Hi folks,
Hope you are having a good time.
Religion has been an integral part of human lives since ages. Although different in practices and belief systems, the concept of 'heaven and hell' is universal in all religions and has intrigued many. There are infinite folktales and mythologies which have captivated minds of masses with their description of heaven.
Mountains are often associated with adjectives like beautiful, pristine and peaceful. In Hinduism, the abode of the Lord Shiva is described to be Mount Kailash in the mighty Himalayas. Himalayas are also home to a lot of holy sites where sages did penance to please the Gods. One such holy site is Kedarnath temple in Uttarakhand state of India, which is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas dedicated to Lord Shiva.
As per folklore, the Pandavas(from the epic Mahabharata) did penance here to atone for their sins. Lord Shiva, who was being pursued by the Pandavas, took the form of a bull and disappeared into the ground at Kedarnath. The present temple was built by sage Shankaracharya at the original site in the 8th century A.D. . Every year, millions of people from all over India visit this holy shrine to pray to Lord Shiva.
Besides its religious significance, the natural beauty around the temple leaves visitors spellbound. Being in the valley, it is surrounded by snow clad mountains on three sides. The yearn to experience sheer magnanimity of sky hugging Himalayas and the Chorabari Glacier in the backdrop, motivates one to undertake the 24 kilometres of arduous trek through valleys and forests.
Some people wish for a chance to have this pilgrimage just once in their life to experience this enchanting beauty. Their devotion for Lord Shiva has kept this tradition alive for centuries. I had a similar desire as I heard anecdotes of people who had been there. After a lot of planning and schedule mending, I finally had the breathtaking view in front of my eyes on the evening on 5 May, 2022. Believe me, all of your fatigue from the journey will vanish in thin air, once you witness this marvel.
Chatting and trekking with people having diverse backgrounds from around the country made me realise the power, belief systems have on humans. Faith on divine power has kept hope alive in humans since inception and hope is what drives life. This pilgrimage made me realise the cultural treasure India contains and maybe that's the reason why India is called the spiritual capital of the world.
I invite all my fellow hivers to witness the serene beauty of heaven in Kedarnath Valley. You will definitely be mesmerised. I have shared unedited pictures from my phone that I took on this trip. Thanks for reading this blog. I hope you like it.
See you again soon !
