Badrinath

Badrinath is the only Char Dham dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is one of the 108 Divya Desams — sacred Vishnu shrines sung by the Alvars. It is also one of the Panch Badri temples of Uttarakhand. The temple sits on the banks of the Alaknanda River, framed by the Nar and Narayan mountain ranges and the snowcapped Nilkantha peak above.

The current temple structure is a colourful, elaborate shrine with a bright multi-coloured facade. The idol of Lord Badrinarayan — made of black Shaligram stone — is considered one of the eight svayambhu (self-manifested) forms of Vishnu. The temple was largely reconstructed and restored by the Garhwal kings and has been maintained by the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee ever since.

Adi Shankaracharya is said to have found the idol of Badrinarayan submerged in the Narad Kund and installed it in the cave behind the present temple. He also established the Rawal system — the custom of having the chief priest from the Namboodiri Brahmin community of Kerala — which continues to this day.

Mythology

According to legend, Lord Vishnu was deeply engaged in meditation at this spot. When Goddess Lakshmi came to check on him, she found him exposed to the harsh Himalayan cold. Unable to wake him, she transformed herself into a Badri (jujube) tree to shelter him. When Vishnu awoke and saw her sacrifice, he proclaimed, "You have done penance equal to mine; henceforth this place shall be known as Badrikashram."