Kedarnath (Temple Form)

Kedarnath, known as Kedāranātha, is the presiding deity of the Kedarnath Temple in Uttarakhand, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas and a principal site of the Char Dham pilgrimage. The temple is situated at an altitude of 3,583 meters in the Himalayas, surrounded by snow-clad peaks. The deity is represented as a triangular linga, which according to the Skanda Purana (Kedarakhanda) and the Shiva Purana (Rudra Samhita), is the hump of the bull form that Shiva assumed to evade the Pandavas. The myth narrates that after the Kurukshetra war, the Pandavas sought Shiva's blessings to atone for their sins.

Shiva, unwilling to grant them an audience, took the form of a bull and disappeared into the ground. The hump remained at Kedarnath, while other parts appeared at four other sites—Tungnath, Rudranath, Madhyamaheshwar, and Kalpeshwar—collectively known as the Panch Kedar. The linga is unique among Jyotirlingas for its triangular shape, symbolizing the bull's hump. Iconographically, the temple is a stone structure built in the North Indian style, with a conical spire and a sanctum housing the linga.

The temple is open only from April to November due to heavy snowfall; during winter, the deity is moved to Ukhimath for worship. Kedarnath holds a significant role in Hindu cosmology as one of the twelve self-manifested (Svayambhu) Jyotirlingas, representing the infinite pillar of light (Jyoti) that Shiva manifested to assert his supremacy over Brahma and Vishnu, as described in the Shiva Purana. Regional worship traditions include the annual Char Dham Yatra, which draws millions of pilgrims, and the special opening ceremony (Kapat opening) in spring. The temple is also associated with the Naga sadhus and the tradition of offering bhang and milk.

Kedarnath is considered the abode of Shiva in his aspect as the Lord of the Kedar region, a place of great spiritual power and natural beauty.

Triangular linga form. Temple located at high altitude. Open only from April to November due to snow.