KARNA PRAYAG

Karna Prayag – Confluence of Alaknanda and Pindar Rivers Karana Prayag is the location where Alaknanda River is joined by the Pinder River that originates from the Pindar glacier, almost 200 km further north in the Nanda Devi Mountain range. Karna Prayag is one of the sacred ‘Panch-Prayags’ and is at an altitude of 4750 feet above sea level. The town gets its name from Karna of the Mahabharata. In Kedar Khand of Skanda Purana it has been called Shiva Kshetra Suralaya. Uma also attained divinity here and became Parvati. In other stories, this is also the birthplace of Shiva’s son Skanda Kumar (Kartikeya). Due to this, the old name of Karna Prayag is also Skanda Prayag. Pindar River: A tributary of the Alaknanda River, named after the legendary King Pindar. Alaknanda River: This is one of the headwaters of the Ganga River and is considered sacred in Hinduism. Karna Prayag Sangam – This is the meeting place of the two rivers – Alaknanda and Pindar. Karna Prayag offers breathtaking natural beauty, with the convergence of the Alaknanda and Pindar rivers creating a picturesque view. The surrounding landscapes are adorned with lush greenery, dense forests, and snow-capped peaks, making it an ideal place for pilgrims. The unimaginable beauty of this spot has to be seen to be believed. The two rivers gushing down from the mountains and incredible views all around fill you with awe and reverence. The epic Mahabharata legend narrates that Karna did penance here and earned the protective gear of Kavacha (armour) and Kundala (ear rings) from his father, the Sun God, which gave him indestructible powers. The name of the confluence is thus derived from the name of Karna. There is reference to this site in Meghaduta, a Sanskrit lyrical poetic drama written by the legendary poet Kalidasa, which attributes that Satopanth and Bhagirathi glaciers joined here to form the Pindar River. Another classic work by the same author called the Abhijnana-Shakuntala also mentions that Shakuntala and king Dushyanta's romantic dalliance occurred here. It is also mentioned that Swami Vivekananda meditated here for eighteen days. Karna, one of the major characters of the Mahabharata was the son of Kunti and the half-brother of the Pandavas. This was not known to the Pandavas and they came to know only after he had died. In the Mahabharata war, Karna fought on the side of Duryodhana and the Kauravas. Another legend says Lord Krishna cremated Karna at this place. It was not possible to kill Karna as he was protected by his massive accumulation of good deeds. He was eventually killed by trickery. Before dying he requested Lord Krishna to cremate him in a place where none other had been cremated. That is why his body was brought to Karna Prayag for the last rites. The name “Karna Prayag” is derived from the name of “Karna” (Pandava brother). The river Pindar is known as the river Karna Ganga, and it merges with 2 Alaknanda here, forming a Prayag, so the site is named as “Karna Prayag”. It is the very site where Karna performed penance, and his cremation rituals were performed here. Next to the confluence site there is a large pasturage on the bank where cows are seen grazing. According to a local legend, a local Zamindar inadvertently killed a cow (go-hatya) in this pasture land, which according to Hindu religion was considered a religious offence. The contrived zamindar, who did not have adequate money to do reparatory acts to atone for this sin, requested a visiting pilgrim from South India to help him out. With the help of the philanthropic pilgrim, the Zamindar bought the pasture land, dedicated it to Lord Badrinath, a form of Vishnu, with the vow that the land so acquired would be used only for the purpose of grazing by cows. Karna Temple, a beautiful temple dedicated to Karna near the confluence of the rivers. This is believed to be the spot where Lord Krishna cremated Karna. The stone seat where Karna did penance is also seen here. A temple built to commemorate Karna has the deity of Goddess Uma Devi (daughter of the Himalayas) here. The stone temple was rebuilt by Adi Shankaracharya. In the sanctum, the images of Goddess Parvati, her consort Shiva and her elephant-headed son Ganesha are installed, next to that of Uma Devi, apart from Karna’s image. A steep row of steps from the temple along a spur leads to the confluence point. And, down these steps, small shrines of Shiva and the Binayak Shila (the Ganesha stone) - that is believed to provide protection from danger - are located. Once in 12 years, a procession of the image of Uma Devi is taken round a few villages in the sub-divisional town of Karan Prayag. Besides these temples, there are a number of small but quaint temples in and around Karna Prayag. Walking along the rivers or on the countryside slopes is another enjoyable activity here. Festivals and Celebrations in Karna Prayag: The town comes alive during various festivals and celebrations. Maha Shivaratri, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is a grand event celebrated with great enthusiasm at the Uma Devi Temple and other Shiva temples in the region. The festival attracts a large number of devotees, who offer prayers and participate in religious rituals. COMPILED By CHAMAN LAL GADOO VIDYA GAURI GADOO RESEARCH CENTRE Email:cl.gadoo@gmail.com Blog: clgadoo.blogspot.com