Karnaprayag
Karnaprayag is a city and municipal board in Chamoli District in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. Karnaprayag is the confluence of the river Alaknanda and Pindar River. Karnaprayag is one of the Panch Prayag situated in Uttarakhand. The other four prayags are Vishnuprayag, Nandprayag, Rudraprayag, and Devprayag. Karnaprayag is located at an average elevation of 1,451 meters. karnaprayag in hindi pronounce as कर्णप्रयाग|
The confluence of the Pindari River, which arises from the icy Pindari glacier and the Alaknanda, occurs at Karnaprayag. The town of Karnaprayag is also known as ‘The City of Karna of Mahabharata’. It is famous for connecting the Garhwal region with the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand via NH 109. While on a visit to the Himalayas, Swami Vivekananda also meditated here with his gurus.
History of Karnaprayag
Karnaprayag is believed by many to be the place where Karna of Mahabharata worshiped the Sun God. Karnprayag has an ancient temple dedicated to Uma. In some versions, Karnaprayag is the place where Lord Krishna cremated Karna. When Arjuna used the Anjalika weapon on the weaponless Karna, who was still trying to lift the submerged chariot wheel, Lord Krishna found that Karna was still alive despite being seriously injured. Lord Krishna finds that Dharma-Devata, the goddess responsible for protecting dharma (righteousness), is protecting Karna from death and resisting every arrow sent by Arjuna.
Krishna and Arjuna found that it was impossible to kill Karna as the goddess was personally protecting Karna. Lord Krishna explained to Arjuna that Dharma-devata himself was protecting Karna from death as it was impossible to even for Lord Shiva to kill Karna because of the great virtue Karna had earned by giving charity during his lifetime. Krishna said that wherever there is Dharma, there is victory, and this time Dharma was on Karna’s side. So Krishna got down from his chariot and appeared as a Brahmin and asked for Karna’s Punya or merit in the form of charity.
Karna gave his entire virtue in the form of his blood to the Brahmin as a donation, and once Karna had given the virtue of his life to him, Krishna rewarded Karna with a vision of Krishna’s Vishvarupa. Krishna told that only in this way it was possible to kill Karna and when Karna gave the virtue of his life to Krishna, the Dharma-devatas disappeared. Karna asks Krishna to cremate him in a virgin land where no one else is present. Then Krishna went back to his chariot and asked Arjuna to strike Karna. Later, Krishna himself cremated Karna at Karnaprayag.
It is at the confluence of two holy rivers Alaknanda and Pindar on the way to Badrinath. It is said that Karna of the Mahabharata meditated here for many years to obtain impenetrable armor, which made him a formidable warrior on the battlefield. Swami Vivekananda did penance here for eighteen days along with his Guru Bhai, Guru Turiyanand Ji, and Akharanand Ji.
Karnaprayag History in Hindi
कर्णप्रयाग को कई लोग मानते हैं कि महाभारत के कर्ण ने सूर्य भगवान की पूजा की थी। कर्णप्रयाग में उमा को समर्पित एक प्राचीन मंदिर है। कुछ संस्करणों में, कर्णप्रयाग वह स्थान है जहाँ भगवान कृष्ण ने कर्ण का अंतिम संस्कार किया था। जब अर्जुन ने निःशस्त्र कर्ण पर अंजलिका अस्त्र का प्रयोग किया, जो अभी भी जलमग्न रथ के पहिये को उठाने का प्रयास कर रहा था, तो भगवान कृष्ण ने पाया कि कर्ण गंभीर रूप से घायल होने के बावजूद जीवित था। भगवान कृष्ण ने पाया कि धर्म-देवता, धर्म की रक्षा के लिए जिम्मेदार देवी, कर्ण को मृत्यु से बचा रही है और अर्जुन द्वारा भेजे गए हर तीर का विरोध कर रही है।
कृष्ण और अर्जुन ने पाया कि कर्ण को मारना असंभव था क्योंकि देवी व्यक्तिगत रूप से कर्ण की रक्षा कर रही थीं। भगवान कृष्ण ने अर्जुन को समझाया कि धर्म-देवता स्वयं कर्ण की मृत्यु से रक्षा कर रहे थे क्योंकि भगवान शिव के लिए भी कर्ण को मारना असंभव था क्योंकि कर्ण ने अपने जीवनकाल में दान देकर अर्जित किया था। कृष्ण ने कहा कि जहां भी धर्म है, वहां जीत है, और इस बार धर्म कर्ण के पक्ष में था। इसलिए कृष्ण अपने रथ से उतरे और एक ब्राह्मण के रूप में प्रकट हुए और दान के रूप में कर्ण का पुण्य या योग्यता मांगी।
कर्ण ने अपने रक्त के रूप में अपना संपूर्ण पुण्य ब्राह्मण को दान के रूप में दे दिया, और एक बार जब कर्ण ने अपने जीवन का पुण्य उसे दे दिया, तो कृष्ण ने कर्ण को कृष्ण के विश्वरूप के दर्शन के साथ पुरस्कृत किया। कृष्ण ने बताया कि केवल इसी तरह से कर्ण को मारना संभव था और जब कर्ण ने अपने जीवन का पुण्य कृष्ण को दिया तो धर्म-देवता गायब हो गए। कर्ण ने कृष्ण से उसे एक कुंवारी भूमि में अंतिम संस्कार करने के लिए कहा जहां कोई और मौजूद नहीं है। तब कृष्ण अपने रथ पर वापस गए और अर्जुन से कर्ण पर प्रहार करने के लिए कहा। बाद में, कृष्ण ने स्वयं कर्ण का अंतिम संस्कार कर्णप्रयाग में किया।
यह बद्रीनाथ के रास्ते में दो पवित्र नदियों अलकनंदा और पिंडर के संगम पर है। ऐसा कहा जाता है कि महाभारत के कर्ण ने अभेद्य कवच प्राप्त करने के लिए कई वर्षों तक यहाँ तपस्या की थी, जिसने उन्हें युद्ध के मैदान में एक दुर्जेय योद्धा बना दिया था। स्वामी विवेकानंद ने अपने गुरु भाई, गुरु तुरीयानंद जी और अखरानंद जी के साथ यहां अठारह दिनों तक तपस्या की।
Places to visit in Karnaprayag
KARNA TEMPLE:-
An ancient holy temple situated at the confluence of the Alaknanda and Pindar rivers is an architectural site, which has got an immense place in Hinduism. Thus, visited many devotees came to Karnaprayag Temple.
UMA DEVI TEMPLE:- This holy place is dedicated to Goddess Parvati. The self-manifested idol of the Goddess was consecrated centuries ago and is now being worshiped as a Shaktipeeth. Of high importance, this temple is visited by lakhs and lakhs of pilgrims every year.
ADI BADRI:- Group of Sixteen Temples belonging to the Gupta period; Adi Badri is a part of the famous Panch Badri temple. One of them is dedicated to Lord Vishnu with a three feet high idol made of black stone. Located about 20 km from Karnprayag, this temple holds immense religious importance among the Hindus.
CHANDIKA DEVI SIMLI:- Popularly known as Raj Rajeshwari Chandika Mata Temple, this Temple is dedicated to Goddess Kali. Located in the Petit village of Simili in Karnaprayag, it has become a center for Tantriks and sages, among other pilgrims, who come here to worship Goddess Kali, the destroyer of all evil forces, and goddesses such as Raj Rajeshwari Mata. Also of other regional deities. , Gunsai, Gol, and Govind.
NAUTI VILLAGE:- Spread at an altitude of 369 meters, this small village is located in the Chamoli district, about 24 km from Karnprayag. Nauti village is considered to be the holy hermitage of Goddess Nanda and is famous as the starting point of the majestic procession of the Nanda Raj Jat Yatra.
Best Time to Visit Karnaprayag
In Karnprayag, the average temperature ranges between 6 °C and 29 °C, making the weather pleasant and quite inviting throughout the year. Nevertheless, the best months to plan a trip to Karnprayag are from October to February, which brings with it the winter season.
SUMMER:- The summer season in Karnprayag lasts from March to June and the temperature ranges between 12 °C and 29 °C. Tourists visiting here during summer can enjoy the pleasant weather and can also indulge in activities like camping and many other adventure sports.
MONSOON:- The monsoon season, which runs from July to September, brings the spring of festivals. Hence, this time of the year is considered the pilgrimage season when thousands of devotees come here to celebrate various festivals. The temperature during this season ranges between 22 °C and 27 °C, but heavy rains for a few consecutive days can cause landslides or block road transport.
WINTER:- This season is considered the best of all seasons to visit Karnprayag. The picturesque beauty of the place is further enhanced by the greenery spread all around and the mountains hidden behind the fog look wonderful for the morning view. The temperature in the winter season ranges between 0°C and 15°C.
Karnaprayag How to Reach
Karnprayag stands on the way to Badrinath while you are traveling from Delhi by taking National Highway 58. Whereas, it is about 188 km away from Nainital district and 214 km away from Dehradun. Thus, both of them provide a major connection between Karnprayag and other cities. Public and private transport is also easily available from nearby cities.
BY ROAD:- Karnprayag is situated on the NH 58 highway which establishes a viable connection between Delhi to Haridwar. Hence, buses plying between them can be used as the easiest way to reach this beautiful and religiously important site by road. Private taxis can also be hired for those looking for a comfortable journey.
BY RAIL:- If you wish to reach Karnprayag by train, Rishikesh is the nearest railway station that you can choose. It is located about 169.8 km from Karnprayag. On reaching Rishikesh Railway Station, both public and private transport facilities are easily available to finally reach the city.
BY AIR:- The nearest airport to Karnprayag is the Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun, approximately 184 km away. There are many flights that operate between Delhi and Dehradun. And once you reach the airport, public and private transport are easily available to reach Karnprayag.
