Badrinath Temple
The Badrinath temple (Hindi: बद्रीनाथ मंदिर ), also Badrinarayan Temple is a Hindu temple in the mountain village of Badrinath, located in the state of Uttarakhand in India. The temple is one of the holiest temples of Hindus. It lies on the edge of the Alaknanda River. The temple is one of 108 temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The Badrinath temple is part of the Hindu pilgrimage Chota Char Dham pilgrimage and to Hindu Char Dham. The temple was built in the 9th century. Due to the weather conditions in the Himalaya Mountains, the temple only 6 months ( April-November ) is open during the year.
Description
The Badrinath temple is 15 meters high and has an ornate golden dome. The building is made of stone, while the windows are wooden. A wide stone staircase leads to the wooden gate. The exterior walls are typically painted in bright colors. Inside drawings can be found on the walls. The entrance leads into a large hall leading to the main shrine. The architectural style is that of a Buddhist temple. Below the temple is the Tapt Kund source that is used for medicinal purposes by many pilgrims. The source has an annual temperature of around 45 ° C.
History
The Badrinath temple was originally built as a pilgrimage temple in the 9th century. The Indian Spiritual Adi Shankara then explored the area and discovered the Tapt Kund source. The temple was renovated many times since avalanches had damaged the temple. In addition, it was extended in the 17th century by the king of Garhwal. In 1803 the temple was due to an earthquake almost completely destroyed. However, it was rebuilt by the King of Jaipur region. The temple is one of the five places where Hindus offer sacrifices to their ancestors.
Legend
The village of Badrinath is mentioned frequently in religious texts. A legend says that the god Vishnu has visited the mountain village at that time to train his abstinence and his meditation. Since then, it attracts devotees to meditate to Badrinath. However, there are numerous other legends that have sprung up around Badrinath.