| Char Dham Yatra – towards Badrinath, Day 53 |


Yogdhyan Badri

Yogdhyan Badri is situated in a town called Pandukeshwar of that region, on the banks of Govind Ghat – the steps leading down to the sacred Alaknanda river. This temple finds its name amongst the Sapta Badri or the 7 sacred Badris, as they’re reverentially called. Yogdhyan Badri temple is located at an approximate distance of 22 kms from Joshimath & 10 km from Hanuman Chatti. This temple too falls on the sacred route of the pilgrimage to Badrinath temple.

The idol installed in Yogdhyan Badri temple is of Lord Vishnu sitting in the meditation posture. Therefore, this religious place is recognized as Yogdhyan Badri. The bronze idol of Lord Vishnu in this temple, was installed by King Pandu – father of the heroes of the great Mahabharata war, the 5 Pandavas. This is the same place where the Pandavas were born and their father King Pandu later attained liberation. When the Badrinath temple doors are shut in winter, Yogdhyan Badri becomes the winter home of Lord Badrinath’s festival idol that is usually paraded in religious processions, during festivals. Besides this, the movable festive idols of Lord Kuber and Lord Vishnu are also worshipped here. Priests hailing from South India officiate as chief priests in this temple. The Pandavas were born in Pandukeshwar and their father Pandu too passed away over here only. The Pandavas came here after the Mahabharata war, to atone for the sin of killing their cousins, the Kauravas. The Pandavas handing the reins of their kingdom in Hastinapur over to their grandson Parikshit, left for the Himalayas, to engage in penance. The architecture & build of the temples over here is similar to that of Kedarnathji, but these temples are much smaller in size though. The areas surrounding this temple are spellbinding in nature.

Life becomes fulfilled and sanctified by the mere Darshan of these places. What really matters though is the purity and sanctity of our intent & feelings. The Lord showers His compassion and grace upon those who are sincere and the straight forward.

(To be continued …)