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{{short description|Hindu temple in Uttarakhand, India}}
{{dablink|Not to be confused with the Rudranath Temple at [[Rudraprayag]]}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2017}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name = Rudranath Temple
| image = Rudranath temple.jpg
| alt = Rudranath Temple
| caption = Rudranath Temple
| map_type = India Uttarakhand
| map_caption = Location in Uttarakhand
| coordinates = {{coord|30|32|0|N|79|20|0|E|type:landmark_region:IN-UL|display=inline,title}}
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Uttarakhand]]
| district = [[Chamoli district|Chamoli Garhwal]]
| location = Rudranath (village), [[Garhwal Division|Garhwal]]
| elevation_m = 2,290
| deity = Shiva
| festivals = [[Maha Shivratri|Maha Shivaratri]]
| architecture = North-indian Himalayan Architecture
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity =
| inscriptions =
| year_completed = unknown
| creator = [[Pandavas]], according to legend
| website =
}}

'''Rudranath Temple''' ({{langx|sa|रुद्रनाथ}}) is a [[Hindu temple]] dedicated to [[Shiva]], located in the [[Garhwal Himalaya|Garhwal]] [[Himalayas|Himalayan]] mountains in [[Uttarakhand]], India. Located at {{convert|3600|m|ft}} above sea level,<ref name = "chamoli"/><ref name="temple">{{cite web |url=http://www.badrinath-kedarnath.gov.in/content-kedar.aspx?id=35 |title=Panch Kedar: Rudranath |year=2006 |publisher=Shri Badrinath -Shri Kedarnath Temple Committee |access-date=16 July 2009}}</ref> this natural rock temple is situated within a dense forest of [[rhododendron]] dwarfs and Alpine pastures.<ref name=bisht/> The temple is the fourth temple to be visited in the [[Panch Kedar]] pilgrimage circuit, comprising five Shiva temples in the Garhwal region visited in a strict order starting with [[Kedarnath]] (Sanskrit: केदारनाथ) at an altitude of 3,583 m (11,755 ft), the [[Tungnath]] (तुंगनाथ)(3,680 m or 12,070 ft), Rudranath (रुद्रनाथ) (3,550 m or 11,500 ft), [[Madhyamaheshwar]] (मध्यमहेश्वर) (3,490 m or 11,450 ft) and [[Kalpeshwar]] (कल्पेश्वर) (2,200 m or 7,200 ft).

[[File:View from naola pass.jpg|right|thumb|View from Naola Pass]]

==Legends and worship==
The Rudranath Temple is believed to be established by the [[Pandavas]], of the Hindu epic [[Mahabharata]].
After the Pandavas had defeated and killed their cousins — the [[Kauravas]] in the [[Kurukshetra war]], they wished to atone for the sins of committing [[fratricide]] (''[[gotra]] [[hatya]]'') and [[Brāhmanahatya]] (killing of [[Brahmin]]s — the priest class) during the war. Thus, they handed over the reins of their kingdom to their kin and left in search of lord [[Shiva]] and to seek his blessings. First, they went to the holy city of [[Varanasi]] (Kashi), believed to be Shiva's favourite city and known for its [[Kashi Vishwanath Temple]]. But, Shiva wanted to avoid them as he was deeply incensed by the death and dishonesty at the Kurukshetra war and was, therefore, insensitive to Pandavas' prayers. Therefore, he assumed the form of a bull ([[Nandi (bull)|Nandi]]) and hid in the Garhwal region.

Not finding Shiva in Varanasi, the Pandavas went to [[Garhwal Division|Garhwal]] [[Himalayas]]. [[Bhima]], the second of the five Pandava brothers, then standing astride two mountains started to look for Shiva. He saw a bull grazing near [[Guptakashi]] (“hidden Kashi” — the name derived from the hiding act of Shiva). Bhima immediately recognized the bull to be Shiva. Bhima caught hold of the bull by its tail and hind legs. But the bull-formed Shiva disappeared into the ground to later reappear in parts, with the hump appearing in [[Kedarnath Temple|Kedarnath]], the arms appearing in [[Tungnath]], the face appearing at '''Rudranath''', the nabhi (navel) and stomach appearing in [[Madhyamaheshwar]] and the hair appearing in [[Kalpeshwar]]. The Pandavas pleased with this reappearance in five different forms, built temples at the five places for venerating and worshipping Shiva. The Pandavas were thus freed from their sins.<ref name=bisht/><ref name=travel>{{Cite web |url=http://traveluttarakhand.com/panchkedar.html#madhyamaheshwar#madhyamaheshwar |title=Panch Kedar Yatra |access-date=2009-07-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524085601/http://traveluttarakhand.com/panchkedar.html#madhyamaheshwar |archive-date=24 May 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=ecology>{{Cite book |author= Kapoor. A. K. |author2=Satwanti Kapoor |title= Ecology and man in the Himalayas |year=1994 |pages=250 |publisher= M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd. |isbn=9788185880167}}</ref>

A variant of the tale credits Bhima of not only catching the bull, but also stopping it from disappearing. Consequently, the bull was torn asunder into five parts and appeared at five locations in the Kedar Khand of Garhwal region of the Himalayas.<ref name=travel/> After building the Panch Kedar Temples, the Pandavas meditated at Kedarnath for salvation, performed [[yagna]] (fire sacrifice) and then through the heavenly path called the Mahapanth (also called Swargarohini), attained heaven or salvation.{{citation needed|date=September 2012}} The Panch Kedar Temples are constructed in the North-Indian Himalayan Temple architecture with the Kedarnath, Tungnath and Madhyamaheshwar temples looking similar.

After completing the pilgrimage of Lord Shiva's [[Darśana|darshan]] at the Panch Kedar Temples, it is an unwritten religious rite to visit [[Lord Vishnu]] at the [[Badrinath Temple]], as a final affirmatory proof by the devotee that he has sought blessings of Lord Shiva.<ref name=jyoti>{{Cite web |url=http://www.jyotirlinga.com/panchakedar.htm |title=Panch Kedar |access-date=2009-07-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090831110615/http://www.jyotirlinga.com/panchakedar.htm |archive-date=31 August 2009 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

In winter, a symbolic image of Shiva is brought from Rudranath to [[Gopinath Mandir]] in [[Gopeshwar]] for worship.
The Doli Yatra starts from [[Gopeshwar]] via Sagar. The Doli Yatris cross Lyuti Bugyal and Panar and finally reach Pitradhar. The worship of ancestors is done here. Then, after crossing Dhalabni Maidan, the Doli or the symbolic image of Shiva, reaches Rudranath.Here first the Vandevi is worshipped. The local belief is that Vandevi protects the area. The place is protected by Vandevi or Vandevatas.
The temple celebrates an annual fair on the [[full moon]] day in the [[Hindu calendar|Hindu month]] of [[Shraavana|Sravan]] (July–August) that is mostly on the day of [[Raksha Bandhan|Rakshabandhan]]. The fair is attended mainly by locals.<ref name=bisht>{{Cite book |author= Harshwanti Bisht |title= Tourism in Garhwal Himalaya |access-date=5 July 2009 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6C6DGU73WzsC&q=rudranath+Capildeo&pg=PA84 |pages=84–86 |publisher= Indus Publishing |year=1994 |isbn= 9788173870064}}</ref> The priests at the Rudranath temple are Bhatts and Tiwaris of [[Gopeshwar]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Jha|first=Makhan |title=India and Nepal |publisher=M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd |pages=143 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4Jk6oE4sh18C&q=rudranath+-Capildeo&pg=PA143 |isbn=9788175330818 |year=1998 }}</ref>

At Nandikund ({{convert|2439|m|ft|abbr=on|disp=or}}), on the trekking route to Rudranath (if coming via Madhmaheshwar), devotees worship old historic swords protruding from the rocks, believed to be that of Pandavas.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.euttaranchal.com/tourism/pilgrimage/rudranath.php |title=Panch Kedar – Rudranath |access-date=15 July 2009 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303191109/http://www.euttaranchal.com/tourism/pilgrimage/rudranath.php |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Geography==
There are numerous [[Sacred waters|sacred water]] [[Temple tank|tank]]s ("Kund") near the temple.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-03 |title=Panch Kedar Trek - A Complete Guide - Uttarakhand Trips |url=https://uttarakhandtrips.com/blogs/panch-kedar-trek-a-complete-guide/ |access-date=2025-03-23 |language=en-US}}</ref> These include Surya-kund, Chandra-kund, Tara-kund, Mana-Kund etc. Nanda Devi, Trishul and [[Nanda Ghunti]] are the famous mountain peaks, which provide the backdrop to the temple.<ref name = "bansal"/> The holy river [[Vaitarani]] or Baitarani or Rudraganga flows near the temple, which has a grey stone idol of Rudranath.<ref name="chamoli">{{cite web |url=http://chamoli.nic.in/Rudranath1.htm |title=Rudranath Temple |work=Part of "National portal of India" (Govt. of India) |publisher=National Informatics Centre, District Uni Chamoli, Uttarakhand |access-date=15 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081225102107/http://chamoli.nic.in/Rudranath1.htm |archive-date=25 December 2008 }}</ref><ref name="roma"/> The river is identified with the "river of salvation", where souls of the dead cross to reach the other world. Thus, devotees visit Rudranath to perform rituals of the dead, such as performing a ''pind'' offering. Some believe that offering a ''pind'' to ancestors here equals offering a hundred million at the holy city of [[Gaya, India|Gaya]].<ref name = "chamoli"/><ref name = "bansal"/> The mountain peaks of [[Trisul]], [[Nanda Devi]], Devasthan, Hathi Parbat and Nanda Ghunti are visible from Rudranath.<ref name=bisht/>

==Access==
[[File:R'nath Map.JPG|thumb|left|350px|Map of Rudranath]]
Rudranath is sometimes considered the most difficult Panch Kedar temple to reach.<ref name = "bansal">{{cite book |last=Bansal|first=Sunita Pant |title=Hindu Pilgrimage |publisher=Pustak Mahal |pages=105 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F303Zb7EC0kC&q=rudranath+-Capildeo&pg=PT105 |isbn=9788122309973 |year=2008 }}</ref>

Most trekking routes to Rudranath are from [[Gopeshwar]] or nearby places. A motorable road ends at the village Sagar after which visitor walk through oak and rhododendron forests.<ref name="roma">{{cite book |last=Bradnock|first=Roma |title= Indian Himalaya handbook |publisher=Footprint Travel Guides |year=2000 |pages=114–5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TyZGp_YVzb8C&q=rudranath+-Capildeo&pg=PA114 |isbn=9781900949798 }}</ref> Other routes include: an uphill, {{convert|17|km|mi|abbr=on|adj=on}} trek from Gangolgaon — {{convert|3|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} from [[Gopeshwar]] — through the forest and Panar and Naila shepherd settlements.<ref>{{cite book |last=Sharma|first=K P |title= Garhwal & Kumaon |publisher=Cicerone Press Limited |year=1998 |pages=83}}</ref> Another trek route from [[Gopeshwar]] to Rudranath passes via [[Mandal, Uttarakhand|Mandal]] ({{convert|13|km|mi|0|abbr=on|disp=or}}) and then additional {{convert|6|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} to the Anusuya Devi Temple and then another {{convert|20|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} to Rudranath.<ref name="temple"/> A {{convert|45|km|mi|abbr=on|adj=on}} trek path from [[Joshimath]] is considered strenuous.<ref name = "chamoli"/>

==Notes==
*Distance from Anusuya Devi to Rudranath is 20 km approximately
*[http://uttaranchal-tourism.com/rudranath-temple.html uttaranchal-tourism website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325225450/http://uttaranchal-tourism.com/rudranath-temple.html |date=25 March 2019 }}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090831110615/http://www.jyotirlinga.com/panchakedar.htm Locations of Panch Kedar - Schematic sketch]
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=L4knycWWbqgC&pg=PA77&dq=Tungnath&lr=&ei=QDthSriJMoOulASOraWoDg Panch Kedar, trek map, page 78]
* [https://templeknowledge.com/rudranath-temple/ Rudranath Temple Complete Information]

{{Panch Kedar}}
{{Hindu temples in Uttarakhand}}
{{Shaivism}}
{{Shiva temples}}

[[Category:Shiva temples in Uttarakhand]]
[[Category:Panch Kedar]]
[[Category:Chamoli district]]

Rudranath - Revision history

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