KEDARNATH 
The Himalayan abode of Lord Maheswar

Siva Purana testifies to the account thus: "At Kedara, Lord Siva Himself has been worshipped from time immemorial by gods and the nationals of Bharata Khanda. Kedara Sambhu, the Lord of everything is undoubtedly the special presiding deity of this sacred Bharata Varsha and the yielder of all desires." It is also mentioned that giving dana of a kankana-arm ring here has special merit. Offering of pindas to the ancestors after a dip in the river Mandakini brings forth enviable merit; and it liberates the entire kula. 

Sraddhas at any place in this region are efficacious and yield greater benefits. Devi Bagavata and Tirtha Kalpataru extol the divinity of this place through innumerable episodes. It is said that anyone who drinks the water from Retaskund here is freed from rebirth; and here Siva stays permanently and that place goes by the name Isana Sikara. Ardent devotees visit this shrine after their sojourn to Gangotri and Yamunotri, and from where they bring sacred waters for abhisheka to Kedara linga. It is the spiritual EL Dorado of the Saivites from the dawn of religion.

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