Guptkashi Hidden Place of Lord Shiva

There are many Kashi in India like Uttarkashi , Dakshinkashi , Guptakashi etc . Among them I am going to tell you about Guptakashi in Uttarakhand. Guptakashi is a large village located in Rudraprayag District in State of Uttarakhand. The Holy Village is located at an elevation of about 1,319 meters above the sea level in the Gateway of Garhwal Himalayas. The term Guptkashi means " hidden Benares " where lots of Pilgrimage site are found. This place is renowned for two main temple Vishwanath Temple and Ardhanareshvara temple.Vishwanath Temple is dedicated to lord shiva in the form of Kashi whereas Ardhanareshvara temple is dedicated to lord Ardhanareshvara in the form of half man half woman. The temple is located on the confluence of the two streams of water Ganga and Yamuna. There are numerous of Lingams are seen in and around the Guptkashi apart from lingams of main Vishwanath temple.

In front of the temple , there is small Kund called Manikarnika Kund located. It is said that Lingam is bathed by two steams of water river Ganga and Yamuna. The Ganga water originate from Goumukh whereas Yamuna water originate through trunks of two elephants strategically placed above the linga. During winter season the kedarnath temple is shifted for six month to the nearby place Guptkashi village called Ukhimath for workshipped or venerated of Lord shiva.Ukhimath is located on the opposite seashore of the Mandakini river

According to Hindu Mythology , It is believed that Guptkashi is the Chardham place where lord shiva concealed himself from Pandavas at the time of Kurukshetra war. According to Legend , It is said that Guptkashi is the place where lord shiva proposed Parvati before they got married in the small village Triyuginaryan at the confluence of Mandakini and Sone-Ganga rivers. Another legend said that In 1669 dated back , Aurangzeb mughal emperor demolished the Vishwanath Temple and constructed Gaynvapi Mosque renamed Varanasi as Mohammadâbâd. According to Puran , Lord shiva had two eyes Kashi and Kanchi. There are six Kashi cover all the regions in and around the country. Uttarkashi and Guptakashi in Uttarakhand in Northern Himalayas , Dakshinkashi in southern India, Guptakashi in eastern India is at Bhubaneswar, the Kashi at Paithan in western India and a Kashi in Mandi in Himachal Pradesh in Western Himalayas. The Puranas state that all the Kashis have the same degree of sanctity and reverence as the main Kashi - Varanasi.

The architecture Style of the temple is typical and traditional style of another temples such as Kedarnath.The temple is made up of stone with high tower over the sanctum. The wooden frame and Sloping roof at the top of tower. There are two Dwarpalakas on the both side at the main Entrance gate of temple.The external wall of the temple is painted with lotus Design.Image of Bhairava , terrible form of lord shiva is located at the top of main Entrance Door. There is small shrine dedicated to Ardhanareeshvara is located to left side of main Shrine. There is metallic statue of Nandi facing Shiva’s image aligned in a clockwise direction is made at the entrance gate considered to be an auspicious symbol of Hindu.