At Shri Kedarnath Dham, there are more than 350 stairs to reach the temple which few devotees refuse to climb due to health issues. Thus, we opt for palki (palanquin). The charge of palki for one devotee to-and-fro was Rs. 1,500 but after bargaining, we paid Rs. 1,100 to palki wala.

(The above photo was taken during Braj Chaurasi (84) Kos Yatra)

About: Tirthraj Vimal Kund – The above photo was taken during Braj Chaurasi (84) Kos Yatra.

Nanda–Yashoda, the father-mother of Shri Krishna in Dwaparayuga, made the desire to perform all the pilgrimages.

Seeing the old age of the parents, Shri Krishna called all the pilgrimages to the Vimal Kund and gave it the title of Teerthraj.

There are Siddhapeeths of all four sects (Ramanuja, Madhavgoud, Nimbarka, and Vishnuswami) around the Vimal Kund, and many reputed or established temples and ashrams.

(Excerpted from the book “Mein Kamvan Hu”)

Kameshwar Mahadev is one of the four main Mahadevs of Brajmandal. They have been established by Vajranabh, the great-grandson of Shri Krishna. The white Kundli Purush, born from the body of Brahma Ji, has appeared in the form of Kameshwar Mahadev. The journey of Kawadis to bathe the Mahadevs of Braj is completed after bathing Kameshwar Mahadev.

(Excerpted from the book “Mein Kamvan Hu”)

(About: Mandir Shri Kameshwar Mahadev – The above photo was taken during Braj Chaurasi (84) Kos Yatra)

Click to learn more about Mandir Shri Gokul Chandrama Ji.

(About: Mandir Shri Gokul Chandrama Ji – This photo was taken during Braj Chaurasi (84) Kos Yatra)

Importance of Gauri Kund

Kedarnath is a famous pilgrimage site of Vraj. On the hill above, Kedarnath ji is seated in a small cave under a huge white stone rock in the form of Sheshnag. For whose darshan you reach by climbing about three hundred and fifty stairs. The miraculous red colored Shivalinga and Shiva family are present in the cave-like temple. This legendary ‘Gauri Kund’ is situated at the foothills of the mountain. Performing Jalabhishek of Bholenath with the water of this pond has special significance. Actually, entire Braj is the place of Lord Krishna‘s pastime. But in Braj there are many places of Lord Shiva’s pastimes. Bholenath is considered to be the biggest witness of the deeds of Shri Radha-Krishna. Lord ‘Kedarnath’ is present here since the Dwapar period and till today he is delighting the devotees with the darshan of his same divine and strange form and fulfilling all their wishes.

Braj residents believe that when Nand Baba and Yashoda Maiya did not have a child, they promised that when they had a son, they would visit all four Dhams. In his old age, Shri Krishna appeared before him in the form of a small child. Sri Krishna when grew up a little, Nand Baba and Yashoda ji remembered their resolve to visit Chardham. Then he expressed to Shri Krishna his desire to go on pilgrimage to all four Dhams. Knowing this, Shri Krishna called all the four Dhams with the help of Yoga Maya and called them to Braj and then one by one established all the Sanatani pilgrimage sites of South Asia in Braj. Therefore, pilgrims from all over the world come to visit these places of pilgrimage throughout the year.

According to mythology, Lord Shiva‘s wife Parvati, also known as Gauri, had performed rigorous penance at this place to attain Lord Shiva and had anointed the Shivalinga with the water of this pond and 1.25 lakh lotus flowers. Therefore this pond is known as ‘Gauri Kund’.

(Hindi to English Translation by Google Translate)

गौरी कुण्ड का महात्म्य (Kedarnath) – These photos were taken during Braj Chaurasi (84) Kos Yatra.

In Luk Luk Kund, Lord Krishna was playing the game of Luka Chuppee (hide and seek) with the cowherds. From there Lord Krishna disappeared. The cowherds search for a long time but did not find Lord Krishna.

Cowherds started sacrificing their lives in the separation of Krishna, then Shri Krishna stood on the stone and played the flute, which make the stone soft and became the symbol of Lord Shri Krishna’s feet.

(The above photo was taken at Mandir Sri Charan Pahadi (Bhudaka village), Kaman in Bharatpur (Rajasthan) during Braj Chaurasi (84) Kos Yatra)