The name of the Badrinath tirtha comes from the local word Badri which means wild berry. It is believed that when Lord Vishnu was doing penance in these mountains, His consort goddess Laxmi took the form of a tree and shaded Him from the sun's harsh rays. It is not the only dwelling place of God Himself but also home to countless pilgrims, saints, and sages who meditate here in search of enlightenment.
Badrinath is an ancient tirtha rich in sacred stories from many Hindu scriptures. Legend has it that Adi Shankaracharya, who restored Badrinath, wanted to re-establish the lost prestige of Hinduism and unite people under a common thread. If you're not familiar with this famous holy spot, here are just some of the stories that are legends and myths associated with Badrinath.
The story of the Pandav brothers along with Draupadi and their last pilgrimage that took them ascending a peak near Badrinath called Swargarohini or "Ascend to Heaven"; The visit by Lord Krishna and other sages-- these are just some of the tales we associate with this holy place.
According to Vamana Purana, the great sages Nara and Narayana (fifth incarnation of Lord Vishnu) have been here to perform penances. Devotees like Kapila, Gautam, and Kashyap Muni have been here to perform penances. Bhakta Narada attained salvation here. Lord Krishna loved this region. There have been medieval religious scholars like Adi Shankaracharya, Ramanujacharya, Sri Madhavacharya, and Sri Nityananda who came to learn and contemplate in silence. People of all ages come here.
Badrinath is a well-known Hindu pilgrimage site. There are many tourist attractions near Badrinath, and some of them are ski resorts as well. Here's a list of locations that can be visited during the Badrinath Tour:
- Pandukeshwar
- Govindghat
- BhimPul
- Valley of Flowers
- Hemkund Sahib
- Lokpal Temple
- Joshimath
- Auli
- Adi Badri
The Badrinath temple opens at 0430 hrs & closes at 1300 hrs. Again it opens at 1600 hrs & closes at 2100 hrs after the divine song Geet Govind.
At the opening and closing of the Badrinath temple, puja is held with vigor. But the temple is only open for six months of the year – from April-May to October-November. Its opening day, however, is determined on which day Basant pooja (in February or March) falls under astrological configurations.
Puja ceremonies are performed during special times when our team will perform certain rituals. Sometimes online puja is performed for people that don't visit the temple. One of the morning pujas is Mahabhishek, while evening prayers include Geet Govind and Aarti. You can book a Badrinath puja online by paying some fees at the Badrinath Mandir Committee. Unlike most Hindu temples, all these rituals (including decoration) are performed in front of the devotees.
Every day when the temple opens, visitors can climb the thirteen steps to enter and see the Badrivishal Mandir. The temple starts letting visitors in at 4:30 am with the maha Abhishek ritual. This ritual includes Abhishek puja and ends around 8:30-9 pm with the Shayan aarti that is performed by the Rawal of the temple.
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