Guptakashi,Gupta Kashi orGuptkashi is a fairly large town located at an elevation of 1,319 metres (4,327 ft) in the Kedar-khanda ('khanda' means "sector"), inGarhwal Himalayas ofRudraprayag district inUttarakhand, India. It is known for its ancient Vishwanath Temple dedicated to the godShiva, which is similar to the one inVaranasi (Kashi). The other well known temple here is dedicated toArdhanareshvara, a half man half woman form of Shiva andParvati. The name Guptakashi has legendary significance linked to thePandavas, the heroes of the Hindu epicMahabharata.[1][2][3] Its religious importance is considered next to that of Varanasi, believed to be the most pious of allHindu pilgrimage sites.
The temple town is located on the way to theKedarnath, one of theChota Char Dhams andPanch Kedars. It has the scenic backdrop of the snow-covered peaks ofChaukhamba and enjoys a salubrious weather throughout the year.[1]
Popularly-narrated legend holds that subsequent to theKurukshetra war of the epic Mahabharata, the Pandavas on the advice of godKrishna and other sages wished to atone for their sins offratricide andBrāhmanahatya committed by them during the war by seeking pardon from Shiva and also pray for his blessings before attaining salvation. But Shiva was not willing to meet them since he was annoyed with them for the unjust events of the war. He, therefore, avoided meeting them at Kashi and went incognito as the bullNandi to Guptakashi in Uttarakhand. But Pandavas pursued him to Guptakashi and recognized him in the disguised form of Nandi. WhenBhima, the second Pandava brother tried to hold the bull by its tail and hind legs, Nandi vanished from Guptakashi, into the ground (into a cave for hiding), but reappeared later as Shiva in five different forms namely, hump atKedarnath, face atRudranath, arms atTungnath, navel and stomach atMadhyamaheshwar and the locks atKalpeshwar. The vanishing act of Shiva gave the name Guptakashi (hidden Kashi) to this place on the bank of theMandakini River. In the upper reaches of theBhagirathi River, there is another Kashi, called theUttarkashi (North Kashi).[1][3][4][5][6]
Mythology also states that Shiva proposed to Parvati at Guptakashi before they got married in the smallTriyuginarayan village at the confluence of Mandakini and Sone-Ganga rivers.[7] However the old route of 14 km fromGauri Kund toKedarnath via Rambara was completely washed away in the2013 North India floods, and new route of 15–16 km was made by theNehru Institute of Mountaineering. The distance of Guptakashi to Kedarnath remains at 22 kilometers and 729.77 meters, which is most important to the celestial nuptials.[8]
According toPuranic literature, Kashi andKanchi (Kanchipuram) are considered as two eyes of Shiva. Keeping this connotation in view, six more "Kashi"s have been prescribed to be as sacred and spiritual as the main Kashi - Varanasi. Pilgrims, who cannot undertake the long journey to the main Kashi, can travel to the closest Kashi. The six other "Kashi"s cover all the regions of the country. These are: Uttarkashi and Guptakashi in Uttarakhand in Northern Himalayas,Dakshinkashi inSouthern India, the Guptakashi inEastern India is atBhubaneswar, the Kashi atNashik (alsoPaithan) inWestern India and a Kashi inMandi inHimachal Pradesh in Western Himalayas. The Puranas state that all the Kashis have the same degree of sanctity and reverence as the main Kashi - Varanasi.[9]
Another legend declares that when theMughal emperorAurangzeb demolished theKashi Vishwanath Temple in 1669, and constructed Gaynvapi Mosque (he had even renamed Varanasi as Mohammadâbâd), theShiva Linga was shifted to Guptakashi for safe keeping. But the original linga of Kashi Vishwanath is stated to have remained here from the time it was shifted.[3]
The main temple is dedicated to Shiva asVishwanath (ruler of the world). The architectural style of this temple is akin to other temples in Uttarakhand, such as Kedarnath, built in stone with a high tower over the sanctum and a wooden frame and sloping roof in typical architectural style of the region, at the top of the tower. At the entrance to the temple, there are twodwarpalakas (entrance guards) on both sides. The exterior façade is painted with lotuses. At the top of the entrance door, there is an image ofBhairava, a terrible form of Shiva. To the left of the main shrine, there is a smaller shrine dedicated to Ardhanareeshvara and at the entrance to this temple there is metallic statue of Nandi facing Shiva's image in the temple and offering reverential worship. This statue has aSwastika, a typical Hindu symbol, painted on its side, with its arms aligned in a clockwise direction, considered as an auspicious direction.[10][11]
Apart from the main Vishwanath temple, a large number ofLingas, symbols of Shiva, are seen in and around Guptakashi, which has resulted in the popular terminologyjitne pathar utne shankar meaning "as many stones, those many 'Shiva's". Another temple town called theUkhimath is located on the opposite bank of the Mandakini river where, during the winter months when Kedarnath temple is inaccessible due to snowy conditions, the symbolic deity of Kedarnath is shifted viaGaurikund, Phata, Guptakashi to Ukhimath to continue worship uninterrupted. The temple priests of Kedarnath stay at Guptakashi during the winter period.[1][6][10]
In a small pond (kund) called the Manikarnika Kund here, in front of the temple, aShiva-linga is bathed by two springs, representing the riversGanges (Bhagirathi) andYamuna. The Yamuna spring water emanates from agoumukh (spout in the shape of a cow's mouth) and the Bhagirathi spring flows through trunk of an elephant strategically placed above the linga.[1][3][11][12]
In addition, there are few other important sites to visit in the vicinity of the temple town. These are the Gandhi Sarovar (lake) 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from the town where the ashes ofMahatma Gandhi were immersed. Vasukital, 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) from Kedarnath, is yet another enchanting lake that beholds the visitor with floating ice and sparkling water.[3][6]
At Ukhimath, on the opposite bank of the river, there is astupa, which according to the local version represents the grave ofNala. There are also evidences of a love legend narrated, locally only, ofKrishna’s grandsonAniruddha and demon kingBanasura’s daughter Usha at Ramgarh (in Ronitpur), near Ukhimath, about3 kilometres (1.9 mi) away from Guptakashi. This love affair led to a war between Krishna and Banasura in which the latter was killed, resulting in the end of Banasura's dynasty.[3][13]
Guptakashi is located in the Northern Himalayan belt within the Mandakini river valley, which has lush green forests. A number of streams and rivulets drain into the main Mandakini River. It has salubrious climate with its elevation being around 1,319 metres (4,327 ft). The snow sparkling view of the Chaukhamba peak is a lovely sight to behold in the morning hours from here. The valley has largemagnolia trees (locally calledChampa) that provide a sweet scented atmosphere to the place. The temple ofMadhyamaheshwar is 25 kilometres (16 mi) northeast of Guptkashi. The road from Guptkashi toKalimath and the trek from Kalimath to Madhmaheshwar provide the scenic beauty of Chaukhamba, Kedarnath and Neelkanth peaks.[1][2][5]
It is approachable fromRudraprayag by road over a distance of 24 miles (39 km). Rudrprayag is approached fromHaridwar orRishikesh by theNational Highway, which goes toBadrinath and beyond. It is 178 kilometres (111 mi) from Rishikesh.[5]
{{cite book}}:|work= ignored (help){{cite book}}:|work= ignored (help){{cite book}}:|work= ignored (help){{cite book}}:|work= ignored (help)