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'''Kalpeshwar''' ({{lang-sa|कल्पेश्वर}}) is a [[Hindu temple]] dedicated to [[Shiva]] located at an elevation of {{convert|2200|m|ft|abbr=on|1}} in the picturesque Urgam valley in the [[Garhwal Division|Garhwal]] region of [[Uttarakhand]] state in [[India]]. The temple's ancient legend linked to the [[Pandavas]], heroes of the epic [[Mahabharata]], is the fifth temple of the [[Panch Kedar]] (five temples) of Shiva's five anatomical divine forms; the other four temples in the order of their worship are [[Kedarnath]], [[Rudranath]], [[Tungnath]] and [[Madhyamaheshwar]] temples; all in the Kedar Khand region of the [[Garhwal Himalaya|Garhwal]] [[Himalayas]].<ref name=kedar>{{Cite web|url=http://www.badrinath-kedarnath.gov.in/content-kedar.aspx?id=37|title=Kalpeshwar|access-date=2009-07-17|publisher=Shri Badrinath -Shri Kedarnath Temple Committee}}</ref><ref name=uttar>{{cite book|author= J. C. Aggarwal|author2=Shanti Swarup Gupta|title= Uttarakhand: past, present, and future|work=Chamoli district|pages=222|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=alRh51xE_v0C | '''Kalpeshwar''' ({{lang-sa|कल्पेश्वर}}) is a [[Hindu temple]] dedicated to [[Shiva]] located at an elevation of {{convert|2200|m|ft|abbr=on|1}} in the picturesque Urgam valley in the [[Garhwal Division|Garhwal]] region of [[Uttarakhand]] state in [[India]]. The temple's ancient legend linked to the [[Pandavas]], heroes of the epic [[Mahabharata]], is the fifth temple of the [[Panch Kedar]] (five temples) of Shiva's five anatomical divine forms; the other four temples in the order of their worship are [[Kedarnath]], [[Rudranath]], [[Tungnath]] and [[Madhyamaheshwar]] temples; all in the Kedar Khand region of the [[Garhwal Himalaya|Garhwal]] [[Himalayas]].<ref name=kedar>{{Cite web|url=http://www.badrinath-kedarnath.gov.in/content-kedar.aspx?id=37|title=Kalpeshwar|access-date=2009-07-17|publisher=Shri Badrinath -Shri Kedarnath Temple Committee}}</ref><ref name=uttar>{{cite book|author= J. C. Aggarwal|author2=Shanti Swarup Gupta|title= Uttarakhand: past, present, and future|work=Chamoli district|pages=222|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=alRh51xE_v0C&dq=Panch+Kedar&pg=PA222|publisher= Concept Publishing Company| year=1995|isbn=978-81-7022-572-0}}</ref><ref name=char>{{cite web|url=http://www.chardhamyatra.org/panch-kedar/kalpeshwar.php|title= Kalpeshwar: Panch Kedar- Travel Guide|publisher= chardhamyatra.org|access-date=2009-07-17}}</ref> Kalpeshwar is the only Panch Kedar temple accessible throughout the year. At this small stone temple, approached through a cave passage, the matted tress (''jata'') of Lord Shiva is worshipped. Hence, Lord Shiva is also called as Jatadhar or Jateshwar. Earlier it was approachable only by {{convert|12|km|mi|abbr=on|1}} trek from the nearest road head of Helang on the [[Rishikesh]]-[[Badrinath]] road but now the road goes up to Devgram village from where the trek now is just 300 metres. This road is good for bikes or cars with good ground clearance as it is a half-paved road which may get damaged during monsoons. Small cars can be taken except in monsoons.<ref name=kedar/> | ||
==Legend== | ==Legend== | ||
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A folk legend about Panch Kedar relates to the [[Pandavas]], the heroes of the Hindu epic [[Mahabharata]]. The Pandavas defeated and slayed their cousins — the [[Kauravas]] in the epic [[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. | A folk legend about Panch Kedar relates to the [[Pandavas]], the heroes of the Hindu epic [[Mahabharata]]. The Pandavas defeated and slayed their cousins — the [[Kauravas]] in the epic [[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 raising in [[Kedarnath Temple|Kedarnath]], the arms appearing in [[Tungnath]], the face showing up at [[Rudranath]], the nabhi (navel) and stomach surfacing in [[Madhyamaheshwar]] and the hair appearing in | 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 raising in [[Kedarnath Temple|Kedarnath]], the arms appearing in [[Tungnath]], the face showing up at [[Rudranath]], the nabhi (navel) and stomach surfacing 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=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. | 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. | ||
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;Worship | ;Worship | ||
The temple priests at this temple also are the Dasnamis and Gossains, disciples of [[Adi Shankara]]. At Tungnath also the priests are Khasiya Brahmins. These priests hail from South India; the [[Namboodiri]] [[brahmin]]from [[Kerala]] sect who worship at [[Badrinath]]. at Kedarnath, the [[Jangama]]s are [[lingayat]]s from [[Mysore]] in [[Karnataka]]. In all these temples the pooja is designed by adi sankara. these priests also are supposed to be appointed by [[Adi Shankara]]. The priests at the Rudranath temple are [[Dasnami]]s and [[Gosain]]s.<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 | The temple priests at this temple also are the Dasnamis and Gossains, disciples of [[Adi Shankara]]. At Tungnath also the priests are Khasiya Brahmins. These priests hail from South India; the [[Namboodiri]] [[brahmin]]from [[Kerala]] sect who worship at [[Badrinath]]. at Kedarnath, the [[Jangama]]s are [[lingayat]]s from [[Mysore]] in [[Karnataka]]. In all these temples the pooja is designed by adi sankara. these priests also are supposed to be appointed by [[Adi Shankara]]. The priests at the Rudranath temple are [[Dasnami]]s and [[Gosain]]s.<ref>{{cite book|last=Jha|first=Makhan|title=India and Nepal|year=1998 |publisher=M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd|pages=143|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4Jk6oE4sh18C&dq=rudranath+-Capildeo&pg=PA143 | isbn=978-81-7533-081-8}}</ref> | ||
==Geography== | ==Geography== | ||