Information of Kalpeshwar Temple, Chamoli, Uttarakhand

Kalpeshwar Temple is an ancient Hindu Shiva temple built in the scenic valley of Urgam in the Gharwal regions of the Himalayas. This temple is recorded in the ancient text of Hinduism, since the Vedic Era. The Pandavas of the Mahabharata legends were known to be the founder of this temple on the Himalayan Mountains. This temple comes under the Panch Kedar pilgrimage taken by the Hindu peoples on the Himalayas. It is beautifully situated at an altitude of 2,200 meters above the mean sea level. This temple is located in Chamoli District of Uttrakhand State in North India.

Kalpeshwar Temple Religious Significance

Kalpeshwar Temple is one of the greatest panch kedar for pilgrims taking a spiritual tour. It is the place where Lord Shiva meditated for a longer time. Visiting this temple and worshiping him will get rid of our sins is what believed by Hinduism in India. Here Lord Shiva is worshiped in the Linga form, which is considered as the symbol of fertility. There is also a cave nearby were the Lord Shiva is carved on a stone with his beautiful locked hair. This is an important temple for the Shivites, a Hindu sect whose main god is Lord Shiva. This temple is also worshiped by all sects of Hindus from India and abroad. As per the Hindu customs, a person must visit any of these panch kedar at least once in his life time. This temple is open throughout the year and hundreds of pilgrims come daily to this temple. Its temple priest is a Kerala person, since it was once a patronage of the Saint Adhi Shankara of the 8th century AD. Since then this temple priest from Kerala is nominated here to do its rituals daily.

Kalpeshwar Temple Mythology & History

As per the Vedic texts, the Pancha Pandava's came here to get salvation from Lord Shiva. They came here after the great war of Kurukshetra, which made heavy losses of lives. But Lord Shiva didn't want to meet them, since the war was won by many tactics. Hence he vanished away in the form of a bull. The place where he was meditating is the present temple. The Pandav's instead prayed at his abode place and went back. In the 8th century the famous Hindu Saint Adhi Shankar visited this temple and mediated here. He was mostly responsible to propagate the Himalayan Hindu temples to rest of the peoples who are living in the plain lands.

Kalpeshwar Temple Architectural Significance

Kalpeshwar Temple is a beautiful stone marvel which went on much modification over the years since ancient times. The present temple is a beautiful stone temple. The entire structure is built of granite stones obtained from the same mountains. This is built in the Nagara architectural style. A huge tower is built here with a porch on the top of its tower. The main sanctum sanctorum lies under this huge tower structure's central area. On the entrance side there is a traditional house like structure which were built in the recent times to get more space for temple facilities. In front of this temple a huge brass bell is found hanged on a stone pillar. This temple has got three side entrances. The main idol is seen in a thick black stone in the Linga form of Shiva. This is also said to be a self manifested one in this temple.

Festival at Kalpeshwar Temple

Kalpeshwar Temple celebrates the Maha Shivarathri as its main festival. This is witnessed by lakhs of devotees here. On this special day there many rituals and ceremonies are conducted throughout the day and night. Getting blessed on this day is considered to be more powerful.