Kedarnath and Badrinath will Disappear (Prophecy)

It is predicted that, in the future, the Ganga River will disappear from Earth and return to the heavens. As a result, the pilgrimage sites along the Ganga River will lose their significance and will be considered nominal pilgrimage destinations. Kedarnath, known as the resting place of Lord Shiva (Shankar), and Badrinath, believed to be the eighth Vaikuntha of the universe, will also be affected. In Badrinath, Lord Vishnu is said to rest for half the year and awaken for the other half.

Let’s Know Something about Badrinath

According to Hindu mythology, the River Ganga, when it descended to Earth, split into twelve streams. The stream at Badrinath became known as Alaknanda, and it became the place where Lord Vishnu resides. The Kedar Valley, situated on the banks of the Mandakini River —which flows alongside the Alaknanda—houses one of the most important and sacred Jyotirlingams among the 12 Jyotirlingams in India. This entire region falls under the Rudraprayag district, which is also the site where Lord Rudra’s personification took place.

Today, only two of the original streams—Alaknanda and Mandakini—remain, along with the Ganga River as it continues to flow. Due to increasing population, continuous mining, deforestation, and other human activities, the water levels in these rivers have declined, and pollution has increased.

The Kedar Valley is surrounded by two beautiful mountains—Nar and Narayan—which are considered the meditation spots for Nar and Narayan, two of the 24 incarnations of Lord Vishnu. Lord Shiva, pleased with their meditation, is said to have appeared in Kedarnath.

According to the Puranas, Ganga is a sacred river that descended from the heavens, and any pollution of this holy river would result in the devastation of the entire world and, eventually, the return of the Ganga to the heavens. Currently, the Ganges River is heavily polluted, and its water quality has deteriorated.

Many of the significant religious destinations of Hindus are located on the banks of holy rivers like the Ganga, Yamuna, Krishna, Godavari, Indus, Brahmaputra, Kaveri, and Narmada. However, the Ganga River, due to business development and pollution, has suffered. As a result, the Ganga is believed to be preparing to return to paradise.

The Puranas predict that after natural calamities such as earthquakes, floods, and droughts, the Ganga River will disappear, and the stories of Badrinath and Kedarnath, which are closely linked to the Ganga, will come to an end.

Idol of Lord Narsingh

It has been observed that the hand of the Lord Narsingh idol at Badrinath has been gradually deteriorating over the years, which has led to speculation that devotees will no longer be able to worship the idol as they once did.

Let’s Know the Prophecy of Kedarnath

Natural disasters in Uttarakhand have shown that, in the name of development, the pilgrimage sites are being pushed toward destruction. People have started treating these sacred sites as mere tourist destinations rather than religious spots, which may have consequences. According to the Puranas, Kedarnath and Badrinath will disappear in the coming years, and a new pilgrimage site, named Bhavishya Badri, will emerge.

Rudraprayag, the confluence of the divine Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers, is where the waters unite and eventually meet the Bhagirathi-Ganga River at Devprayag. In Devprayag, the holy Ganges River originates from the Gangotri shrine in Uttarakhand. A short distance after Devprayag, the Alaknanda and Mandakini rivers merge and disappear, reemerging as the Ganga. The Ganga then flows through the holy land of Haridwar. Hindu devotees believe that a pilgrimage to Kedarnath and the Nar and Narayan peaks in the Badrinath area helps absolve all sins and brings blessings of salvation, as described in the Koti Rudra section of the Shiva Purana.

The Tales of Badrinath:

According to the Badrinath tales, during the Satyuga (the first age), gods, saints, and ordinary people alike would witness Lord Vishnu. In the Treta Yuga, only gods could see other gods and rishis. By the time of the Dwapara Yuga, the gods had disappeared, and humans were left with temples and idols as their connection to the divine.

Various holy epics mention that as the levels of sin increased from Satyuga to Dwapara, it became increasingly difficult to connect with the gods. When Kalyug arrived, the present era, it marked the peak of sin and materialism. Greed and selfishness became dominant, and true devotion dwindled. Hypocrite saints and believers would dominate, misleading the public and lowering the standards of faith.

The Puranas further predict that after 5000 years of Kalyug, the Earth will fall under the control of sin, and Kalyug will reach its peak. At this point, the Ganga, which has long absolved the sins of mankind, will return to paradise, bringing an end to the current era.