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Ram11
28 February 2015, 10:34 PM
Namaste,

Sri Kedarnath or Sri Kedareshwara Jyotirlingam is located in the present day Uttaranchal state.

In which scriptures(Puranas,Itihasas,etc.) can we find information about the Kedara Kshetra?

Are there any shlokas/stotras/hymns on Sri Kedarnath?

smaranam
01 March 2015, 08:45 PM
Namaste

While The Nar-NArAyaN avatAr and BadrinAth Dham are explained in Shrimad Bhagvad mahApurAN in detail, Kedarnath is mentioned as a kshetra near BadrikAshram of BadrinAth in

SKANDA PURAN (http://www.neelkanthdhaam.org/skpu-4.html) (At the moment I do not have verses)



THE MAJESTY OF BADRIKSHETRA
Kartikeya asked lord Shiva--' How did this sacrosanct place originate? Who is the presiding deity of this place?'
Lord Shiva replied--' Badrikashram is an eternal city and lord Narayan is its presiding deity. A mere sight of Badrikashram is enough to free a man from all the bondage of life. There are numerous other holy places situated in the vicinity, Kedarnath being one of them.'
To emphasize the significance of Badrikashram, lord Shiva narrated the following tale to Kartikeya--' In Satyayuga, lord Vishnu existed in his physical form at Badrikashram for the benediction of human beings. But, in Tretayuga, only sages had the privilege of perceiving him with the help of yoga. At the advent of Dwapar things changed drastically and lord Vishnu just disappeared from Badrikashram. Deities became worried and asked lord Brahma about the reason that made lord Vishnu disappear. Even lord Brahma had no answer to this question. Thinking that lord Vishnu must have gone to Ksheer sagar-his eternal abode, all the deities led by Brahma went there. They eulogized Vishnu, who emerged from the Ksheer sagar. But, none of the deities except lord Brahma could see him. Lord Vishnu told Brahma that the main reason why he disappeared from Badrikashram ...
...
This is how lord Vishnu once again graced Badrikashram with his presence. Even a grain of 'prasad' had at Badrikashram is enough to liberate a man from all his sins.

This website on Chaar DhAm yAtrA (http://www.chardhamtours.net/kedarnath-in-purana.html) specifies various purans and chapters that mention Kedarnath so it is a study you can undertake. Look for a Vaidic SauMshodhan kendra in your city or a similar library or a library affiliated with a college, university or temple that will have the mentioned purANs with verse translations.



Kedarnath In Purana

Brief Ancient Katha (Vyas smriti fourth chapter)
Person may leave all his sins having journey to Kedranath.

Mahabaharat Shalya Purana (38th chapter)
There are seven Saraswati in universe namely, 1. Suprabha in pushkar, 2. Kanchanakshi in Naimisharanya, 3. Vishala in Gaya, 4. Manorma in Ayodhya, 5. Oaghwati in Kurukshetra, 6. Surena in Gangadwar, 7. Vimlodka in Himalaya (http://www.chardhamtours.net/kedarnath-in-purana.html#).

Shantiparva (35th chapter)
The person get Shivloka by leaving his body (dead), being Mahaprasthana yatra that is joumey to Kedaraanchal.

Vana purana (38th chapter)
After bathing in Kedarkhand (or Gaurikund ?)and visiting Kedarnath temple in Krishnapaksha on chaturdashi, the devotee gets rid of all of his/her sins and gets Swarga.

Kurma purana ( 36th chapter)
Person will get Rudraloka having darshan of Kedar and [after ?] bathing in Himalaya teertha.

Shiva Purana (Gyan sauMhita, 38th chapter)
Kedareshwar linga is situated in the Himalayas which is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva (http://www.chardhamtours.net/kedarnath-in-purana.html#). After visiting Kedareshwar Linga, devotees get rid of all their sins.

Skanda Purana (First part of Kedarkhand, 40th chapter)
Pandvas had asked Vyas ji for a remedy for their sins which had happened due to Gau hatya and Guru Hatya during the war of Mahabharat. Vyas ji replied and told them to visit Kedarnath to get prayaschitta (repentance leading to forgiveness).Jai Badrinath Kedarnath

smaranam
01 March 2015, 09:00 PM
I shall look these up at the temple library when I get a chance.

Ram11
03 March 2015, 06:10 AM
Namaste Smaranam Ji,

Thanks a lot for the information.:)

smaranam
04 March 2015, 11:04 PM
You are welcome :)