Introduction
Located in the lap of the mighty Himalaya, the Sapta Badri is are collection of seven ancient temples dedicated to lord Vishnu, and referred to as the most sacred pilgrimage circuit of India. Temples in this sapta Badri circuit are - Badrinath, Adi Badri, Bhavishya Badri, Yogdhyan Badri, Vriddha Badri, Dhyan Badri, Aradhya Badri. Except the Badrinath temple, all other temples in this circuit are least known but are very famous and have it's own mythological importance. Spread across the remote valleys, serene forests and high-altitude villages, these temples celebrate the various forms of lord vishnu on earth at different parts of the time.
The word "Badri" is derived from the Badri tree, which is mostly found in the region of Chamoli district and as per the mythology, it is believed that when lord Vishnu was meditating in this region, his consort Maa Laxmi had taken the form of the Badri tree to protect him from all the adversities. As per one mythological story, it is also believed that, in future, the mountains of Badrinath and Kedarnath will collapse and both temples will become inaccessible for the devotees. Then Bhavishy Badrin will be considered equivalent to the Badrinath temple. Interesting right? So without wasting time, let's move ahead and take a virtual tour of the Sapta Badri temples.
Badrinath (Main Badri)
Located in the lap of the Garhwal Himalaya in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand at an altitude of 3133 meters above the sea level, Badrinath is one of the most famous temples of North India. This temple is dedicated to lord Vishnu, who is believed to be meditating at this place. The place got its name from the name of the Badri tree, which is very prominently found in the forest of this region. As per the holy scriptures and mythological stories, it is said that when lord Vishnu was meditating here for thousands of years, Maa Laxmi, consort of lord Vishnu, took the form of a Badri tree to protect him from the adverse climate of this region. That's why this place got its name as Badrinath.
This temple is also a part of the main char dham yatra, Chota Char dham yatra, and Do dham yatra of Uttarakhand, which consists of the Kedarnath trip and Badrinath temple darshan. This temple is called the temple of Satyuga, and it is believed that in Satyuga, lord Vishnu used to meet all the devotees in person, but in the Treta and Dwapar yuga, he used to meet the devotees with a certain level of attainment. Now in Badrinath, it is mostly considered to be the door of Salvation. It is popularly said that, "जो जाए बदरी, वो ना आए ओदरी" which means all those who visit to Badrinath temple will get rid of the cycle of birth and death and attain salvation. If you are also planning to visit to Badrinath temple, then you can visit our package for Do dham temples or 4 Dham trip package with Manchala Mushafir for the best experience.
Adi Badri
Another most prominent and beautiful temple of the Sapta Badri circuit is Adi Badri. This temple is located in the lap of the Himalaya near Karnaprayag in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand at an altitude of 6234 feet above sea level. The lateral meaning of this word "Adi" means ancient, and "Badri" refers to lord Vishnu. This is the most ancient temple dedicated to worshipping Lord Vishnu. As per the holy scriptures and mythological stories, before Badrinath became the primary temple to worship lord Vishnu, Adi Badri was the major centre of pilgrimage and devotion.
Adi Badri is a collection of 16 temples in which the main temple houses the black stone of lord Narayana, while other temples are dedicated to other Hindu deities, like Laxmi, Shiva and Garuda. As it is less commercialised, this temple still holds the raw culture and tradition of nature and provides a perfect setting for the devotees and travellers to meditate and get connected with the divine energy. It is also said that, in future, when the current Badrinath temple will get disappears, then the divine energy of Lord Vishnu will again reside in this temple, making it a permanent abode of the lord. Visiting the Adi Badri temple is not just a Pilgrimage, but creates a perfect mixture of History, Mythology, and Devotion, allowing devotees to experience the raw culture of Uttarakhand in the lap of the Himalaya.
Bhavishya Badri
The lateral meaning of the word "Bhavishya" is future, and "Badri" refers to lord Vishnu. Located at an altitude of 9000 feet above sea level, in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. As per the Skandapurana, when the route to the Badrinath temple is closed, then lord Vishnu will appear in the Bhavishya Badri Temple, and this shrine will be established as the permanent abode of lord Vishnu. The journey to the Bhavishya Badri temple begins in Subhain village, located 17 km from Joshimath. A moderate trek of about 6 km passing through dense Pine and Oak forest will finally take you to the Bhavishya Badri temple, where you will find the idol of lord Narshimha, the incarnation of Lord Vishnu. As per the devotees who visit here, they mostly admit that this place has a divine energy, and they feel spiritual upliftment after visiting this place. Unlike overcrowded, 4 dham yatra shrines, this temple will allow you to meditate in the lap of the Himalaya with peace and feel the divine energy with the inner sense.
Yogdhyan Badri
The lateral meaning of the word "Yog" is meditation, and "Dhyan" is deep contemplation. In this temple, lord vishnu is believed to be meditating and holds an important place in the Sapta Badri temples circuit. Located at an altitude of 1920 meters above sea level, in a quaint village of Pandukeshwar in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. It is surrounded by lush green forest and snow-capped mountains, making it one of the most beautiful and peaceful places for meditation. Unlike other temples of the Char Dham shrine, this temple remains open for 12 months a year, making it an ideal destination for a round-the-year pilgrimage.
As per the mythological stories, it is said that the king Pandu, the father of Pandavas, had meditated at this place for atonement from the sin he committed by killing two sages, mating in the form of deer. After this incident, the king renounced the kingdom and went to the Himalayas near Pandukeshwar and started meditating. After a longer period, lord vishnu had appeared in front of King Pandukeshwar in the form of Yogdhyan (meditation) and relieved the king from his sin. From then onwards, lord vishnu is being worshipped here in the form of Yogdhyan Badri. The idol of this temple is carved out of the Saligram temple, which has a deep connection with lord Vishnu. The composed expression of lord vishnu, sitting in meditation form, gives a deep, divine experience and inspires devotees for mental peace and introspection.
Vriddha Badri
Located at an altitude of 1380 meters above the sea level in a small hamlet of Animath, near Joshimath, Vriddha Badrin is one of the oldest temples in the Sapta Badri circuit in terms of deity and mythological stories. This temple is located in the lap of the Himalaya, surrounded by dense deodar trees, snow-capped peaks and ancient villages far from the mainstream of the Char Dham yatra route. The lateral meaning of the word "Vriddha" is old, and "Badri" refers to lord Vishnu. In this temple, lord vishnu is being worshipped as an old sage. It is believed that, before Adi Shankaracharya established the current Badrinath temple as a Hindu pilgrimage site, this temple used to be the prime centre of devotion. As per the Hindu mythology, it is believed that at this place, lord Vishnu had appeared in the form of an old sage, to reply to the queries of lord Narada, after being pleased by his penance. In this temple, lord Vishnu is established as an old sage with four arms carved out from a Saligram stone, deeply linked to lord Vishnu. The idol of this temple reflects the spiritual maturity. This temple lacks the grandeur of the main Badrinath temple and is made of stone and wood, preserving the ancient Himalayan charm and artistic culture of Uttarakhand and radiates peace and maturity to the devotees visiting this place. It provides a perfect setting to meditate far away from the crowd and noise.
Dhyan Badri
Located at an altitude of 2135 meters above sea level, in the Sacred Urgam valley near Joshimath, Dhyan Badri temple is surrounded by dense forest, towering Himalayan peaks and ancient villages. The lateral meaning of the word "Dhyan" means meditation, and "Badri" refers to lord Vishnu. In this temple, he is in a deep meditative posture. It is said that the sage "Urvarishi" son of King Puranjaya of the Chand dynasty, came here to meditate. Moved by his devotion and unwavering discipline, lord vishnu had appeared here and stayed permanently in the meditative form.
The peaceful setting with the whistling sound of the Alaknanda River makes this place a perfect place for meditation and introspection. It is one of the significant stops of the Sapta Badri temple circuit and reflects the meditative and yogic aspect of lord vishnu. This beautiful temple is located in the Urgam valley, which is accessible by a 12 km road from Helang, which lies on the Badrinath Highway. The temple is accessible by a short but scenic trek which will take you through the dense forest, ancient villages and terraced fields. Despite the offbeat location, this temple attracts thousands of devotees every year who are dedicated to lord vishnu and attracted toward the calmness and beauty of this place.
Ardha Badri
Last but not least, Ardha Badri is one of the most prominent temples of the Sapta Badri temple circuit. Located at an altitude of 1280 meters above sea level near Joshimath in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. It is accessible by a 2-3 km steep trek from the Badrinath - Tapovan road. Ardha Badri derived its name due to the small size of the idol; it is believed that the size of the idol is half that of all other idols available in other temples of the Sapta Badri circuit. The word Ardha means half. As per the legend, it is believed that before the establishment of the main Badrinath temple, Adi Shankaracharya had established multiple temples across the state to widespread the worship and belief in Hinduism. Like other temples of the Sapta badri temples, the idol of this temple is carved out of a saligram. It signifies that even the fragrance of an idol can bestow the same grace. Like most of the temples of the Sapta Badri temple circuit, this temple also misses the grandeur of the Badrinath temple, but holds the culture and architectural specialisation of this region.
Conclusion
Passing through the roads and villages in the Garhwal Himalaya, we have covered all the temples of the Sapta Badri circuit. Each temple has its importance and represents the different forms of lord vishnu, from the graceful form at the Badrinath temple to the calm, meditative and aged form in the most remote locations of Uttarakhand. Sapta Badri is not just a pilgrimage but a journey through the philosophy, history and legends of Sanatan Dharma.
