17 Interesting and Mysterious Facts About Joshimath
Joshimath holds an important role in the political and cultural history of Uttarakhand. This is a very famous place in the whole world from the religious point of view. Which is present at an altitude of 6107 feet above sea level in Chamoli district of Garhwal division of Uttarakhand. Do you think you know everything there is to know about Joshimath? Think again! Check out these 17 interesting and mysterios facts about Joshimath you may have never heard.
Chamoli place is situated 32 km before Badrinath on the slope of Auli Danda towards the left side of Alaknanda. Its distance from Karnprayag on Badrinath road is 75 kms and about 12 kms from Vishnu Prayag. The Valley of Flowers, 38 km from Joshimath, attracts tourists.
The existence of the historic city of Joshimath in Uttarakhand is in danger. Hundreds of people have been forced to leave their homes due to cracks in their houses. Joshimath is also a very important city according to the beliefs of Hinduism. Jagatguru Shankaracharya did penance at this place. At the same time, according to mythological beliefs, Joshimath is also called the place of Narasimha Devta. Joshimath has a 1200 year old temple of Narsingh Dev. Adiguru Shankaracharya had installed the idol of Narasimha Devta here.
FACT#1. Lord Vishnu’s calm form can be seen in the Narasimha temple. The winter seat of Lord Vishnu is worshiped here after the doors of Badrinath are closed. According to the Puranas, there is a tradition of visiting Badrinath ji even after the darshan of Lord Shri Narasimha ji. The Shaligram rock sitting in Boran has an illogical deity of Narasimha ji. Here the left wrist of the idol of Narasimha Dev is thin and it is getting thinner every day. According to Sthalpuran, as long as Lord Narasimha remains seated here in the form of art, only then Badrinathji will be seen in Badrinath Dham, after that Lord Shri Badrinathji will be seated in Bhavishyadri.
FACT#2. According to folklore, Badrinath will not be visible when the hand of the idol of Narasimha Dev falls down. Actually, the mountains named Jai and Vijay located on Patmila near Vishnuprayag will meet each other. Due to this one will not be able to see Badrinath. After this there will be darshan of Lord Badrinath in Bhavishya Badri in Tapovan area present in Joshimath. Adi Shankaracharya had established the Bhavishya Badri temple.
FACT#3. In mythological times, this city was known as Kartikeyapur, the ruler of Katyuri dynasty used to rule Garhwal Raj from here, here Lord Vasudev’s 8 feet high statue with 24 incarnations gives the best view of Gandhara style. Adiguru Shankaracharyaji spent five years here and named it Jyotirmath, which later became Joshimath after being corrupted.
FACT#4. The old name of Joshimath town is Jyotirmath, situated at an altitude of 2500 meters to 3050 meters above sea level. This is known as Badrikashram Kshetra.
FACT#5. Adi Shankaracharya attained enlightenment in his youth by performing severe penance under the Kalpavriksha here. From here he established four monasteries in the four corners of the country. Since then it came to be known as Jyotirmath.
FACT#6. Later Jyotirmath was corrupted and its name Joshimath became popular. After installing the idol of Lord Narayan in Badrinath Dham, Adi Shankaracharya consecrated this place as the winter seat of Lord Badri Narayan. Since then, after the doors of the Dham are closed, Shankaracharya’s throne and Lord Narayan’s vehicle Garudji are worshiped here in the Narsingh Badri temple in winter. The seat of Shankaracharya of Jyotishpeeth is also established here.
FACT#7. Joshimath has also been mentioned in the books like ‘Vishnu Purana’, ‘Shiva Purana’ etc. including Kedarkhand of ‘Skanda Purana’. It is said that the Narasimha Badri temple existed here even before the arrival of Adi Shankaracharya.
FACT#8. Pandit Bhuvan Chandra Uniyal, the former Dharmadhikari of Badrinath Dham, says that in those days people visiting Badrinath Dham used to start their further journey only after visiting the Narsingh Badri temple here. Then only a limited number of people used to live here around the Narsingh Badri temple. But, after the independence of the country, this city also became important from a strategic point of view.
FACT#9. The distance of Niti, the last village of Niti Valley on the China border, is 76 km from here, while Niti to Niti Pass is about 45 km away. Similarly Mana, the last village of Mana Valley, is at a distance of 47 km from Joshimath, while the distance from Mana to Mana Pass is about 52 km.
FACT#10. Joshimath grew rapidly in the 1960s as an army base camp. After this, the activities of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police also increased rapidly here. At present, Joshimath serves as a base camp for the security of the border area. World famous Lord Curzon Track, Nanda Devi National Park, Chenap Valley, Bhavishya Badri Dham route also passes through here. Due to being the main center of tourism activities, there is a gathering of tourists from all over the country and abroad throughout the year.
FACT#11. When the doors of Shri Badridham open, Shri Badrinath Dham goes from here. Rawal (South Indian Nambughari Brahmin) of Shri Badrinath ji lives here. This is the center of religious, historical, mythological faith of the devotees.
FACT#12.The idol of Lord Narasimha Dev located in Joshimath is about 10 inches, which is 12000 years old. It is made of Shaligram stone. This idol is seated on a lotus.
FACT#13. Idols of Lord Rama, Mother Sita, Hanuman ji and Garuda are installed on the right side of Lord Narasimha Dev in Joshimath. There, the statue of Kalika Mata is installed on his left side.
FACT#14. Tapovan is located at a distance of 10 kilometers from Joshimath. A stream of hot water emerges from there, which is considered like nectar.
FACT#15. Joshimath has the Tapasthali cave of Adi Shankaracharya, which is famous by the name of Jyotishwar Mahadev.
FACT#16. There is a mulberry tree in Joshimath. It is believed that it is a 2400 year old tree, whose root circumference is about 36 meters. This tree is also called Kalpavriksha.
FACT#17. Narasimha Temple is also known as Narasimha Badri Temple. Regarding the establishment of this temple, it is said that this temple was originated by Lord Shiva. On the other hand, some people believe that this temple was built by Lalitaditya Muktapida, the king of Kashmir. Whereas some people believe that the Pandavas of Mahabharata had laid the foundation of this temple.
The secret of thin one side of the idol of Lord Narasimha installed in the temple
In the statue of Lord Narasimha located in the Narasimha temple of Joshimath, one of his arms is seen thin. There is a legend attached to this mystery. It is said that the place where this temple is built was once ruled by a king named Vasudev in ancient times.
Once when a king named Vasudeva went out of the palace for hunting, Lord Narasimha appears in the form of an ordinary man. After entering the palace, Queen Narasimha offers food to the Lord and then goes to the king’s bed and asks him to rest.
Meanwhile, the king returns to the palace and finds a man lying on his bed. Because of which he gets angry and strikes the man’s arm with a sword. After that, instead of blood, milk starts coming out of that man’s arm and then that man turns into Lord Narasimha, seeing whom the king starts apologizing.
After that Lord Narasimha tells him that you will be punished for the crime you have committed. You will have to leave Joshimath with your family and settle in Katyur, due to the effect of your attack, one side of my idol in the temples will become thinner and one day that side will fall due to which the dynasty will end. .
Even in the Sanat Kumar Samhita of Kedarkhand, it has been mentioned that when Lord Narasimha’s hand falls from the idol, then two hills named Jai Vijay which are located near Vishnu Priya at a place called Patmila, both these Will mix with each other, due to which the way to visit Badrinath will be closed.
At that time Lord Badrinath would be seen in the Bhavishya Badri temple located in the Tapovan area of Joshimath. It is said that the Bhavishya Badri temple was established by Adi Guru Shankaracharya.
Q1.Where is Joshimath located?
A1. Joshimath is located in Chamoli district of Garhwal division of Uttarakhand, 75 km ahead of Karnprayag on Badrinath road and 32 km before Badrinath on the left side of Alaknanda on the slope of Oli Danda.
Q2. Who founded Joshimath?
A2. Joshimath is one of the four main mathas established by Adi Shankaracharya. Its real name is Jyotirmath. It is believed that Adi Shankaracharya did severe penance at this place.
Q3. Which god’s temple is situated in Joshimath?
A3. Joshimath mainly houses the temple of Narasimha Dev, the fourth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Apart from this, the temple of Vasudev and Nava Durga is also situated.
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