Rudraprayag, August 3 (H.S.): The major stop on the Kedarnath Yatra, Guptkashi, holds a deep spiritual connection with Lord Shiva. It is believed that during the Dwapar Yuga, Lord Shiva traveled secretly from this very place to Kedarnath, which is why it came to be known as Guptkashi (the hidden Kashi). Even today, offerings made at the Vishwanath Temple here, including the symbolic Gupt Daan (secret donation), carry great spiritual significance for devotees.

Pilgrims visit the Vishwanath Temple throughout the year, but the month of Sawan holds special importance. Offering jalabhishek (water offerings) to Lord Ashutosh (another name for Shiva) during this sacred month is considered equivalent to earning immense merit. Situated 41 km from the district headquarters on the Rudraprayag-Gaurikund National Highway, Guptkashi serves as a key stop on the Kedarnath route. Here, Lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of Vishwanath through a naturally-formed (swayambhu) Shiva Linga. The ancient temple from the era of Adi Shankaracharya consists of a sabha mandap (assembly hall) and a sanctum (garbhagriha) where daily worship is performed three times a day.

According to religious belief, after the Mahabharata war, Lord Krishna advised the Pandavas to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva to absolve themselves of the sins of killing their kin and gurus. Along with Draupadi, the Pandavas set out for the Himalayas. However, Lord Shiva wished to avoid meeting them and traveled secretly to Kedarnath from Guptkashi. This is how the place came to be known. The temple complex also houses the sacred Manikarnika Ghat, where streams of the Ganga and Yamuna flow, and bathing here is believed to bestow divine blessings.

Another legend states that centuries ago, the Kedarnath temple remained buried under snow for 400 years. During that period, worship of Lord Kedarnath was conducted at the Vishwanath Temple in Guptkashi. Hence, the temple is also revered as Chhota Kedarnath (the Lesser Kedarnath).

This year, over 1.5 lakh pilgrims have visited the Vishwanath Temple during their Kedarnath Yatra. Senior priest Shiv Shankar Ling emphasizes that the spiritual merit of the Kedarnath pilgrimage is considered complete only when devotees also offer their prayers at the Vishwanath Temple on their return journey.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar