Devi Sanmarga-dhayini at Kedarnath

 
Sanmargadhayini devi Ishta siddthi pradhayini |
Dushta samhara Sishta Paripalaga Sarva Phapa harini
devi Margadhayini Namosthude ||
 
Sanmarga-dhayini devi shakthi peet in Uttranchal is situated in Kedharanath.
According to the legend of Dakshayani the right hand from her dismembered burnt body fell at this place and so it has became one of the 51 sacred Devi-sthals of India.
There are upa-peetams (minor- peetams) near here where devi's bracelet (Kangan) fell in Agasthiya Asram and rings fell in the vicinity of the asram. Devi's name here is Indrakshi. It is said That Indra worshiped Indrakshi and won the war against his enemies. The river Revathi flows behind this place. Here devi's bangles fell and the devi here is Sri Rajarajeswari. Another legend says Devi's Under belly fell here. (refer to 'Yoga-agni' in 'Abodes of devi' for background story)
Devi's abode behind the kedarnath is on the Sumeru parvat. It is about 65 kms from Srinagar to Devi-prayag. This is the place where River Bhageerathi and Alaknandha mingle together.
King Bageerath did penance for many years imploring Lord Shiva to release river Ganga to the earth ( Ganga was inside the matted locks of the Lord ) to get salvation for his fore-fathers who under a curse were confined to the 'pathal-loka'. Because King Bageerath brought this river to this earth it called River Bagheerathi here. Because of this 'Sangamam (confluence) this is a holy spot.
Alaknandha from Kedharnath mingles with many holy rivers. Hence every place is a 'Prayag'. Then atlast it joins with Bhageerathi and becomes Ganga flowing into 'Rishikesh'and 'Haridwar'. Then it takes a long journey to West Bengal via Kasi and then on to the Bay of Bengal.
There is a belief that all Gods join together in prayer in this place and so it is called 'Deva-prayag'.
At 'Rudra-prayag' about 35 kms from Srinagar river Mandhakini mingles with river Alaknandha. At this place there are temples for Sri Rudranathji and Devi Jagadhamba. This place is also a holy spot.
Kedhar Nath temple is about 15 kms from Rudra-prayag. At the foothills there is 'Gowri-Kund' the hot and cold springs.
Another epic story says Lord Siva showed his 'Guptha Roopam'(image) having a crescent on his mated lock to Sage Agasthiya. Hence this place is called 'Guptha-Kasi'
Kalika mutt is 4 km from Gupta-Kasi. The Kali ganga and river Mandhagini meet here and there are the shrines for the trinity of Devis - Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathi.
Kedharanath is a most important place of worship to the mankind and this is the gate-way to the Heaven.

 

Om Sakthi

 

 

Location:
from Rishikesh to 

Rudra-prayakai the 

route is common 

from Rudraprayakai

 to Kedharanat 81 kilo metors