Char Dham Yatra 2023: The Sapta Badri Complex Of Temples In The Lap Of Uttarakhand

Add as a preferred source on Google

While Kedarnath is a part of Char Dham and Panch Kedar complex of Lord Shiva, the Badrinath is a part of Char Dham and a part of sapta Badri temple complex belonging to Lord Vishnu. Both these temple complexes are situated in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand.

Your Badri Yatra is never complete without visiting the Sapta Badri which consists of Badri Vishal,Adi Badri, Vriddha Badri, Bhavishya Badri, Yogadhyan Badri, Dhyan Badri, and Ardha Badri. All these temples, are located in proximity to each other and invite the devotees to immerse themselves in the mesmerising views of the landscape and also inspires devotion in the pilgrims. Sapta Badri includes the following seven Temples:

1. Badri Vishal (Badrinath), 2. Yog Dhyan Badri, 3. Bhavishya Badri,
4. Ardh Badri, 5. Vridha Badri, 6. Dhyan Badri, 7. Adi Badri,

1. Badrinath (Badri Vishal)

Badrinath Temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, is regarded as one of the 108 Divyadesams of Sri Vaishnavaites and as an important part of Char Dham Yatra. It opens during the month of April and closes in November every year. Badrinath is the last resort for devotees who want to wash themselves off the sins committed in the past and present. On the way to Badrinath, you are greeted by Nar and Narayana and Neelkanth mountain ranges and the Alakananda river famous for its ferocious currents. Tapt Kund is another interesting feature around the Badrinath temple.

2. Adi Badri

Adi Badri is age old and hosts 16 temples inside its complex. With Alakananda and Pindar rivers in the vicinity, Adi Badri looks inspiring perfectly serene, and spiritually enticing to the visitors who step in here. There is an idol of Lord Vishnu that is made of black stone, and a height of one metre, that is installed inside the Sanctum.

3. Vriddha Badri

Vriddha Badri has a story behind it. When Lord Vishnu arrived at the banks of the Alakananda, in the guise of an old man, and met Sage Narada, the temple acquired the name of Vriddha Badri thereafter. Vriddha Badri is on the banks of the Alakananda at the height of 1380 metres, and extends from Satapanth to Nandaprayag in the Alaknanda river valley. Kapaleshwar Mahadev temple exists in the vicinity on the route to Vriddha Badri.

4. Bhavishya Badri

Situated at an altitude of 2744 meters, on the way from Tapovan to Lata in the Niti valley, stands the Bhavishya Badri temple dedicated to the Narasimha avatar of Lord Vishnu. At the end of Kaliyuga, it is believed that Lord Vishnu will appear for the first time in this shrine. Idol of Lord Narasimha is installed inside this temple and resides here as a picture of benevolence and mercy to his devotees. He displays his ferocious side to only the enemies of the Dharma.

5. Yogadhyan Badri

Located near the Govind Ghat in Pandukeshwar, Yogadhyan Badri stands at an elevation of 1,829 meters, and is known to be the birthplace of Pandavas. Here was where, as per the legends, the King Pandu performed Tapasya in order to atone for the sin of killing two deers. Kunti is known to have given birth to Karna at the Surya Kund. Vishnu is seen in a meditative posture and is known as Pandukeshwar for a reason. Pandu installed the idol of Vishnu here and hence the name Pandukeshwar. During the winters, the Utsav Murti of Lord Vishnu is brought from the Badrinath temple here.

6. Dhyan Badri

This temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, is famous for a legendary story associated with Urva Rishi, the son of King Puranjaya, who meditated in the Urgam valley to have a darshan of Lord Vishnu. In the temple, a black stone idol of four armed Vishnu in the meditative posture has been installed. Krishna Janmashthami and Makar Sankranti are the festivals that are specifically celebrated here.

7. Ardha Badri

Ardha Badri, is the smallest of all the Sapta Badri temples in the temple complex.. One needs to trek some distance up to the temple to reach it as the region is quite quaint with tough terrains. The idol of Lord Vishnu is also small in size when compared to the rest of idols in other Sapta Badri temples.