Kalpeshwar Mahadev: The place in Panch Kedar where Lord Shiva's locks are worshipped, the temple remains open throughout the year
Kalpeshwar Mahadev Temple, one of the Panch Kedars located in Uttarakhand, is known for its unique beliefs and natural beauty. While the doors of the rest of the Kedars are closed in winter, the Kalpeshwar Mahadev Temple remains open for devotees throughout the year. This is the reason why this Dham becomes very special for those devotees who want to see Lord Shiva at any time of the year.
Why is Kalpeshwar Mahadev special?
Uttarakhand is called Devbhoomi and there are many Dhams of Lord Shiva here. One of them is Kalpeshwar Mahadev, which is located in the Kalpganga valley of Chamoli district. This temple is a part of Panch Kedar and its specialty is that Lord Shiva's locks are worshipped here.
What does the mythological belief say?
According to the belief, when the Pandavas went to Lord Shiva to get rid of their sins after the Mahabharata war, Shiva became angry with them and hid himself in the form of a bull. But Bhima recognized him and ran to catch him. On this, Lord Shiva started to disappear into the earth. Then Bhima got a part of his back in his hand.
After this, different parts of Lord Shiva's body appeared at different places:
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Back: Kedarnath
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Arms: Tungnath
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Navel: Madmaheshwar
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Face: Rudranath
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Jata: Kalpeshwar Mahadev
For this reason, Lord Shiva's Jata is worshipped in Kalpeshwar Mahadev.
Second belief
According to another legend, Lord Shiva provided water for Samudra Manthan from a holy pond located here. It was here that Durvasa Rishi performed penance under the Kalpavriksha, so this place was named Kalpeshwar. It is also called Kalpnath.
This temple is located under a huge rock inside a small cave, where devotees worship the matted locks of Lord Shiva.
This holy place is nestled in natural beauty
Kalpeshwar Mahadev is not only religious but also very attractive from a natural point of view. This place surrounded by calm atmosphere, lush green valleys and mountains, makes the devotees experience spiritual energy. When the doors of other Kedars are closed in winter, this temple remains open for devotees. This is what makes it even more special.
How to reach Kalpeshwar Mahadev Temple?
You can use the following routes to reach Kalpeshwar Mahadev Temple:
Nearest railway station: Rishikesh
Nearest airport: Jolly Grant (Dehradun)
By road:
You can easily reach Helang or Urgam Valley from Rishikesh, Haridwar and Dehradun by bus or taxi. From there you can reach the temple by trekking 2-3 km.
Conclusion
If you are planning a trip to Panch Kedar and want to have darshan of Lord Shiva anytime throughout the year, then Kalpeshwar Mahadev is the ideal pilgrimage site for you. The spiritual peace, mythological significance and natural beauty of this place all together make it a special Shiv Dham.