The Rudranath Temple is the fourth shrine on the Panch Kedar Yatra, and it embodies ‘Rudra,’ one of Lord Shiva’s fiercest avatars. The legend says that the Pandavas pursued Lord Shiva after their sins in the Mahabharata, as only Mahadev could have granted them redemption. But Shiva was enraged with the brothers, and he transformed into a bull, hiding in the Himalayas. Though the Pandavas eventually earned his forgiveness, they had to ‘face’ his anger, & Rudranath symbolizes this very encounter that the brothers had with Lord Shiva’s wrath.
The Rudranath Temple is where Shiva surfaced the face of his bull form—Nandi. Thus, this humble shrine in the Garhwal Himalayas can be said to signify the Pandavas ‘facing’ their karma. The given article goes deep into folklore and explores the Rudranath trek, the Panch Kedar Temples, and what makes them both crucial in the enduring legacy of Sanatana Dharma.
Karma and justice are central to the ideals of Hinduism, and the folklore & history of Panch Kedar is another example of the same. Pandavas had emerged victorious at the end of the torrid war of Mahabharata. But this victory came at a great cost—they had to kill their cousins, the Kauravas. Seeking forgiveness for their sin of fratricide (murdering one’s own kin), the brothers set out for Lord Shiva.
The five brothers Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva first visited Varanasi, Mahadev’s favorite abode. But Bholenath was enraged by their misdeeds. He transformed into a bull (Nandi) and retreated into the Himalayas. This act of evasion was both a test of their devotion & an exemplification of Shiva’s anger.