Badrinath : The Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand began with the opening of the temple doors of Gangotri and Yamunotri on Akshaya Tritiya. The doors of Kedarnath opened yesterday, on 22 April, while Badrinath opened today, on 23 April at 6.30am. The mysteries surrounding these dhams are fascinating. Did you know that you aren’t allowed to blow conch shells (shankh) in Badrinath?
There is a mythological belief associated with Badrinath Temple, which is also mentioned in the Puranas. It is said that Goddess Lakshmi was engaged in deep penance at this very place. Around the same time, Lord Vishnu defeated a demon there. Traditionally, a shankh is blown to mark victory, but Vishnu chose not to do so on that occasion. He avoided it to ensure that Goddess Lakshmi’s meditation was not disturbed. Since then, it has been believed that a shankh should never be blown at Badrinath.
There is also a link between the mountains and the sound of the conch. The reason is not only religious but also scientific. The location of Badrinath plays an important role, as the conch shell is not blown here. Surrounded by the Himalayas, the region is covered in snow during winter. In such conditions, the loud sound of a conch shell can echo off the mountains. It is believed that these echoes may create slight vibrations, and the snow settled on the slopes is already quite fragile. This could increase the risk of cracks forming or even trigger small avalanches. This is why blowing a conch shell is avoided in Badrinath.
Although conch shells are not used, prayers and aartis are performed with full devotion throughout the day. One can book for conducting puja online through the website of Shri Badrinath and Kedarnath Temple Committee. In this way, avoiding the conch is not only about respecting religious beliefs but also about being mindful of nature, and avoiding sounds that might trigger an avalanche.About Badrinath Dham
One of the holy shrines for Vaishnavites, Badrinath is among the 108 Divya Desams, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu (Badri Narayan). “The Garbha Griha portion has its canopy covered with a sheet of gold and houses Lord Badari Narayan, Kuber (God of wealth), Narad Rishi, Udhava, Nar and Narayan. The complex has 15 idols. Especially attractive is the one-metre high image of Lord Badarinath, finely sculpted in black stone. According to legend, Shankara discovered a black stone image of Lord Badarinarayan made of Saligram stone in the Alaknanda River.
He originally enshrined it in a cave near the Tapt Kund hot springs. In the sixteenth century, the King of Garhwal moved the murti to the present location of the temple. It represents Lord Vishnu seated in a meditative pose called Padmasana,” states the website of the Shri Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee.
