rudranath Temple Architectural Significance

Rudranath Temple cave temples are naturally formed cave since the Vedic times. The creator of a temple nearby these caves is known to be the Pandavas of Mahabharata Epic. The built of this temple is unknown, but since this Vedic time its presence in the Himalayas is noted in many ancient scripts. The present temple is a cute traditional home like structure, where Lord Shiva's Idol is placed. The main deity is carved out of a monolith stone and is seen in ebony black in color. This is a stone temple and adjacent of this temple are the naturally formed caves. These were believed to be the place where Lord Shiva took meditation. These naturally formed caves entrance are shaped by stone art by unknown artisan. These are really looking sacred on this high mountain peak having an altitude of 3600 meters above the mean sea levels.

Festival at Rudranath Temple

Rudranath Temple festival occurs annually on the full moon day of Sravana Masa either in between July to August of every year. This is celebrated here with kedar pilgrims along with its villagers. This is a very pleasant day with full moon facing opposite to this temple and looks very holy. Many ritual and ceremonies are conducted in this auspicious day. Thus with immense care and with prosperity all the rituals are performed and the devotees offer prayers at the temple seeking blessing for a joyful and prosperous life. It would be an experience to attend the festival as well as to offer prayer on such a holy and auspicious day.