Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Badrinath (Tiruvadariashramam)


Badrinath, located in the lofty Himalayan heights 10400 feet above sea level is a pilgrimage center held in the greatest esteem all over India. It is an arduous mountain route to Badrinath from Rishikesh or Haridwar in the Garwahl Himalayan region, where roads get blocked with landslides during the monsoon season. Badrinath stays closed 6 months a year from Deepavali all the way until the full moon day in the month of Chittirai (late spring in the Himalayas).

Hot water springs of Taptakundam are seen on the banks of the Alaknanda at Badrinath. The lofty peaks Neelakanta Parvatam and Nara Narayana Parvatam are visible from the temple.

The image of Badrinarayanar here is fashioned out of Saligramam. Badrrinarayana is seen under the badari tree, flanked by Kuberan and Garudan, Naradar, Narayana and Nara. Mahalakshmi (referred to as Aravindavalli in the Sree Vaishnava tradition) has a sanctum in the prakaram. There is also a shrine to Adi Sankarar.

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