Kalpeshwar is also known as Kalpnath Temple is the last Panch Kedar temples and is situated in Garhwal region, Uttarakhand. One has to follow the order of Kedarnath, Tungnath, Rudranath and Madhyamaheshwar before visiting Kalpeshwar Temple.
Kalpeshwar is the only Panch Kedar temple that can be visited throughout the year. Kalpeshwar temple is a small temple and devotees have to pass through a cave to reach the presiding deity. According to beliefs, Shri Adi Shankaracharya designed the poojas and rituals of the Panch Kedar temples. He was also the one who appointed the priests in these temples. It is a part of the 4 Dham Yatra Package within Uttarakhand. Legends say that Adi Shankaracharya designed the poojas and rituals of the Panch Kedar temples and he appointed the priests in all 5 temples.
The temple priests in this temple are also Dasnamis and Gossains, disciples of Adi Shankaracharya, originally from southern India. The Namboodiri Brahmin sect who worship in Badrinath and Kedarnath are from Kerala, the Jangamas are lingayats are from Mysore and the Dasnami Gossains belong to the Adi Shankaracharya group.
Kalpnath Temple Timings:
Open Time: 6.00 AM
Close Time: 7.00 PM
Morning Aarti: 6.00 AM
Evening Aarti: 6:30 PM
Kalpeshwar Temple History:
The mythological background of the Kalpeshwar Temple is associated with the epic Mahabharata. Vyas Rishi told the Pandavas that they were guilty of killing their own brothers in the war and that their sins would only be forgiven if Lord Shiva forgave them. First, they went to Varanasi / Kashi, which is said to be Shiva’s favorite city and known for the Kashi Vishwanath temple. But, Lord Shiva wanted to avoid them as he was deeply outraged by the death and dishonesty of Kurukshetra’s war. Therefore, he took the form of a bull (Nandi) and hid in the Garhwal area.
Not finding Lord Shiva in Varanasi, the five brothers went to Garhwal Himalayas. Bhima, the second of the five Pandava brothers, standing astride two mountains, began to seek Shiva. He saw a bull graze near Guptakashi (“Hidden Kashi”). Bhima immediately recognized that the bull was Lord Shiva. Bhima grabbed the bull by the tail and hind legs. But the bull disappeared into the ground and then reappeared in 5 places, the arms appearing in Tungnath, the face showing up at Rudranath, the nabhi (navel) and stomach surfacing in Madhyamaheshwar and the hair appearing in Kalpeshwar. The Pandavas, pleased with this reappearance in five different ways, built temples in all five places to worship Lord Shiva. The Pandavas were thus freed from their sins. It is also believed that the front parts of Shiva appeared in the Doleshwor Mahadeva temple in the Bhaktapur district of Nepal.
How to reach Kalpnath Temple:
By Air: The nearest airport is Dehradun Jolly Grant Airport.
By Rail: Rishikesh is the nearest railway station which is 251 km away.
By Road: Buses are available to Rishikesh from ISBT Kashmere Gate. From Rishikesh, one can hire a taxi to reach Ugram. The remaining distance must be covered by walking.
How to reach Kalpnath Temple:
Urgam,
Uttarakhand – 246443.
Other Panch Kedar Temples:
- Kedarnath Temple
- Tungnath Temple
- Rudranath Temple
- Madhyamaheshwar Temple
- Kalpeshwar or Kalpnath Temple