| Char Dham Yatra – towards Badrinath, Day 57 |


After the Darshan of Joshimath Narsimh Narayan, we will have Darshan of an amazing and ethereal form today, listening to whose tradition itself gives one great joy and bliss. Where, the Lord comes once in a year to grant Darshan, by having which, all of one’s sins are washed away. I shall narrate to you the glory of such a beautiful place.

Bansi Narayan

Uttarakhand is a land of Gods n Goddesses and there is one such temple in this land of Gods, whose doors are opened only once in a year, on the day of Rakshabandhan – a day when sisters tie the sacred thread of protection (Rakshabandhan) around the wrists of their brothers, in Hindu tradition. This is very true and Lord Bansi Narayan is present here as an idol with 4 hands.

Prayers and worship are offered only once in a year, in this 10 ft. high temple situated in the Himalayan heights. On this day, all sisters tie the sacred thread or a ‘Rakhi’ as it is called, around Lord Bansi Narayan’s wrist.

On the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, all sisters living in the vicinity of this temple tie the Rakhi on their brothers’ wrists, only after tying one around Lord Bansi Narayan’s wrist. Even as the sun sets on that day, the temple doors are closed for yet another year. Lord Vishnu incarnating as the Vaman Avatar, shattered the ego of great King Bali (Danveer – who is renowned for his charity and regarded as a stalwart when it comes to ‘giving’) and banished him to the Patala Loka – nether world. King Bali prayed to the Lord for his protection there. In response to his prayers, Lord Sri Hari Vishnu Himself became King Bali’s doorkeeper and guard. Separated from her Lord thus, Devi Lakshmi reached Patala Loka and freed Him from His responsibility of guarding King Bali, by tying the Rakhi – sacred thread of protection around King Bali’s wrist. Sage Narada too is worshipped along with Lord Vishnu, in Bansi Narayan temple. The Lord manifested here after being freed from the Patala Loka. The Lord Himself protects all those who tie the Rakhi to Him. The road leading to the Bansi Narayan temple is arduous. After traveling in a vehicle from the district headquarters of Gopeshwar up to the Urgam valley, one has to cover the remaining distance of 12 kms to this temple, on foot.
(To be continued …)