Brief History of Tungnath Temple

Brief History of Tungnath Temple- Travel Piq

Hello or Namaste, all travelers! I’m the adventurous individual behind Travel Piq, a traveler and storyteller residing in the vibrant land of India. Today, we are talking about the ancient history of Tungnath Temple. Whose history and story both are very spiritually ancient and its establishment and are linked to epic Mahabharat.

Tungnath Temple is located in Chopta in Rudraprayag district of India and the Himalayan Range surrounds this temple. This temple is the highest among the five Kedars and among all the temples of Lord Shiva.

Brief History of Tungnath Temple- Travel Piq

They consider this temple the third incarnation of Lord Shiva and one of the ancient temples in India. Tungnath Temple is an important place of Indian culture and religion.

Significance of Tungnath Temple

Around 1000 BC, they built Tungnath temple. They installed a Shivling in this temple, and they carved the interior using black colored stone. Tungnath temple has been constructed in the North Indian architectural style. Its craftsmanship clearly shows that it has been done with such quality.

Tungnath temple is considered to be one of the Kedars among the Panch Kedars. This is a place of penance of Lord Shiva, the nature and beauty here attracts people towards itself. They organize a program here every year on the occasion of Mahashivratri.

In which many devotees participate and enjoy this festival or have darshan of Mahadev.

The importance of the history of Tungnath temple reflects the Indian culture or the antiquity of this temple inspires the devotees of Lord Shiva.

Panch Kedars

Panch Kedar comprises five sacred temples dedicated to Lord Shiva in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, India. These are their names:

  • Kedarnath
  • Tungnath
  • Rudranath Temple
  • Madhyamaheshwar
  • Kalpeshwar

Panch Kedars, meaning five sacred Kedars, dedicate five sacred temples to Mahadev in the Uttarakhand district of India. Each temple associates with a different part of Lord Shiva’s body.

Here are the details:

  • Kedarnath Temple: This temple represents the “hump of Lord Shiva”. It stands at an altitude of 3583 meters (11,760 feet) above sea level.
  • Tungnath Temple: This temple represents the “arms of Lord Shiva”. It stands at an altitude of 3680 meters (12,073 feet) above sea level.
  • Rudranath Temple: This temple represents the “face of Lord Shiva”. It stands at an altitude of 3,600 meters (11,800 feet) above sea level.
  • Madhyamaheshwar Temple: This temple represents the “navel of Lord Shiva”. It stands at an altitude of 3,497 meters (11,473 ft) above sea level.
  • Kalpeshwar Temple: This temple represents the “locks of hair of Lord Shiva”. It stands at an altitude of 2,134 meters (7,001 ft) above sea level.

Connection between Mahabharata and Tungnath Temple

According to Hindi mythology, the Pandavas built the Tungnath temple. Legend has it that he was assassinated after defeating his cousins, the Kauravas, in the Mahabharata war at Kurukshetra. And he could get freedom from sin only when he asked for forgiveness from Lord Shiva and got forgiveness.

Pandavas left their kingdom and set out in search of Lord Shiva. But Lord Shiva was so angry with him that he didn’t want to meet them. For this he took refuge in Guptkashi and took the form of a “Bull”.

But the Pandavas recognized him, and the Lord himself began to sink into the earth, revealing five parts of Shiva’s body at different places. The Pandavas, known as Panch Kedar, built five temples and sought forgiveness from Lord Shiva.

History of Tungnath Temple

People also say that our famous Indian philosopher and theologian Shri Adi Shankaracharya contributed to the establishment of Jyotirlinga temples in different parts. People also credit him with establishing Kedarnath, the main temple of the famous five Kedars of Uttarakhand.

However, there is no historical evidence that he directly built the Tungnath temple. People say that Adi Shankaracharya revived the importance of this place during his visit.

Mahabharata is related to Tungnath temple by Pandavas. According to the Mahabharata, the Pandavas had come to atone for the sin of murders they had committed and to seek forgiveness from Lord Shiva. Pandavas got the meet of Lord Shiva in the form of a Bull on Tungnath peak.

Meaning of the name Tungnath

Tungnath, when divided, signifies “Tung,” meaning the peak of mountains, and “Nath,” meaning the Lord Mahadev. Therefore, it combines to represent the “Tungnath.” Another interpretation is “Tung,” referring to arms, and “Nath,” referring to the divine lord. Together, it forms “Arms of Mahadev” – Tungnath.

Thank you for reading. Have any thoughts or questions? Feel free to comment, share, and engage.

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