Kalpeshwar Mahadev Temple
Kalpeshwar Mahadev Temple is located in Chamoli district of Garhwal, Uttarakhand. This temple is the one dedicated to Lord Shiva. Kalpeshwar Mahadev Temple is one of the Panch Kedars and it is the fifth place among the Panch Kedars. It is at an altitude of 2134 meters above sea level. A small temple, Kalpeshwar is situated in the Kalpganga valley. It is believed that Lord Shiva's hair had appeared here. The word Jata means 'hair'. That's why Lord Shiva's hair is worshiped in this temple. Lord Shiva is also known as Jatadhar or Jateshwar.
Where is Kalpeshwar Temple?
Kalpeshwar is situated in the Kalpganga valley, Kalpganga was called by the name Hiranyavati in ancient times. The land situated to its right is called Durbasa Bhoomi, at this place there is a temple of Dhyan Badri. There is an ancient cave in Kalpeshwar. Within which the self-proclaimed Shivling is seated. Which is dedicated to Lord Shiva and here the hair of Lord Shankar is worshipped. This temple is also famous by the name of Anadinath Kalpeshwar Mahadev.
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There is a Kalevar kund near this temple, the water of this kund is always clean and the pilgrims take water from here. Devotees get freedom from many diseases by drinking this holy water. Here sages use this holy water to offer water to Lord Shiva. The way to Kalpeshwar goes through a cave. To reach the temple, one has to travel about a kilometer inside the cave, where pilgrims worship Lord Shiva's locks. Devotees from far and wide come and bow down in this temple of Lord Shiva.
History and beliefs of Kalpeshwar Mahadev
This temple is believed to have been built by the Pandavas. This is the place where after the war of Mahabharata, the victorious Pandavas went on a journey to see Lord Shiva to get rid of this sin by suffering from the guilt of killing their relatives in the war. Pandavas reached Kashi first. Wished for Shiva's blessings, but Lord Shiva was not willing to give him his darshan. Shiva did not want to give darshan to the Pandavas considering the Pandavas guilty of mass murder.
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The Pandavas turned to Kedar. Seeing the arrival of the Pandavas, Lord Shankar disappeared into Guptkashi. After that, going some distance away, Mahadev took the form of a bull with the desire not to give darshan and went and joined other animals. Kunti's son Bhima assumed a huge form and spread his feet on two mountains, from under which other animals came out, but the bull in the form of Shiva was not ready to go from under his feet. Bhima pounced on the bull, but the bull in the form of Shiva started disappearing in the marshy land.
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Then Bhima caught hold of the bull's back. The image of Lord Shiva's bull's back is worshiped in Kedarnath in the form of a body. It is said that when Lord Shiva disappeared in the form of a bull, the upper part of his torso appeared in Kathmandu, where the Pashupatinath temple is located. Shiva's arms appeared in Tungnath, navel in Madmaheshwar, face in Rudranath and hair in Kalpeshwar. These five places are known as Panch Kedar.
How to reach Kalpeshwar Temple
Kalpeshwar Mahadev Temple can be reached by two routes, the first one goes ahead of Anusuya Devi via Rudranath and the second route can be reached from Helang by walking on a narrow normal sloping road or by means of facilities near the Urgam forest area. Maybe a beautiful water fall also comes on this way which is a beautiful sight of nature.
by means of transport
The nearest railway station is Ramnagar, which is at a distance of 233 km. Rishikesh Railway Station is at a distance of 247 kms. The nearest airport is Jolly Grant, Dehradun, located at a distance of about 266 kms. Bus service is also available from Rishikesh, Dehradun and Haridwar to reach Kalpeshwar.
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