What are Bada Chaar Dham Temples?
, 15 min reading time
Bada Chaar Dham Temples, or the places of worship for people where The God bathed, dressed up, had food and then worshipped for going to Vaikuntha. Know how these four places are important.
What are Bada Chaar Dham Temples?
Imagine standing at the crossroads of India, where snow-capped mountains, sunlit coasts, roaring seas, and ancient cities whisper stories older than memory.
Now, picture four sacred doorways spread across this vast land, each leading to a different face of the divine, one echoing with Lord Shiva’s silence, another resounding with Lord Krishna’s flute, a third overflowing with the compassion of Lord Jagannath, and the last glowing with Lord Rama’s devotion.
These are not just temples; they are spiritual anchors of the country, collectively called the Bada Char Dham. Lets walk through these four sacred sites, Kedarnath, Dwarka, Puri, and Rameshwaram, not as mere places on the map, but as living energies that continue to shape India’s soul.
Located in the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand, this temple is a crown jewel of the Bada Char Dham Yatra.
Unlike the loud clamor of city temples, Kedarnath feels like a divine secret hidden among snow-clad peaks, waiting to be discovered by the truly devoted. It isn’t just a place; it’s an emotion, a test of faith, and a spiritual summit in every sense.
The story of Kedarnath takes us back to the Mahabharata era. After the catastrophic war of Kurukshetra, the Pandavas were burdened with guilt for the bloodshed and the destruction they had caused, especially for killing their own kin.
To seek atonement, they searched for Lord Shiva, hoping to be forgiven. But Lord Shiva, displeased and disinterested in meeting them, disguised himself as a bull and wandered away to avoid confrontation.
The Pandavas, however, were determined. They spotted the bull grazing in the meadows of Kedarnath. Bhima tried to catch the bull, which led to the divine animal diving into the ground.
But before it could vanish completely, Bhima grabbed its hump, which remained on the surface. This very hump is said to be the form of the Shiva Lingam worshipped today in the Kedarnath Temple.
Other parts of Lord Shiva’s body appeared in different places, which are now worshipped as part of the Panch Kedar pilgrimage.
Kedarnath Temple, as we see it today, is believed to have been originally built by the Pandavas themselves.
Later, in the 8th century, Adi Shankaracharya, the great reformer and philosopher, is said to have revived the temple and Hindu spiritual traditions in this region.
It is also believed that Shankaracharya attained samadhi just behind the temple, where a small shrine in his memory still stands.
Constructed using massive grey stone slabs, the temple stands strong at 11,755 feet above sea level, defying harsh weather, snowfall, and even natural calamities.
What’s astonishing is that the stones used to build it were placed without the use of any mortar, an engineering marvel from ancient times.
During the devastating floods of 2013, the temple stood miraculously unharmed while everything around it was washed away.
A huge rock (now called the Bhim Shila) rolled down from the mountains and settled right behind the temple, taking the brunt of the floods and saving the shrine. This event only deepened people’s belief that the temple is truly protected by divine forces.
Kedarnath is not just a sacred structure; it’s a spiritual challenge that demands faith and perseverance. Reaching the temple is not an easy task.
Devotees must undertake a trek of around 16 kilometers from Gaurikund, through steep paths, unpredictable weather, and thinning oxygen levels.
Yet, no matter how tough the journey, every step taken toward Kedarnath is filled with deep devotion, chants of “Har Har Mahadev,” and a sense of spiritual purpose that pushes pilgrims forward.
This temple is also one of the 12 Jyotirlingas, which are considered the most sacred Shiva shrines across India. Among these, Kedarnath is perhaps the most remote and difficult to reach, making the rewards of the journey even more fulfilling.
For those undertaking the Bada Chaar Dham Yatra, Kedarnath symbolizes penance, endurance, and the strength of devotion. It represents the northern point in the spiritual journey that spans across the country, touching all four directions.
Among the Bada Char Dham, Kedarnath represents the north, both geographically and symbolically. While Rameshwaram (south) reflects atonement, Dwarka (west) showcases divine play, and Puri (east) highlights inclusiveness, Kedarnath stands for spiritual strength, solitude, and raw connection with the divine.
Its position in the Char Dham is not just about direction, it’s about the soul’s inward journey. In fact, many pilgrims start their Char Dham Yatra from Kedarnath, believing that if one can complete this challenging path, the rest of the journey will flow with divine ease.
Nestled along the sparkling coastline of Gujarat, the Dwarkadhish Temple stands with an air of timeless royalty. It’s not just a temple, it’s a gateway to a world where mythology, devotion, and history beautifully intertwine.
Also known as the Jagat Mandir, meaning “Temple of the World,” this sacred shrine is one of the four holy destinations of the Bada Chaar Dham Yatra, representing the western direction.
Here, Lord Krishna isn’t worshipped as the mischievous cowherd boy from Vrindavan, but as the majestic king of Dwarka, the ruler who once walked the land with divine grace and unmatched wisdom.
The story of Dwarka begins long before the temple itself. According to ancient texts and legends, after Krishna left Mathura to escape the constant attacks from Jarasandha, he decided to establish a new kingdom far away.
With the help of the divine architect Vishwakarma, Lord Krishna built the city of Dwarka, a golden city so magnificent that it glittered like a jewel on the western coast of India.
This city wasn’t just a political refuge. It was said to be the first planned city in Hindu mythology, complete with wide roads, gardens, lakes, and palaces.
Dwarka became a symbol of balance between spiritual wisdom and worldly responsibilities, ruled by Lord Krishna who was both a warrior and a philosopher.
But Lord Krishna’s story doesn’t end there. After his departure from Earth, it is believed that the entire city was submerged into the sea.
Fascinatingly, even today, underwater explorations have found remnants of structures and stone walls beneath the Arabian Sea, stirring the imagination of believers and historians alike.
The origins of the Dwarkadhish Temple are shrouded in layers of time and devotion. According to tradition, the temple was originally built by Lord Krishna’s great-grandson Vajranabh, who placed the first idol of Lord Krishna here.
Over centuries, the temple has been destroyed and rebuilt multiple times, each reconstruction a testimony to the unshakable faith of its devotees.
The current structure, which is over 1,400 years old, is believed to have been renovated during the reign of Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century, who helped revive Hindu pilgrimage traditions.
Rising to about 80 meters, the temple’s towering spire is adorned with a massive flag that flutters proudly against the sea wind, changed five times a day by a special family who has held this duty for generations.
The Dwarkadhish Temple is built in Chalukya style architecture, with exquisite detailing on every inch of its sandstone walls.
The five-storied structure is supported by 72 intricately carved pillars, each telling stories from Lord Krishna’s life through symbolic carvings and motifs.
The temple has two main entrances, the Swarg Dwar (Gate of Heaven) and the Moksha Dwar (Gate of Liberation), reminding pilgrims that their journey is not just physical, but deeply spiritual.
Dwarka holds a sacred place in Hindu belief for many reasons. It is one of the Sapta Puris, the seven holiest ancient cities in India, and is considered one of the Char Dham.
In the Char Dham, Dwarka represents the western direction, symbolizing protection, justice, and divine governance.
The temple is located in Devbhumi Dwarka district of Gujarat, right at the meeting point of land and sea. It faces the Gomti River, which flows into the Arabian Sea, adding to the spiritual ambiance of the place.
The town of Dwarka is well-connected by road, rail, and even a nearby airport at Jamnagar, making it accessible despite its seemingly remote edge-of-India location.
Hidden amidst the vibrant streets of Puri, a coastal town in the eastern state of Odisha, stands one of the most iconic and spiritually powerful temples in India, the Jagannath Temple.
This temple is not just a place where rituals happen; it's a place where stories breathe, legends echo, and faith walks hand-in-hand with devotion.
Unlike most temples where the gods remain hidden in sanctum sanctorum, here in Jagannath Temple, the gods come out once a year to meet their devotees, in a grand celebration known as the Rath Yatra.
The word Jagannath means “Lord of the Universe”, and the temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna, worshipped here in a form that’s entirely his own, as Jagannath, accompanied by his elder brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra.
The origin of the temple is wrapped in mystery and folklore. One popular story speaks of a tribal king named Viswavasu, who was the secret worshipper of a divine blue idol known as Neel Madhava.
When the deity disappeared, Lord Vishnu appeared to King Indradyumna in a dream, guiding him to build a temple in Puri.
Another fascinating tale tells of how the idols of Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra were carved from sacred wood by Vishwakarma, the divine architect, on the condition that no one would disturb him during the process.
But out of impatience, the queen opened the door before the idols were finished. As a result, the idols remained incomplete, without arms or legs, just the way they are today, yet full of divine presence.
The present-day Jagannath Temple is believed to have been constructed in the 12th century by King Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty.
The architecture is a classic example of Kalinga style, tall, imposing, and intricately carved, with a spire (shikhara) soaring nearly 65 meters into the sky. This was not just a temple; it was a statement of cultural pride and a symbol of spiritual wealth.
The Jagannath Temple is more than a structure, it's a spiritual energy center. People come from across the world, not just to pray, but to feel something that can’t quite be put into words.
It’s said that a visit to this temple grants liberation from the cycle of birth and death. That’s why Adi Shankaracharya, the great Indian philosopher, included Puri as the eastern dham in the sacred Char Dham Yatra, alongside Badrinath, Dwarka, and Rameshwaram.
Among the four sacred dhams of India, Puri is the eastern gate of salvation. It represents air, as per elemental philosophy, and offers the spiritual balance of Vaishnavism (worship of Vishnu/Krishna), complementing the Shiva temples in the dham journey.
While Kedarnath is rugged and remote, and Rameshwaram echoes with penance, Puri flows with celebration, music, and movement. Here, devotion is not silent, it dances in the streets with cymbals, chants, and colors.
The soul of this temple is deeply intertwined with one of the greatest epics ever told, the Ramayana. The story goes that after defeating the demon king Ravana in Lanka, Lord Rama returned to the shores of Rameshwaram with Sita Mata and his loyal army.
But he was troubled. Ravana, although a villain, was a Brahmin and killing a Brahmin was considered a grave sin.
To seek penance, Lord Rama decided to worship Lord Shiva, the destroyer and purifier. He asked Hanuman to bring a Shiva Lingam from the Himalayas.
While Lord Hanuman was away, Goddess Sita, seeing Lord Rama's urgency, made a Lingam herself from the sand of the beach. This sand Lingam is said to be the one still worshipped in the temple today as Ramanathaswamy, or “the Lord of Rama”.
Later, Lord Hanuman returned with the Lingam, which was also installed in the temple. To this day, both the sand Lingam and the one brought by Lord Hanuman are revered here, making this place not just sacred, but also a beautiful blend of devotion, urgency, and grace.
Though the temple’s spiritual story goes back thousands of years, its stone structure and magnificent architecture took shape over time.
The temple we see today was largely built and expanded between the 12th and 17th centuries, with significant contributions from the Chola, Pandya, and Sethupathi kings.
One look at the temple corridors, and you're bound to feel dwarfed, both physically and spiritually. The longest corridor in any Hindu temple, stretching over 1,200 meters, with more than 1,200 intricately carved pillars, surrounds the inner sanctum.
Walking through these halls feels like being part of something much larger than life, almost as if you're journeying through a story carved in stone.
The temple also houses 22 sacred wells within its premises. It’s customary for devotees to take a bath from the waters of all 22 wells before offering prayers.
Each well is said to have distinct taste, temperature, and medicinal properties and no one really knows how, even though they’re all located just a few feet apart.
Many pilgrims start their Char Dham Yatra from Rameshwaram or end it here, believing that bathing in the sea at Agni Theertham (just in front of the temple) and offering prayers at Ramanathaswamy temple purifies the soul and helps in achieving Moksha, liberation from the cycle of birth and rebirth.
Today, Ramanathaswamy Temple continues to be a living temple, not just a monument of the past, but a thriving hub of devotion. Every day, thousands of pilgrims and tourists arrive, some with hair wet from the 22 wells, others walking barefoot with offerings, many just lost in awe of the temple’s atmosphere.
It’s not just about seeing a beautiful temple; rather it’s about experiencing the layers of time, faith, and stories stacked over thousands of years.
Therefore, the Bada Char Dham Yatra is more than just a pilgrimage as it’s a journey through India’s spiritual heart. From the icy heights of Kedarnath to the coastal serenity of Rameshwaram, each temple offers a unique connection with the divine. Whether you seek blessings, adventure, or inner peace, the Char Dham calls out to every soul. As the saying goes:
"Char Dham ki yatra kar lo, janmo ke paap mit jaaye."
Written by: Nikita, Content Writer, Rudraksha Hub
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