Extremely rare photo of the mula murti of Sri Badrinath temple in the Himalayas.
According to the traditional accounts of the Skanda Purana, Vaishnava Khanda, five sacred rocks (Panchashila) in Badrinath Dham hold immense spiritual significance. Associated with great sages and divine incarnations of Bhagwan Vishnu, these rocks are revered as sacred sites of penance, devotion and liberation.
The Five Sacred Shilas:
- Narad Shila: Associated with Sage Narada, who is believed to have performed intense penance here, seeking unwavering devotion to Narayana and liberation from the cycle of birth and death.
- Markandeya Shila: Associated with Sage Markandeya, who performed penance and chanted Om Namo Narayanaya. According to tradition, Narayana appeared before him in His four-armed form, blessing him with divine vision.
- Varahi Shila: Associated with Varaha, the boar incarnation of Vishnu, who rescued Mother Earth from the demon Hiranyaksha. The rock is revered as a symbol of divine protection and the restoration of cosmic order.
- Garudi Shila: Associated with Garuda, the divine vehicle of Vishnu, who is believed to have performed intense penance here to attain the honour of becoming the Bhagwan’s Vahana. It symbolizes devotion, surrender and divine grace.
- Narasimha Shila: Associated with Narasimha, the fierce incarnation of Vishnu, who is believed to have attained peace in the waters of the Alaknanda after slaying Hiranyakashipu. The rock, said to resemble a lion, symbolizes the transition from divine wrath to tranquillity.
