| Char Dham Yatra – towards Kedarnath, Day 33 |


Trijuginarayan

Trijuginarayan is the capital of Himavat. For Lord Shiva and Devi Parvati’s wedding, Lord Vishnu had observed all the rituals, customs and traditions, as Devi Parvati’s brother. Brahmaji had officiated as the Purohit (priest) for this celestial wedding. All the ascetics, sages and saints too had participated in this ceremony.

The spot or place intended for the actual ceremony at the wedding venue is called Brahma Shila (slab) and this was located right in front of the temple. All the Gods & demi Gods bathed here before the wedding ceremony, which is why there exist over here three water tanks that are called as Rudra Kund, Vishnu Kund & Brahma Kund. There is the temple here of Lord Vishnu and Devi Lakshmi, that most people call as Trijuginarayan temple. Lord Shiva and Devi Parvati have a very deep relationship with this temple. This indeed is the place where the Shiva-Parvati marriage was conducted and successfully concluded because, there are many things/objects found here as signs of the ceremony having taken place here.

Lord Vishnu is worshipped in His Vamana (dwarf) form or Avatar over here and along side are the idols of Shri Badrinath & Lord Ramchandra, in the Sanctum Sanctorum. The lamps offered here are kept burning incessantly and near this point is an idol of Shiva-Parvati made in stone. The sacrificial fire-place is also kept ignited and burning incessantly, with offerings of wood, ghee, barley seeds and sesame seeds. People apply the ash from this fire-place on their forehead and partake of it as a sacrament. In the courtyard of the temple are the four water tanks – Brahma Kund, Rudra Kund, Saraswati Kund & Surya Kund, traditionally used for a holy bath and libation rituals. It is believed that the ash from the fire-place blesses all the devotees with happiness in their married life.

The speciality of the Brahma Kund near the temple is that when Brahma ji had come to attend and officiate at Lord Shiva and Devi Parvati’s wedding, He was the first one to have bath in this tank. Only after that did He conduct their wedding ceremony. In present times, all people who come here bathe in it considering it to be sacred and they take Brahma Ji’s blessings.

Vishnu Kund

Lord Vishnu fulfilled a very important role in the wedding of Lord Shiva with Devi Parvati; the role of Devi Parvati’s brother. The tank in which Lord Vishnu bathed before the wedding is referred to as Vishnu Kund in present times. Besides this, the tank in which all the other Gods, demi-Gods and Goddesses bathed is known by the name Rudra Kund. Apart from all these, there is also a pillar post establised here, which it is said was used to tether to it the cow that Lord Shiva received in marriage.

The water in all the three tanks comes from the Saraswati Kund that was formed from the navel of Lord Vishnu. Therefore it is believed, that those barren couples who bathe in these tanks are liberated from childlessness. Those devout seekers who undertake a pilgrimage to this sacred place take back the ash from the fire-place that is lit incessantly, so that their married life is rendered auspicious by the blessings of Lord Shiva and Devi Parvati.

No matter how much we describe the glory of this ethereal and divine place, it is inadequate nevertheless. Let us proceed forward now, having had Darshan of such a beautiful place.

(To be continued …)