Synopsis
According to the latest reports, the doors to the holy Kedarnath Temple would be shut for winter from November 3 at 8:30 AM. This development was announced by the temple authorities, which cited Chief Official of the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee, Vijay Prasad Thapliyal.
This year, devotees shall get a chance to pray to Lord Kedarnath at his winter abode, the Shri Omkareshwar Temple in Ukhimath. A Char Dham pilgrimage, Kedarnath Temple, among others, closes every year in October-November and opens the following year in April-May. November 3 is also Bhai Dooj, one of the sacred Hindu festivals, which celebrates the bond of sister and brother.
Like all other Char Dhams, Yamunotri will observe its doors shut on Bhai Dooj, and Gangotri will keep its doors closed the next day after Diwali, on Annakut. The Badrinath Temple will shut down its doors on Dussehra festival.
Legend
According to an ancient legend, the great sages Nar and Narayan, of whom the incarnation was that of Lord Vishnu, performed intense penance on the peak of Kedar in Himalayas. Lord Shiva was pleased with their devotion and granted them at their request the boon to exist forever in the form of a Jyotirlinga.
Yet another identity of the same temple is also given with Pandavas of Mahabharata. It is believed that when Pandavas, proceeding towards heaven after the Kurukshetra war, were preceding Lord Shiva in his bull form. When this bull was sinking into earth, Bhima caught its tail. Since then, that place is identified as Kedarnath Dham.
History of Kedarnath Temple
The ancient temple of Kedarnath was constructed by the Pandavas. But it vanished somewhere in time. The temple is later reconstructed in the 8th century by Adi Shankaracharya. According to some people, it was buried under snow for 400 years. Behind the temple lies a memorial of Adi Shankaracharya.
This temple was renovated several times after Shankaracharya. An important restoration work was done by King Bhoj of Malwa in the 10th century and also in the 13th century. Even scientists agree that between the 13th and 17th centuries, a small ice age had taken place during which the snowfall covered the temple.