Badri Shankaracharya Temple is located in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand in northern India. It lies in the Garhwal Himalayas, along the banks of the Alaknanda River, at an elevation of around 10,200 feet (3,100 meters) above sea level. The temple is surrounded by majestic mountains and is part of the famous Char Dham Yatra and Chota Char Dham pilgrimage circuit.
The main deity of the temple is Lord Badri Narayan, a form of Lord Vishnu. The deity is seen in a seated meditative posture (Padmasana), with a conch (Shankha) and discus (Chakra) in his hands. The idol is made of black Saligram stone and is believed to be self-manifested (Swayambhu). Alongside him, images of Nar and Narayan (the twin sages), Uddhava, Kubera, and Garuda is also present in the sanctum.
The temple has a long and sacred history. It is believed to have been a place of meditation for sages for thousands of years. The present temple was revived in the 9th century by Adi Shankaracharya. According to legend, Shankaracharya found the idol of Lord Vishnu in the Alaknanda River and installed it in a cave, which later developed into the temple. He appointed priests and re-established the rituals, reviving Hindu worship in the Himalayas.
Long ago, during the Satya Yuga, the Himalayan region was filled with sages performing penance, and among them, the twin sages Nar and Narayan, incarnations of Lord Vishnu, chose a quiet valley near the Alaknanda River to meditate for the welfare of the world. The land, rich in divine vibrations, came to be known as Badri Kshetra, named after the Badri tree (Ber tree), which grew in abundance there.
Long ago, during the Satya Yuga, the Himalayan region was filled with sages performing penance, and among them, the twin sages Nar and Narayan, incarnations of Lord Vishnu, chose a quiet valley near the Alaknanda River to meditate for the welfare of the world. The land, rich in divine vibrations, came to be known as Badri Kshetra, named after the Badri tree (Ber tree), which grew in abundance there.
Over the ages, invaders and natural calamities caused many temples in the region to fall into neglect. The idol of Badri Narayan, made of black Saligram Shila, was said to have been hidden deep inside the Alaknanda river or a cave to protect it from destruction.
Centuries passed until the advent of Adi Shankaracharya, the great philosopher and saint who travelled across India to revive Sanatana Dharma. In the 9th century CE, while on his Himalayan yatra, Shankaracharya reached the Badrikashram region, then largely abandoned and snowbound.
Through divine guidance, Adi Shankaracharya discovered the sacred idol of Lord Vishnu in the Alaknanda River or a nearby cave (versions differ slightly). Recognizing its significance, he established the temple once again, placing the deity in a newly built sanctum and appointing South Indian priests (Namboodiris) to perform the rituals.
He established the Badrinath Temple as a center of devotion and incorporated it into his Char Dham pilgrimage circuit, along with Rameswaram, Dwarka, and Puri. His act of restoration brought life back to the remote Himalayas, and Badrinath became one of the holiest Vaishnavite shrines.
It is believed that Lord Vishnu granted a boon to Adi Shankaracharya, allowing him to reside eternally in Badrikashram in the form of Narayan, to bless sincere devotees who undertake the arduous journey to this sacred land. Even today, Badrinath remains open for only six months of the year due to heavy snowfall, and during the remaining six months, it is believed that the idol is worshipped by the Devas themselves.
Shankaracharya Jayanti is celebrated at Badrinath Temple on the fifth day (Panchami) of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Vaishakha, which usually falls in April or May, around the same time the temple opens for the season. Devotees, priests, and scholars at Badrinath, especially those associated with the Jyotir Math (the northern Peetham established by Adi Shankaracharya), mark this day with special pujas, chanting of Adi Shankara’s works, and discussions on Advaita Vedanta.
