Shri Aadi Badri Dham – Kedarnath temple: Braj Chaurasi(84) Kos Yatra

Badrinath, Kedarnath – Today’s destination. A thought within – Uttarakhand? That is far and if I am correct we are on-tour “Braj Chaurasi Kos Yatra” – correct? No not that one but within Rajasthan – part of Braj Chaurasi Kos Yatra there are temples of Aadi Badri Dham and Kedarnath. Really? Amazing – said I. Anxious to visit. Last year I was at Badrinath, Kedarnath – Uttarakhand.
On the way now. The driver of our car stopped at Mansi Ganga for us to visit. Yesterday few missed the same during Giriraj Parikrama. Wonderful. So nice of you and we all towards Mansi Ganga.

Mansi Ganga

The story was not known as temple priest was busy – lots-n-lots of devotees. We offer prayers and with few splashes of sacred holy water all over our body we proceed towards Aadi Badri Dham. But another temple at the entrance. I inquire.

Shri Laxmi Narayan mandir – under Rangnath Temple, Vrindavan said the local person. I offer prayers.

Mansi Ganga is approx. 30 km from Vrindavan – close to Giriraj Parikrama.

Shri Laxmi Narayan temple

We now driving close to Ding Fort. No details about the same but yes, it is a huge fort. The driver of our car enhanced our knowledge – The fort is covered by water from all sides. Ok – said I. Maybe someday during Rajasthan tour will try to visit – a thought. Ding is in Rajasthan. We have crossed the border of Uttar Pradesh and now driving through the roads of Rajasthan.

Ding Fort is approx. 15 km from Mansi Ganga or one cay say approx. 45 km from Vrindavan.

One km of driving. Laxman temple – all vehicles stop. Steps towards the temple and we all walking to reach deity.

Shri Laxman ji temple

After Prayers, Prasad we requested priest to share the story about the temple. He requested all of us to sit quietly to listen.

The place where you are right now is called Dheerpur.

dheerpur naam gaon braj mandal ko
tako kala dekh tajmahalo sharmat hai
aur kundan ke beeach bagh bane bhavya
garjat tarjat meghan ki aur ghumraat hai
chalat dware jaldhare satrang dware
indra ke dhanush ki chawi darshat hai
aur dharti pe ho chahe sukha ka prakop kaho
dig mein to ho baroh mah barsaat hai

Because Lord Krishna enlarged himself at this location that is why it is named as Dheerpur. When Aghasur – a demon gulped Lord Krishna, lord had to expand his body to come out the stomach to kill the demon.

Another name of Dheerpur is Lathawar. Lord Krishna at Dheerpur taught people how to play Lathi.

This is Brajmandal and the temple you are present is of Sheshawatar Shri Laxman ji temple. Lord Laxman was Shesh in Satyug, Laxman in Treta Yug, Balarama during Dwapar Yug and during Kalyug they say Ramanajucharya is the incarnation of Lord Laxman. As you can see Ram in Baalroop (child) as well as Laxman and Urmila ji present within temple. All over the world it is said this is the only temple having Ram, Laxman, Urmila deity within one frame. The temple is approx. 400 years old and is also known as Usha temple. If you visit early morning you can see early morning sunlight reaching towards the face of deity to offer prayers as said and believed and then after touching feet of deities continues towards city life. And not to forget if you have time please visit palaces of Ding because they are special.
Boleiye Laxman maharaj ki jai

The priest blessed us for our safe journey. We all thanked him for sharing the history.

One km driving and a railway crossing. Train was about to pass. We have to stop our vehicles. Ber was on-sale in large numbers. Favorite for sure and I with friends towards the same to taste to purchase. Rs. 20 per kg but after bargain Rs. 10 per kg – The price.

Ber

Sweet – the taste. The driver of the car purchased smaller ones. Bigger ones were sweet but smaller ones – sweet and sour. And I saw Ber trees behind the makeshift shops. I ran to click photographs. Never saw Ber tree in-real life. The garden was full of Ber trees. Fantastic – said I.

Ber tree

The best part of road is you can stop wherever you want to know about a subject or to talk to people few known few unknown.

20 km approx. driving and finally we reach Badrinath but before Badrinath I saw a temple on top of a picturesque hill.

I inquire. Driver said it is Badrinath but No – He was wrong that I know later when we reached Shri Aadi Badri Dham.

Bhajan singing now-onwards during our tour is a day-to-day habit. Thanks to God wish who decided us to be on-tour. Prayers.

It is said Nand Baba was not having a child since the age of 80. He prayed if child is born he will tour all Teerth. When Nand Baba requested Lord Krishna his desire to tour all Teerth Lord said – I will bring all Teerth here for you. He requested Nanda Baba, Yashoda, Devki to close their eyes and when they open they all saw all Teerth present in front of them.

Gangotri, Yamunotri, Alakhnanda, Har Ki Pauri, Swarg Ashram, Dev Sarowar, Chandanwan, Gandhmadhav Parbat, Dhaulagiri Parbat, Chitrakoot Parbat, Vindhyachal Parbat, Dronagiri Parbat, Neel Ghati, Maya Devi, Tapasya Kund, Gauri Kund, Udhav Kund, Krishna Kund, Shyam Kund, Sidh Gufa and many other Teerth as well – The above display-board narrating summary.

Laxman Jhula? Another surprise for us as we all know Laxman Jhula is in Rishikesh but the display-board talks about the same. We were told it is behind the temple about half km walking distance. We all jointly walking to reach while singing bhajan passing through dense dry trees as well as muddy path. It is almost no man’s land except we saw one cowherd passing-by.

Few walks – Few stairs and another temple on top of the hill. The priest said Lord Laxman visited this hill. We were shown Laxman Jhula. Actually it is a hilly path that attach two hills through stones currently not existing but Yes, remains shows a jhula i.e., bridge was present few years back. Prayers and we again walking towards Aadi Badri Dam but this time for lunch. We are hungry.

Lunch over. A short nap and the drive towards the temple which we saw earlier if you remember.

Pashupatinath temple – the correct name approx. 7 km from Aadi Badri Dham.

Shri Pashupatinath temple

Village below the hill and they guided us how to reach. 100 approx. steps.

Watching surroundings – green fields – villages – Beautiful.

view from Shri Pashupatinath temple

And we all in-front of the priest to know the story.

Pushpvan i.e., Garden of flowers – from here Lord Shankar used to take flowers to Vrindavan to make garlands to be presented to Radha. He himself appear as Gopi to watch Maharaas. The village name is Pashopa. During Shivaratri hundreds of devotees from all villages near-by visit temple to offer prayers.

While returning we saw few old ladies with lots of courage or maybe devotion towards Lord Shankar temple climbing slowly-n-slowly to reach the deity to offer prayers. Salute – said I. And few resting maybe unable to reach as they were tired already. Anyways, that is respected too. One should not be over-courageous. Precaution is better than cure – they say.

We were served tea/water by a village house and cot as well to rest.� Upon request from the villages we call everybody to be present and a small session of bhajan. They won our heart for sure. Pranam – Salute !!!

bhajan at Pashopa village

Time was less as evening hours not that far we said bye-bye shukriya and towards our next destination i.e., Kedarnath.

A way within a small village – a short-cut towards Kedarnath but due to some reason wet thick mud was present. Maybe maybe not if vehicle stuck then? The driver decided to take the other route – The longer one but we reach Kedarnath safely.

300 approx. steps to reach. Kedarnath up on the hill. If I remember correctly today we had approx. 500 plus steps in a day.

view from Kedarnath temple

Nandi, Kedarnath temple

Kedarnath is a small cave. Devotee has/have to sit to visit inside. The priest showed us various God’s images present within rocks within the cave. Sheshnaag, Ganesh ji, Nandi and many more which is not man made – pure natural. Belief and one can see truly what is present. Prayers!!! ( Aadi Badri Dham, Kedarnath is near Kamvan. It is said there are altogether 12 Van i.e., jungles within Chaurasi Kos – Kamvan, Upvan, Vrindavan, Mahavan, Gokul, Aanor, Barsana, Jatipura, Nandgaon and few more… )

And another destination – Bimal Kund. It is said Lord Krishna, Nand Baba, Devki had bath within the reservoir.� A local person enhanced our knowledge. He showed us Suraj Ghat, Gau Ghat. The place where we standing is the head of Lord and opposite feets of Lord as well as right and left arms both sides of the reservoir. Wow – we all with folded hands – prayers. Few thought of bath and they enter the Kund no matter it was late evening hours. I was too tired by now. I offer prayers and a walk towards the vehicle for rest. A display-board Department Of� Tourism helping tourist with information about various tourist destination at Bharatpur:

Keola Deo National Park (Ghana) – 55 km

Loha Garh Fort – 57.5 km

Ganga Mata Temple – 57 km

Laxman Mandir – 57 km

Govt. Museum – 57.5 km

for detailed information contact: www.rajasthantourism.gov.in

Thank you Department Of Tourism. Noted – maybe one day will visit for sure and by this note the day ends.

We stop at Gatholi, Mathura for a cup of tea. Ram Singh made tea for us and as one guy was with Dafli he wishes to play the same. We handed over the dafli. Ram Singh started singing bhajan after serving us tea. The bhajan was such beautifully written that each word said has its deep meaning. I inquired who’s bhajan is this? Shyam Giri – He said. I do not know who is Shyam Giri ji nor I know personally Ram Singh ji but both won our heart.

And we proceed towards Vrindavan while remembering the day including bhajan.

The journey continues…