Exploring the Sacred Confluence: A Journey Through the Panch Prayag

Let’s began the Journey Through the Panch Prayag, They have great importance in Hindu religion. So let’s know explore them.

Panch Prayag

Panch Prayag are the very prominent places located in Uttarakhand. Panch Prayag means five Prayags. This Prayag located in Uttarakhand is very special because in all these five places two different rivers meet together, which we know as Sangam. Uttarakhand is known as Devbhoomi and every thing present here is very important and holy for everyone. Here mere sight of Panch Prayag brings joy in life.

These are the Panch Prayag of Uttarakhand :

• Devprayag
• Rudraprayag
• Karnaprayag
• Nandaprayag
• Vishnuprayag

These Panch Prayag are at the confluences of the main rivers of Uttarakhand. The confluences of rivers in Uttarakhand are considered very sacred. Especially because rivers are considered the form of goddess. The holy water of all these Panch Prayags meets together in Devprayag in the form of Bhagirathi and Alaknanda rivers and it is here with the confluence of these two rivers that the most sacred river of India ‘River Ganga’ is formed. Apart from the Panch Prayag of Uttarakhand, there is also another Prayag which is known as Prayag Raj. Prayag Raj is also known as the King of Prayags. It is situated in Uttar Pradesh. Prayagraj is the confluence of three rivers, Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati. These rivers are the most sacred rivers of India. After the confluence of Ganga, Saraswati and Yamuna in Prayagraj, Panch Prayag i.e. Sangam of Uttarakhand are considered the most sacred, because the origin place of Ganga, Saraswati and Yamuna and their tributaries is Uttarakhand i.e. Devbhoomi. The places where their confluence occurs are considered to be major pilgrimage sites and bathing in these major pilgrimage sites has special significance and at these confluence sites, Shraddha Tarpan is also performed for the salvation of the ancestors.

Vishnuprayag

Vishnu Prayag is situated at the sacred confluence of the Alaknanda and Dhauliganga rivers. Vishnuprayag is the first Prayag among the Panch Prayag in descending order of rivers. In this confluence, the ancient temple adorned with the statue of Lord Vishnu and the Vishnu Kund are beautiful. It is situated in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. Vishnu Prayag is situated at a height of about 1372 meters above sea level. Vishnu Prayag is situated on the Joshimath-Badrinath motor road. It comes after 12 km of motorway and 3 km of foot from Joshimath. Dhauli Ganga is also known as Vishnu Ganga. This Prayag is also described in Skandapuran. This is the first confluence in the series of confluences. Dhauliganga River begins near Niti Pass located on the border of Garhwal region and Tibet. Also, Alaknanda river originates from the glaciers named Santopanth and Bhagirath Kharak in Uttarakhand. This place is called Gangotri. Chhota Badarika Ashram starts from Vishnu Prayag.

Nandaprayag

Nandprayag is situated at the sacred confluence of Alaknanda and Nandakini rivers. Nandprayag is situated at an altitude of about 2800 feet above sea level. It is situated in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. The divine temple of Lord Shankar is situated at this confluence. The original name of Nandprayag was Kandasu. Nandprayag is situated on the old pilgrimage route of Badrinath Dham. By motor route it is 21 km north of Karnaprayag on the Badrinath road. Nandakini river originates from Nanda Devi mountain and joins Alaknanda in Nandprayag. Legend has it that in ancient times, the ashram of Rishi Kanva was in Nandprayag and it is also believed that Nandprayag has also been called Kanva Ashram in Skandapuran. Nandprayag was also the birthplace of Shakuntala, daughter of the world famous sage Vishwamitra. If seen clearly, its name changed because Nand Baba had performed penance here for years. According to beliefs, King Nanda performed rigorous penance here to please Lord Vishnu and get him as a son. Apart from this, there is also a grand and beautiful temple of Nandadevi. Nand’s penance, Nanda’s temple and Nandakini’s confluence are the reasons why this place was named Nandprayag. The temples of Gopalji and Laxminarayan here are also beautiful.

Karnaprayag

Karna Prayag is situated at the sacred confluence of Alaknanda and Pindar rivers. Karnaprayag is the third among the religious Panch Prayags. It is situated in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. It is situated at an altitude of about 1450 meters above sea level. Another name of Pindar river is Karna Ganga, that is why this pilgrimage confluence is named Karna Prayag. Also, it was here that the great donor Karna worshiped Lord Surya from which he got the impenetrable armor rings. Due to being the penance place of Karna, it is also named Karnaprayag. Here, towards the west from the Sangam, there is also the penance and temple of Danveer Karna in the form of a rock. Uma temple in Karna Prayag is also worth seeing and is famous. Pindar River originates from the melting of Pindari Glacier situated at an altitude of about 3,850 meters. Karnaprayag is on the main highway between Rishikesh and Badrinath. Karnaprayag is about 12 km from Gauchar. In ancient times, monks, sages and pilgrims on foot had to pass through this place while going to Badrinath temple.

Rudraprayag

Rudraprayag is situated at the sacred confluence of Mandakini and Alaknanda rivers. Rudranath Temple and Chamunda Devi Temple in front of the Sangam are places of interest here. Rudra Prayag is situated at an altitude of about 700 meters above sea level. Rudraprayag is a stopover on the way to Kedarnath. Kedarnath is about 75 kilometers away from Rudraprayag. It is located at a distance of 37 km north of Srinagar. Mandakini River originates from Chaurabari Tal situated above Kedarnath. This pilgrimage has been described in detail in the Puranas. It was here, on the orders of Lord Brahma, that Devarshi Narad performed penance for thousands of years and after his penance, he met Lord Shankar and received the Sangopang Gandharva Shastra. At this place, Lord Shankar had also gifted a Veena named ‘Mahti’ to Narad Ji. A little above the Sangam, there is a linga of Lord Shiva named ‘Rudreshwar’, whose encounter is considered highly auspicious. This place is named Rudraprayag after Lord Shiva because another name of Lord Shiva is Rudra. Jagadamba Temple and Shiva Temple located here are also among the major religious places. There are more than 200 Shiva temples in Rudraprayag district itself.

Devprayag

Devprayag is situated at the sacred confluence of Alaknanda and Bhagirathi rivers. From religious point of view it is an important Hindu pilgrimage place. This is the last confluence of the Alaknanda River. Alaknanda River flows from Satopant to Devprayag only because after this confluence point, this river is known as River Ganga. It is situated at an altitude of about 1500 feet above sea level. Devprayag is situated in Tehri district. Devprayag is about 72 km from Rishikesh. Bhagirathi river originates from the Gangotri glacier of Gomukh. In Devprayag, Bhagirathi river has been given the status of mother-in-law and Alaknanda river has been given the status of daughter-in-law because the Bhagirathi river comes with great speed and noise and on the other hand, the calm nature of Alaknanda can be seen. Shiva Temple and Raghunath Temple are situated near the Sangam, which are the main attractions of Devprayag. Devprayag is also known by another name Sudarshan Kshetra. There are various descriptions about Devprayag in Skanda Purana Kedarkhand that a Pandit named Dev Sharma had performed penance for a thousand years in Satyayuga by eating nothing but dry leaves and standing on one leg and got the personal darshan of Lord Vishnu and a boon. . It was named Dev Prayag because of Dev Sharma’s penance here. Apart from this, it is said that when King Bhagiratha convinced Mother Ganga to come to earth, 33 crore gods and goddesses also came from heaven to earth along with Mother Ganga. Then all of them made their residence in Devprayag which is the birthplace of Mother Ganga.

Panch Prayag | Devprayag | Rudraprayag | Karnaprayag | Nandaprayag | Vishnuprayag | Uttarakhand

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