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Badree Naath

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Badree Naath

One of the four Dhaam - Badaree Naath (in Uttaraa Khand) in North, Jagannaath Puree (in Udeesaa) in East, Raameshwaram (in Tamil Naadu) in South, and Dwaarakaa Puree (in Gujaraat) in West . Thus these four Dhaam are located in all the four directions of India. This one is located in North in Himaalaya on the banks of River Dhaulee Gangaa. It is also known as Badarik Aashram. Badaree Naath is another name of Vishnu. Among these four, three are the temples of Vishnu, only Raameshwaram is the temple of Shiv Jee. Dhanu (Sagittarius), Sinh (Leo) and Mesh (Aries) Raashi (Sign) person should visit once in life here.

Cradled in the twin Mountain ranges of Nar and Naaraayan is the holy shrine. Legend has it that when Gangaa was to descend on Prithvi, it fell on Shiv's Jataa and when it came out from Shiv's Jataa it came out in 5 rivers - Alaknandaa is one of them. It is situated along the left bank of Alaknandaa with the towering Neelkanth peak as the splendid backdrop at an elevation of 3,133 meters. This revered spot was once carpeted with wild berries. Thus the place got the name "Badaree Van", meaning "forest of berries" .

Badree Naath was established by Aadi Shankaraachaarya Jee in 9th AD century. Shankar discovered the image of Badree Naaraayan in the Alaknandaa River and enshrined it in a cave near the Tapt Kund hot springs. In the 16th century, the king of Garhwaal moved the Moorti to the present temple. The most important feature of this temple is the one meter tall statue of Vishnu as Lord Badree Naaraayan, made of black Shaal Graam stone. The statue is considered to be one of eight Swayam Vyakt (or Swaayambhoo), or self-manifested statues of Vishnu.

One legend explains the reason why Vishnu is shown sitting in Padmaasan, rather than reclining. According to the story, Vishnu was chastised by a sage who saw Vishnu's consort Lakshmee massaging His feet. Vishnu went to Badree Naath to perform austerity, meditating for a long time in Padmaasan. To this day, the area around Badree Naath attracts Yogee who come for meditation and seclusion.

One story goes that in his previous incarnation, Arjun prayed as Nar to Naaraayan Vishnu here and asked for His companionship in his next birth. His prayer was granted by Badaree Naath Jee and Arjun got the companionship of Shree Krishn in Mahaaabhaarat times.

Another story goes that once Shiv and Paarvatee were meditating there, that Vishnu came there in disguise of a little boy crying. Paarvatee Jee asked the boy of the reason of His crying. The boy said - "I want to meditate here, so I want to have this area." Shiv and Paarvatee found that the boy was Vishnu in disguise, so they left the area and went to Kedaar Naath.

Bhaagvat Puraan, 3/1, says that Nar and Naaraayan are still doing Tap since time immemorial for the benefit for the people.
The Skand Puraan states that "There are several sacred shrines in heaven, on earth, and in hell; but there is no shrine like Badreenaath."
The area around Badreenaath was also celebrated in Padm Puraan as abounding in spiritual treasures.

Badree Kshetra
Badaree is the name, and Kshetra means a piece of land. It is the land around Badaree Naath Jee (see below). Mentioned many times in scriptures. It is a holy place where many people, including Nar and Naaraayan, Uddhav etc had gone to do Tap. Bhavishya Puraan, 3/30 gives another name to it - Vishaalaa.

Badree Van
Badaree is the name, and Van means forest. It is a Teerth place and is often mentioned in context of people living there in their last days. It is the place for doing Tap also.

Some Places on the Way

Rishikesh
This is the first place to start the journey to Badaree Naath. Rishi + kesh, the Hair of Sages, is a celebrated spiritual town on the bank of Gangaa and is surrounded by Shivaalik range of the Himaalaya on three sides. It is said that when Raibhya Rishi did hard penances, God appeared by the name of "Hrishikesh " and this area hence forth came to be known as Rishikesh.

Joshee Math
Joshee Math is situated on the slopes above the confluence of Alaknandaa and Dhaulee Gangaa. Of the four Math established by Aadi Shankaraachaarya, Joshee Math is in Badaree Naath and installed in the temple for people to worship. There are many temples in the township most important is the temple of Nir Singh in commotion of Vishnu. The popular belief holds that the left arm of this deity, when with time and the day, will completely wither, Badaree Naath valley will cease to exist and the Gods will transfer the residence into the neighboring Neeti Valley at Bhavishya Badaree. Joshimath is connected by regular bus service to Rishikesh, Haridwaar, Badaree Naath and many other center in the region.

Tapt Kund
Natural thermal springs on the bank of the river Alaknandaa, where it is customary to bathe before entering the Badaree Naath Temple.

Naarad Kund
A recess in the river, near Tapt Kund, forming a pool from where the Badaree Naath idol was recovered.

Brahm Kapaal
A flat platform on the bank of river Alaknandaa. Hindus perform propitiating rites for their deceased ancestors.

Shesh Netra
1.5 kms. away is a boulder having an impression of the legendary serpent, better known as the Sheshnag's eye.

Vasundharaa Falls
As the name suggests, Vasundharaa is a magnificent water fall. This place is 5 kms from Badaree Naath out of which 2 kms is motorable road up to Mana.

Mana Village
Inhabited by an Indo-Mongolian tribe, it is the last Indian village before Tibet.

Bheem Pul (abridge)
On the other side of Mana village, a massive rock forming a natural bridge, lies over the roaring Saraswatee River. It presents a spectacular view of water thundering down through the narrow passage under the rock and is believed to have been placed there by Bheem, the second eldest among the five Paandav brothers.

Vyaas Gufaa (Cave)
Near Mana Village, this is a rock-cave where Ved Vyas is believed to have composed the Mahaabhaarat and the Pauraanik commentaries.


Badrinaath and Kedaarnath Tour Program From Chennai - a sample
18.5.2012   Departure for Mathura by G.T. Express
20.5.2012  Reach Mathuraa (two days 20.5.12 and 21.5.12) Darshan at Vrindaavan, Govardhan, Nand Gaanv
21.5.2012  2.30 p.m. Dep. for Rishikesh
22.5.2012  Rishikesh
23.5.2012  5.30 am dep. for Badrinaath
24.5.2012  Badrinath Darshan, Beema palam, Saraswatee River, Vyaas Gufaa Darshan
25.5.2012  6.00 am dep. for Son Prayaag
26.5.2012  Kedaarnaath Darshan by helicopter
27.5.2012  Kedaarnaath
28.5.2012  Srinagar (not in Kashmeer)
29.5.2012  6.00 am dep. for Dev Prayaag and Haridwaar
30.5.2012  Haridwaar night 10.00 departure. for Delhi
31.5.2012  Delhi and departure for Chennai by Tamilnaadu Express
2.6.2012    Chennai

For Yaatraa, the Yaatree should pay Rs.11,500/- plus train fare (Yaatree's choice whether it is A/C or non-A/C). If Yaatree need separate room they should bear that amount. For Kedaarnaath Darshan Yaatree should pay Rs. 8,500/- as а helicopter charges. The amount of Rs. 11,500/- includes bus fare, hygienic Vaishnav food and normal accommodation. For this Yaatraa, train tickets should be booked 90 days in advance. Hence the Yaatree are requested to register their names immediately and send an advance of Rs.10,000/- per head. During the Yaatraa one can enjoy Upanyaas throughout the tour to be rendered by Gomatam Shri Madhavachariar

For further details contact
Mythily Madhavachari
9444456176,    9444765247

 

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Created by Sushma Gupta on 3/15/06
Contact:  sushmajee@yahoo.com
Updated on 04/21/13