Long long ago, before the current network of roads and railways, it was natural topography that helped delineate roads and transport and movement across the Indian Subcontinent. One of the most prominent gateways to the Himalayas, ie Haridwar and Rishikesh, did not have their access from Meerut and other routes from New Delhi as it is today. The historical entrance during the times of the Mahabharata was from Adi Badri and Adi Kedar temples that are located north of the Kurukshetra battlefield. As their names suggest, these temples that were at the frontline of the lower Himalayas and the river plains, helped people plan their pilgrimages to Badrinath and Kedarnath.
It is said that after the great battle of Kurukshetra, the sage Veda Vyasa was disturbed over how the future generations would perceive the role of Krishna in the Mahabharata, and about the reasons why brothers would kill brothers and families would destroy families. He was not content with being a central catalyst in the epic that he wrote, as he was also one of the mainstays of the various turnabouts in each generation. Without him, there would have been no Chitrangada, Vichitravirya or Vidura. He realised that the aspect of Krishna, and the aspect of victory of dharma would have to be explained differently.
So he retreated northwards of Kurukshetra to Adi Badri and wrote out the eighteen volumes of the Srimad Bhagavatam, and the holistic and most comprehensive aspects of Shri Krishna, delving into various aspects of dharma and humanistic values. As he sat down to write, as the locals explained to me, he could not concentrate, for the fall of the Saraswati River over the gigantic mesa was very vigorous and energetic, and the sound was extremely overwhelming. So, he requested the Saraswati River to quieten down and flow through the great mountain at the location, and search out an underground terrain for herself. The Saraswati River is thought to have acceded to the request for she understood the importance of retelling the aspects of Shri Krishna.
It is at this location that the river is thought to have disappeared, as the ancient tale suggests. I have visited the temple on various occasions and stayed overnight with the local sages and wondered at the most splendid forests around. The morning dawn is not to be seen at any other location along the Himalayas and the beauty of the place takes over all your expectations. Various sages and Sankaracharyas over the years have come to offer their salutations to Adi Badri, the Lord Vishnu, cast in black rock at the temple. This is a place where veritably, myth, epic, nature, water, religion, devotion, journeys and mystery come together.
It is said that after the great battle of Kurukshetra, the sage Veda Vyasa was disturbed over how the future generations would perceive the role of Krishna in the Mahabharata, and about the reasons why brothers would kill brothers and families would destroy families. He was not content with being a central catalyst in the epic that he wrote, as he was also one of the mainstays of the various turnabouts in each generation. Without him, there would have been no Chitrangada, Vichitravirya or Vidura. He realised that the aspect of Krishna, and the aspect of victory of dharma would have to be explained differently.
So he retreated northwards of Kurukshetra to Adi Badri and wrote out the eighteen volumes of the Srimad Bhagavatam, and the holistic and most comprehensive aspects of Shri Krishna, delving into various aspects of dharma and humanistic values. As he sat down to write, as the locals explained to me, he could not concentrate, for the fall of the Saraswati River over the gigantic mesa was very vigorous and energetic, and the sound was extremely overwhelming. So, he requested the Saraswati River to quieten down and flow through the great mountain at the location, and search out an underground terrain for herself. The Saraswati River is thought to have acceded to the request for she understood the importance of retelling the aspects of Shri Krishna.
It is at this location that the river is thought to have disappeared, as the ancient tale suggests. I have visited the temple on various occasions and stayed overnight with the local sages and wondered at the most splendid forests around. The morning dawn is not to be seen at any other location along the Himalayas and the beauty of the place takes over all your expectations. Various sages and Sankaracharyas over the years have come to offer their salutations to Adi Badri, the Lord Vishnu, cast in black rock at the temple. This is a place where veritably, myth, epic, nature, water, religion, devotion, journeys and mystery come together.
