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Yamunotri temple lies in the west of Garhwal Himalayas in the Uttarkashi district. It is one of the four temples of Chardham yatra. It is a grand Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess Yamuna and is surrounded by the sacred river Yamuna. The idol positioned at Yamunotri temple is made of black marble. The temple is situated at an altitude of 3,291 metres. To reach the temple, one has to undertake a 13km trek from Hanuman Chatti. During this trek, numerous waterfalls can be seen. Yamunotri temple is known for its peaceful and calm surroundings. Yamunotri yatra is considered to be sacred by devotees. According to Hindu mythology, the river Yamunotri is considered home to an ancient saint, Asit muni. Yamunotri Dham is one of the holy places to experience spirituality
History of Yamunotri Temple
In the 19th century, the ancient Yamunotri temple was built by Maharani Guleria from Rajasthan. There are tales about the Yamunotri temple being constructed by Maharaja Pratap Shah of Tehri Garhwal. Due to extreme weather conditions, the temple has been reconstructed multiple times. The mythological stories related to Yamunotri Dham are mentioned in the legend associated with Asit muni. He used to bathe daily in Ganga and Yamuna rivers. When he grew very old, he could not bathe in the rivers. This was when the Ganga river appeared in front of him. Yamuna river is the daughter of the Sun God and sister to the God of death. Therefore, worshipping Yamuna is believed to please Surya dev and Yama. Yamunotri temple is considered the home of the goddess Yamuna. The temple is the highest temple dedicated to goddess Yamunotri. A dip in the Yamuna river protects from untimely death.
Architecture
Yamunotri temple is made of granite stones. The temple has a garbha griha and mandap where devotees assemble for prayers. The black ebony marble idol is adorned with garlands and placed in the garbha griha. The idol has beautiful carvings on it. The idol of Ganga, made in white stone, is situated beside the idol of Yamuna. A conical shaped tower with red borders builds up the top of the temple. The steps and blocks of the temple are built through the rocks nearby.
Yamuntori Dham and more
Yamunotri temple is open for devotees from May to October. The actual source of the Yamuna river is at an altitude of 4,421 metres. There exist two hot and cold water springs, namely Surya Kund and Gauri Kund. Surya Kund is hot enough to cook food. The view comprises ice glaciers and breezy valleys. The char dham yatra begins at Yamunotri. The devotees dip rice and potatoes in the hot spring, offered as prasad in the Yamunotri temple. The temple is surrounded by small ashrams and guesthouses where devotees can reside free of charge. The morning puja is called mangla aarti, while the evening pooja is known as shayan aarti.
Festivals celebrated at Yamunotri temple
The festivals of Basant Panchami, Phool Dei and Olgia are celebrated at the Yamunotri temple apart from the other famous festivals. Phool Dei is one of the harvest festivals of Uttarakhand. Olgia is also known as Ghee Sankranti. Both the festivals are related to agriculture and celebrated in anticipation of a good crop in the upcoming season.
Best time to visit Yamunotri temple
The best time to experience the spiritual blessings of the Yamunotri yatra is from April to June. Monsoon season becomes a bit dangerous due to heavy rainfall.
Conclusion
Yamunotri temple witnesses thousands of devotees visit every year. Firm faith and belief in goddess Yamuna attract the masses to visit this sacred place. The ambience and the Yamuna river make it a beautiful spiritual journey in the lap of the Himalayas.
