In front of the Kedarnath Temple is a modest building that houses several statues depicting Parvati and the five Pandavas. The hall that greets visitors as they enter the Kedarnath Temple is adorned with statues depicting many deities from Hindu mythology, including Lord Krishna, the Pandavas, Draupadi, Nandi, Shiva’s vehicle, Virbhadra, one of Shiva’s guards, and other gods and goddesses. You will be greeted by the magnificent statue of Nandi as you approach the entrance to the temple.
The temple is equipped with both a Garbha Griha, which is used for worship, and a Mandap, which is suitable for gatherings of pilgrims and guests. The Sadashiva form of Lord Shiva is represented by a rock formation with a conical peak that may be found inside the temple.
Within the Kedarnath temple is a rock formation in the shape of a conical tower that is revered as the Sadashiva manifestation of Shiva. There is a hall with a low ceiling that is located in front of the main temple. Figures representing a variety of gods and goddesses from the Mahabharat can be found adorning the walls. It is widely held that Adi Shankara was the one who brought the temple back to life after it had fallen into disuse. In addition to its association with Shiva, Kedarnath is also thought to be the location of the samadhi that Shankaracharya occupied. (achievement of beatified afterlife).
Reconstruction of the Kedarnath Temple with a Holistic Approach
As a result of the Kedarnath Flood in 2013, the Kedarnath Temple complex has been completely rebuilt and reconstructed in an aesthetically pleasing manner. Despite the fact that the primary Kedarnath temple structure is sound, Kedarnath is currently undergoing redevelopment that will result in wider walkways for pilgrims, new guest houses, accommodation for Pujaris and pilgrims, the construction of Bathing Ghats, Helipads, and other amenities.
In the course of the day, several poojas, or religious ceremonies, are carried out at the Kedarnath temple at various times, both in the morning and in the evening. In order to participate in a particular Pooja, devotees are required to spend a predetermined sum of money. The morning pooja begins at four in the afternoon and continues until seven in the evening. It consists of :
The price of admission to this Maha Abhishek Puja is 1700 Indian Rupees (INR) per person.
The Rudrabhishek Pooja is an offering made to Lord Shiva, and it is carried out with the intention of purging one’s sins. Attending this puja will set you back 1300 Indian Rupees (INR) each person.
This Abhishek is known as Laghurudrabhishek, and it is performed to either erase the negative effects of planets on one’s horoscope or to settle concerns relating to one’s health and fortune. One participant will be charged INR 1,100 for the puja.
To participate in the Shodasopachar Pooja, each devotee is required to pay a fee of one thousand Indian Rupees (INR). In addition to this, guests can pay a small fee to participate in the Balbhog ceremony, the general morning pooja, as well as a number of additional rituals that are done.
Evening poojas are performed between the hours of 6:00 and 7:30 in the evening. These include:
In the Shiva Sahasranamam Paath, all 1008 of Lord Shiva’s names are chanted in front of him as proper Pooja and Abhishekam are performed. To participate in this pooja, there is a fee of INR 360 required from each individual.
In order to participate in the Shiva Mahimastotra Paath, devotees are required to pay a fee of INR 360 for each individual. Stotrams with 16 syllables each are read at the Shiva Tandav Stotra Paath. These stotrams highlight the power and beauty of Lord Shiva. One person will set you back 340 INR for the experience.
Aarti Timings in Kedarnath : The daily pooja rituals at the Kedarnath temple begin around 4:00 in the morning with Maha Abhishek and continue until approximately 7:00 in the evening, when they are concluded with Shyan aarti. The Kedarnath temple opens its doors to the public for darshan at approximately 6 am, and there is a break in the afternoon service between the hours of 3 and 5 pm. The darshan hours for the general public at the Kedarnath temple conclude at seven o’clock in the evening.
The Priest of the Kedarnath Temple
Rawal is a member of the Veerashaiva group and hails from the Indian state of Karnataka. He is the head priest of the Kedarnath Temple. At Kedarnath, the Pujaris carry out all of the prescribed rites and pujas in accordance with the instructions provided by Rawal. At the Kedarnath Temple, devotees have the opportunity to do a variety of specific pujas. (online too). Some pujas require the devotees to be physically present, while other pujas can be booked online and do not require the devotees to be present in person.
Seasonal Timings of the Kedarnath Dham
When the sun moves into the zodiac sign of Aries, the Kedarnath temple that houses the Jyotirlinga of Shiva opens for business for just six months out of the year (April through November). The temple is closed when the sun moves into the sign of Scorpio.
Kedarnath’s Many Festivals and Their Meanings : In Kedarnath, they celebrate a number of different festivals throughout the year. They are as follows :
Badri-Kedar Utsav (in the month of June), Shravani Annakoot Mela (a day before Raksha Bandhan), Samadhi Pooja (on that day when the Kedarnath Temple closes for six months)
