Yogadhyan Badri also called Yoga Badri is located at Pandukeshwar at the elevation of 1,829 metres , close to Govind Ghat and is as ancient as the main Badrinath temple. Pandukeshwar is located en route from Govind Ghat to Hanuman Chatti, 9 kilometres away from Hanuman Chatti.
Shrine’s History
Copper plate inscriptions found here indicate rule by early Katyuri Rajas and the region was known as Panchal Desh, now officially designated as Uttarakhand. One inscription extols the grant of land given by King Nimbarana. Another historic location is the Suryakund, on top of Milam glacier, which is a hot water spring, where Kunti – mother of Pandavas gave birth to her illegitimate son Karna, fathered by the sun-god Surya. Kunti was married to Pandu at Pandukeshwar.
Legends Associated with This Shrine
Legend has it that King Pandu, father of the five Pandavas – heroes of the Hindu epic Mahabharata, meditated here to god Vishnu to cleanse him of the sin of the killing of two mating deer, who were ascetics in their previous lives. The Pandavas were also born here and Pandu died and attained salvation here. Pandu is believed to have installed the bronze image of Vishnu in the Yogadhyan Badri shrine. The image is in a meditative posture and thus the image is called Yoga-Dhyan Badri. The idol is life size and has been carved from Shaligram stone. According to legend, the Pandavas, after defeating and killing their cousins Kauravas in the Mahabharata war, came here to repent. They handed their kingdom of Hastinapur to their grandson Parikshit and went to perform penance in the Himalayas.
Shrine’s Map Location and How to Go There
By Road
The nearest bus stop is Badrinath
By Rail
The nearest railway station to reach the temple is at Rishikesh, which has a small railway terminal. The Haridwar railway junction, 24 km farther from Rishikesh, has train connections to most of the major cities in India.
By Air
The nearest airport to the holy town of Badrinath is the Jolly grant airport at Dehradun
Events Celebrated at This Shrine
Devwar Festival