Shree Vishwanath Temple Guptkashi

Shree Vishwanath Temple Guptkashi

Vishwanath Temple Guptkashi Kedarnath Rd Rudraprayag |

The journey to Guptkashi on the to kedarnath itself is an adventure. The distance to this holy place from ukhimath is 13 km, kedarnath is 46 km & Gauriund 32 km. Height 1319 meters. To wash the sine due to the Mahabharat war, pandas were visited to this temple for worship of lord Shiva but lord Shiva becomes Nandi & rushed away. Manika Karnik kund with the holy waterfall of Ma Ganga & Ma Jamuna.

it is in Guptkashi (a stop-over to Kedarnath Dham).

The temple boasts remarkable architecture similar to other temples of Uttarakhand like Kedarnath built with stone, having a high tower over the sanctum and a slanting roof akin to the architectural style of the Himalayan region

The story of this temple goes like this-

The sacred Vishwanath Temple is the place where Lord Shiva proposed to Parvati to marry him. However, the conjugal ceremonies of the wedding were carried in the Triyugi Narayan Temple also known as Trijuginath Temple in Rudraprayag district.

Another important tale attached with Guptkashi is after the battle of Mahabharata between Pandavas and Kauravas, the Paanch Pandavas (Yudhishthira, Arjuna, Bhima, Nakula, and Sahadeva) wanted to meet lord Shiva and seek his blessings.

As Pandavas had destroyed their own dynasty and were responsible for Brahma Hatya (although they were the initiative towards ending the Adharm and Dharma Yudh was being held), Lord Shiva refused to meet them in Kashi and went incognito as the Bull Nandi to Guptkashi in Uttrakhand.

But Pandavas visited the Guptkashi and recognized him in the form of Nandi. The Pandavas met him and apologized to Lord Shiva for doing Yudh although they had fought for a right cause.

Then Lord Shiva disappeared from Guptkashi and appeared at five places in different forms, now famous as Panch Kedar which includes Kedarnath, Rudranath, Tungnath, Madhyamaheshwar, and Kalpeshwar.

Situated on the left side of Vishwanath Temple, Ardhanarishwar Temple is also dedicated to Lord Shiva. The presiding idol in the temple is actually half man and half woman presenting Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Beside the fascinating idol, one will find the symbol of Swastika.

one small water body, called Manikarnika Kund in front of the temple with two sprouts on either side namely Ganga and Yamuna.