Information of Vishwanath Temple, Guptkashi, Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand

Vishwanath Temple in Guptkashi is an ancient Hindu temple abode in the Gharwal regions of the Lower Himalayas. It is a beautiful stone temple with many Hindu architectural values. It is dedicated for Lord Shiva and Lord Vishwanath. This temple is built at an altitude of 1319 meters above the mean sea levels. This is an important temple considered in the Hindu pilgrimage to the Himalayas as the Chota Char Dham. It is found on the way to Kedarnath Mountains and aside by the Mandakani River. It is a holy place as well as tourist place to visit for its elegant mountain ranges and scenic beauties. It is divinely located at Ukhimath Town, Rudraprayag District in Uttrakhand State in India.

Vishwanath Temple Religious Significance

Guptkashi literally means the hidden out Banaras. Which is also a holy place for the Hindus with confluence of rivers found here, which are originating from the Himalayas. This temple is also known as the lower Kashi since the main abode of lord Shiva is considered to be the Kedarnath, which is in the upper part of these mountains. Many pilgrims come here and get enlightened from drinking and sprinkling the water of the Karmanika pond on their heads. This pond waters is a mix of Ganges and Yamuna Rivers. Lord Shiva and Vishvanatha are worshiped here. Daily rituals and ceremonies take place in these temples and many do pilgrim here in the Char Dham temple visits on the Himalayas. This place is considered to be a holy and sacred place for the Hindus since Vedic periods.

Vishwanath Temple Mythology & History

Guptkashi Temple has a mythology related with the Epic saga from the Mahabharata. After the great war of Kurekshetra, the Pandava's won the battle with the help of Sri Krishna in the last movement with few tactics. All of the Pandava's later with advice of many sages, they took Kailah Yatra to meet Lord Shiva and get relived from their sins of the great wars which caused many casualties. But lord Shiva avoided them when they were nearing the abode place. He silently escaped in the form of a bull and moved towards the Kedarnath. But the Pandavas came to know Lord Shiva was avoiding when they were near to approach him. Hence they prayed from where he was meditating. Since then for the hiding sake of Lord Shiva is known as the GuptKashi and his shifted place at the Kedharnatth became the upper abode later on called as the Upper Kashi.

Vishwanath Temple Architectural Significance

Guptkashi Temple is built in the Nagara architectural pattern. This is a granite stone marvel, which is having a huge tower with its main sanctum sanctorum under this huge tower. In front of this temple a modern built porch is seen. It is a beautiful pillared porch with a triangular slope covered with tiles and looking very good in front of this temple. The temple has got its guards in the entrance. It also consists of the Lord Shiva's animal the Nandhi in front of this temple in a metal form. You can find another small temple on the adjacent side; it is built for the Lord Vishwanatha. Its important features are the Karmanika Pond. Here two natural spring water of River Ganges and Yamuna is diverted through a cow's mouth and by elephant trunks to fall on the Shiva Linga. The cow's mouth carries the Yamuna River water and the elephant trunk carries the Ganges River water to make the confluence of river in this pond.

Festivals at Vishwanath Temple

Guptkashi Temple's most important festivals are the Maha Shiva Rathri. The Char Dham circuit pilgrims mostly visit on this auspicious day. Lakhs of pilgrims are seen here on this occasions and do offer and prayers to get blessed from Lord Shiva. Apart from the temple festival, the Uttrakhand festival is commonly conducted for its pilgrims in the season time of Char Dham pilgrimage. These pilgrims do visit this temple in the pilgrim seasons. The pilgrim season times also look like temple festival with lakhs of devotees coming here daily.