पाप विमोचक तुंग नाथ : A highest temple in the world.

पाप विमोचक तुंग नाथ  : A highest temple in the world.

Lord Shiva – Kedarnathji tells mother Parvati, “ There is a greater abode of me called Tung nath whose darshan will doubtlessly resolve all the sins of a person.”

Though Kedarnath darshan is a cherished goal of an every Shiva devout, very few people are aware that there are five places of abode of Lord Kedar known collectively as panchkedar.

After the great Indian battle of MahaBharat panDva realized that they have committed a sin of गुरुुुहत्या and ब्रह्म हत्या As they killed guru द्रोणाचार्य- and कृपाचार्य- in this battle and all the 100 Kauravas and there elder brother kNa-, the only remedy to resolve them of this sin was to seek resort to and blessings of Lord Shiva. They came to know that Shiva has his abode at Meru and Sumeru Kailash (beneath which the present temple of Kedarnathji is situated). When Lord Shiva understood of their interest, he went into hide in disguise of a bull – pSaU and joined there hub so that Pandavas should not recognize him as he was angry on them for their sin and did not want to grace them.

However Pandavas realized this and they were determined to seek the grace of Lord Shiva. Seeing Lord Shiva in disguise of a bull Bhima stood on the peaks of Meru and Sumeru while the hub of animals were passing from there, knowing well that Lord in disguise would not pas through and same happened. Realizing that Bhima has recognized the Lord Shiva in disguise sought resort in earth, then  Bhima got hold of the animal. Hence Lord Kedar is situated at five places in form of different parts of the body. At Kedar it is back of animal. At Tungnath it is shoulder.

Tungnath occupies the significance of being situated at highest place. It is situated at 12500 feet above sea level. There is no temple anywhere which is situated at such a height. tuMga means very high.naaqa means Lord. So tuMganaaqa is a Lord situated at highest level. This is also the place where Galaxy of stars did there penance at a place called sa%yatar mountain to reach above the height of the sun and the moon. Therefore also the place is called tuMganaaqa. This is place where Shiva – the Kedar is worshipped in a form of shoulder.

tuMganaaqa is situated at Chopta situated between Ookhimath and Gopeshwar. Chopta is a base for going to Tungnath. Garhwal Nigam cottages and private cottages and food is available here. From Chopta Tungnath is reachable through a trek of 4 km.  The route is simple and extremely beautiful. Enroute one finds beautiful and colorful flowers. At Tungnath the temple is built in a form of chariot. It is suppose to be built by Arjuna. Naithanis are the priest of the temple. At Tungnath also one can have a stay. Small and nice Dharmashalas are available. People are warm and hospitable.  At a distance of 1km. From Tungnath temple there is a point called caMd`Siala which is suppose to be a best and beautiful point to observe sunrise. Many trekkers from all over like to visit  Tungnath also for enjoying the at caMd`Siala . One can also have a glance of naMdadovia from Tungnath.

There is a river iSavaEia at south dip in which ensures a person an abode in Shivlok. A small story associated with this aptly testimonizes this belief. There was a Brahmin priest by name iSavad%tKarmasharma who was known for his ill habits. All efforts by his parents directed to make him acquire knowledge failed. He turned out to be so bad that he forced his sister to go in for prostitution. Because of his gross misbehaviour he came to be discarded by his families as also all efforts to educate to change him were failure. Later he was killed by a tiger and his bones were taken by a crow at Tungnath. Mere appearance of his bones at Tungnath resolved him of all his sins. Such is a significance of Tungnath. whose son

Such a powerful place I visited in May 2001 and now again 2002 May we intended to visit as it’s glance endows a person a prmagait.