Uttarakhand
built of grey stones. The temple is dedicated to Sadasiva who
fleeing from the Pandavas took refuge here in the form of a
buffalo and finding himself hardpressed dived into the ground
leaving the hinder parts on the surface which continue to be the
subject of adoration.
The temple is finest piece of art and architecture, particularly
when executed at that height where working season could be
hardly three months. In fact, construction of the temple at that
height is not only a feat of architecture but a marvel of human
endeavour and ingenuity. Each time, I have visited this temple,
more perplexed 1 have felt.
Shiva's ling is worshipped in the form of a phallic god. To
propitiate this god people perform unheard of austerities. At
Kedarnath people used to leap into death as an offering to Shiva
from Kal-sila. The practice has since been stopped.
The sculptures which adorn the temple are unique blend of
central Indian and Uttarakhand style. A huge Nandi has been
carved out with great precision in sitting posture. The front
portion of the temple is known as the garba-ghiha and at the
rear is Sabha Bhavan. In the garba-griha, images of Kunti, Panda-
vas, Draupadi, Krishna and Ganapati have been carved on
stones laid in the walls. The five-headed idol of Shiva is in the
middle. There are the images of avatars on the main gate of the
garba-griha. In the Sabha Bhawan, a triangular icon of impressive
dimension covered by a canopy represents the hinder parts of
divine buffalo form of Lord Shiva.
The construction of the temple, as per legendary accounts is
attributed to Sankracharya but it is just a conjecture because the
temple was obviously constructed much earlier. Some ascribe its
construction to Ahilya Bai but we have no definite information
about it except the fact that, she visited the place and got the
wooden roof repaired with coppers topping which has recently
been repaired by the Birlas.
The temple is closed for winters on the first day ofKartika
falling during October or November. It is normally closed
about a week prior to the shrine of Badrinath and is also opened
earlier in Vaisakha corresponding to the end of April or early
May. During winter Kedar Purl is completely covered with
snow the accumulation being about 2 to 5 meters high.