UTTARAKHAND is called abode of God. The religious significance of the state is known world over as there are many significant religious places in this Himalayan region. Undoubtedly, so many books have so far been written highlighting the religious importance of the region but the book, Panchbadri, Panchkedar, Panchprayag, written by Dr Dhan Singh Rawat, provides the details of micro level. Before writing the book, the writer conducted deep research for several years.
The book consists of full vivid description of Panch Badri, Panch Kedar, and Panch Prayag in Uttarakhand. It is believed that every Hindu having faith in Hindu culture and traditions and customs should perform at least one teerth yarta in his or her life. Keeping this in view, Adi Shankaracharya established four maths in all the four Dhams. The book tells why Hindus should visit and worship the religious places in Uttarakhand. Sri Badri Vishal is believed to be having a heart full of compassion and he loves all his devotees. It is also believed that even today the entire Panchbadri is the rarest region of all the Lokas which include aakash, pataal and the earth. There are several teerathas in heaven, pataal and on the earth but no teerth is so unique in the universe as Badrinath teerth as it is believed that even the greatest sinner can get rid of all sins by remembering Lord Badrinath in his mind sincerely and truly. One can attain salvation by “darshan of Sri Badrinath”.
Kedarnath has its own great religious significance. Kedardham is said to be the abode of Shiva. In the land of Uttarakhand, Shiva appeared before the Pandvas in the form of Maharishi and being invisible, Lord Shiva got the Pandavas rid of Guruhatya, Brahamhatya and Gouhatya and then left for heaven.
Prayag means confluence of sacred rivers which has been described “teerth rishi justai, jalai muron”. The last third part “Panch Prayag” is about Vishnu Prayag, Nand Prayag, Karan Prayag, Rudra Prayag and Dev Prayag. While reading the description of these world fame religious places, the reader feels as if he is in heaven and longs for the immediate darshan of the places. The book consists of 150 multi coloured pages with beautiful pictures of all these religious places. The introduction of the book has been written by Swami Chidanand Muni Maharaj, head of Parmarth Niketan Ashram, Rishikesh.
(Dr Dhan Singh Rawat, Village-Naugaon, PO. Dungrikhal, Patti Kandarasyun, Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, email drdhansinghrawat@gmail.com)
