One of the most sacred and peaceful temples in Uttarakhand dedicated to Lord Shiva is Kalpeshwar Temple. It is one of the famous temple in uttarakhand. Many people search for information about Kalpeshwar Temple History due to its significance as a place of worship. Kalpeshwar Temple is a part of the famous Panch Kedar group of temples, which have a strong connection with the story of Mahabharata.
Kalpeshwar Temple History goes back thousands of years. In ancient times, people believed that the mountains, forests, and caves around Kalpeshwar had strong spiritual energy. That is why many yogis and sages even the pandavas used this place for deep meditation. Furthermore, Kalpeshwar Temple is unique among the Panch Kedar temples because it is open for worship all year long. While other temples located at high altitudes in the Himalayas close for winter months due to heavy snowfall, Kalpeshwar Temple remains open for the devotees.
Kalpeshwar Temple is located within a small natural cave and is not as large as other temples in India. Instead, Kalpeshwar Temple has a simple, natural and quiet atmosphere. Many people says this temple is a hidden gem because it is not crowded and gives a feeling of calmness.
Where is Kalpeshwar Temple Located?
Kalpeshwar Temple is a famous temple located in the small village of Urgam Valley in the Chamoli District of Uttarakhand, India. The region is known for its beautiful natural landscape, peaceful ambiance, and spiritual importance. If someone wants to study or find information on the history of the Kalpeshwar Temple, a major part of understanding this information is to have an understanding of the area’s geography. Kalpeshwar Temple stands approximately 2200 meters above sea level, surrounded by high green mountains, dense forests, and clear running streams flowing through Urgam Valley.
If you want to travel to Kalpeshwar Temple, you must travel to either Haridwar or Rishikesh and then take roads towards Joshimath. From Joshimath, then reach to a small village called Helang. From Helang, you can continue on a narrow road to Urgam Valley. The road to Urgam road is simple but full of views of nature, terraced agricultural fields, and small house farms. The distance from Urgam Valley to the Kalpeshwar temple is about 2 Kilometers, and visitors need to walk approximately 2 kilometers from Urgam to get to the temple.
The Kalpeshwar Temple is located on the Panch Kedar pilgrimage route. The Panch Kedar pilgrimage route is made up of five temples, Kedarnath, Tungnath, Rudranath, Madhyamaheshwar, and Kalpeshwar, all of which can be found in different corners of Uttarakhand.
Mythological Behind Kalpeshwar Temple History
According to Hindu mythology, the Himalayas are the home of Lord Shiva. Many people believe that Lord Shiva often meditated in remote areas of these mountains away from the disturbances of the world. Thus, the entire Himalayan region has a high level of spiritual energy. The story of Kalpeshwar Temple history goes along with the story of the Pandavas. After the great war of Kurukshetra, the Pandavas wanted to wash away their sins. They felt responsible for the destruction caused during the war and wanted Lord Shiva’s blessings.
They thought that the destruction of life during the Kurukshetra was their responsibility, and therefore, they asked for the blessing of Lord Shiva, but Lord Shiva was angry for the violence done on Kurukshetra and did not want to see them, so he took the form of a bull (nandi) and hid in the Garhwal area; but second brother of Pandav i.e. Bhima saw a bull grazing near Guptakashi, and immediately recognized it as Shiva and he caught hold of the bull by its tail and the back legs, but as he did so, the bull form of Shiva disappeared into the earth and subsequently appeared in different places with the hump in Kedarnath, the arms in Tungnath, the face in Rudranath, the nabhi and belly in Madhyamaheshwar, and the hair in Kalpeshwar. These locations later became known as the Panch Kedar temples. At Kalpeshwar, the jata (hair) of Lord Shiva has appeared thats why Kalpeshwar is also known as Jateshwar, meaning “Lord of the Hair.” According to mythological beliefs, anyone who visits all the Panch Kedar temples with a pure heart receives special blessings from Lord Shiva.
Best Time to Visit Kalpeshwar Temple
When exploring Kalpeshwar Temple History, it is also important to understand the best time to visit this temple. Kalpeshwar is the only temple that stays open for one full year, whereas most of the other temples in the Himalayas will close for up to six months during the winter when they are hit with heavy snowfall.
While Kalpeshwar Temple can still be visited in other months, the entire Urgam Valley becomes extremely picturesque during April-November due to the pleasant weather, clear skies, and safe trekking conditions. So, the best time to visit Kalpeshwar temple is April – November. During these months the temperatures are also perfect for both walking and sightseeing, keeping them cool but comfortable. The experiences during this season adds another level of beauty to Kalpeshwar Temple history because of the way that nature and spirituality coincide within this sacred Himalayan valley.
Festivals Celebrated at Kalpeshwar Temple
To understand Kalpeshwar Temple History, it is helpful to know the major festivals celebrated here. These festivals demonstrate the extent of the people’s devotion to Lord Shiva while still following ancient customs. There are several major festivals that take place each year at Kalpeshwar Temple. The Major Festivals Celebrated at Kalpeshwar Temple Are:
Major Festivals Celebrated at Kalpeshwar Temple:
- Mahashivaratri – This is the most well-known and important festival dedicated to Lord Shiva. During this festival, a special Abhishek (ritual bathing) is performed using milk, ghee, honey, and holy water
- Shravan Month (Sawan) – This is celebrated between July and August. This month is considered as the holiest month for Lord Shiva During this time, pilgrims bring holy water from the Ganga River to the temple and perform their daily worship. Devotees from various regions visits this temple during this time.
- Kartika Purnima – This festival is celebrated on the full moon day of the month of Kartika (October/November). All the oil lamps that are used to light the entire cave temple are lit during the festival.
Interesting Facts About Kalpeshwar Temple
- Open Throughout the Year – The Kalpeshwar temple is the only temple in the Panch Kedar temple that is never closed throughout the year (even in the Winter season). All other temple’s in Panch Kedar are closed during winter months due to heavy snowfall but, the Kalpeshwar temple is always open.
- Natural Cave Temple – Kalpeshwar Temple has been built inside of a natural cave.
- Unique Form of Shiva Worshipped Here— At Kalpeshwar, followers worship the matted hair (jata) of Lord Shiva, not an idol of Lord Shiva carved from stone. Worshipping Lord Shiva in this manner is an extremely rare form of worship and this form of shiva is only worshipped in Kalpeshwar temple among the panch kedar temple.
- Valley of Medicinal Herbs – Urgam Valley (where the Kalpeshwar temple is located) is known for its various types of Himalayan medicinal herbs and plants. Ancient Rishis used the Himalayan herbs for both healing purposes and for spiritual purposes.
- Part of the Sacred Panch Kedar Journey— Kalpeshwar completes the Panch Kedar pilgrimage, as it represents Shiva’s hair. Pilgrims who complete their Holy Yatra through Panch Kedar without visiting this temple feel that they have not completed their journey.
Conclusion
The Kalpeshwar Temple is unique in many ways, but knowing the Kalpeshwar temple history, you will understand how important it has been throughout history for India and its people. While the Temple itself is located within a small and simple natural cave, the Kalpeshwar temple history is hundreds of years old. It has strong connections to the Mahabharata, the legendary heroes of the past (the Pandavas), as well as ancient sage traditions and is still an inspiration for many of today’s people. Most of the people who come to Kalpeshwar on their pilgrimage have changed their lives during their journey to Kalpeshwar.
The Kalpeshwar temple history has shows how closely the temple is connected to the villagers. They have been taking care of the Temple for many generations and have always taken part in ceremonies and rituals that are held at this temple. They also open their homes to welcome and provide warmth to all the pilgrims who visit the temple every day. Due to the continued support of the villagers for the temple, this temple has not only survived but has continued to remain open to guests, even though it is located far away and does not have a lot of tourist activity.
