Unexplainable Changes Occur Every Year at Lord Narsimha Statue in Joshimath

Situated in the scenic district of Joshimath this temple is not only a popular tourist spot but is also an incredibly famous part of the Sapt Badri Yatra circuit. Also known as Narsingh temple the presiding deity at this temple is that of the 4^th incarnation of Lord Vishnu i.e. Lord Narsimha, who is represented in the form of half lion and half human. Located in the lower parts of the lower bazaar region of the town of Joshimath, this temple attracts a huge throng of Vaishnavites and pilgrims from across India looking to offer their Darshan at this holy temple.

Narsingh Temple – Winter Home of Badri Vishal:

With the onset of the winter months when the temple Kapat of Badri Vishal shuts down for Darshan for a period of 6 months, the idol of the presiding deity of Lord Badri is then shifted to this temple at Joshimath. The idol is brought down amongst great celebration and dances and is placed right next to the idol of Lord Narsimha by the priests. The pilgrims on their winter char Dham Yatra or Panch Badri Yatra visit this temple to offer their prayer to the lord here which is more convenient since the entire region of Badrinath remains covered under a thick layer of snow.

Lord Narsingh Idol at This Temple is Showcasing Miraculous Changes:

1- Located in Uttarakhand the idol of Lord Narsingh here goes through a miraculous change every year.

2- It is an ancient belief that during the 8^th century AD Adi Shankaracharya started preaching to the people about the creation of the universe and the origin of god.

3- During this time, Shankaracharya enshrined a statue of Lord Vishnu as an incarnation of Lord Narsingh in Joshimath.

4- In this statue, one arm of the lord is made thin and is eventually become thinner each day.

5- It has been mentioned in the Samhita created by the saint Sanat Kumar of Kedar Khand that once the hand of this statue breaks off from the main idol of Narsingh then the peaks known as Jay and Vijay that are located in a place called Patmila close to Vishnuprayag will merge into one and the visit to Badrinath Dham will become completely inaccessible.

6- Pilgrims will be making their way to the Tapovan area of Bhavishya Badri to get a glimpse of the lord, this has also been mentioned in Sanat Kumar’s Samhita.

7- It is also said that during the 8^th century Adi guru Shankaracharya had established the Vishal Badri.

8- He also wrote a futuristic note on the stone close to the temple of Bhavishya Badri. However, the language of this text has still not deciphered since the language is unknown to this day.

How to Reach:

This 12,000-year-old temple is easily accessible since the temple is situated in the lower bazaar area of the town of Joshimath. The temple can be easily reached by covering a walking distance from Joshimath bus stand which is at a distance of just 0.5 km. It is at a distance of 10 kms from the main town and is about at a three-minute walking journey.

In case you are travelling by train then the nearest train station is situated in Rishikesh which is the Rishikesh railway station and is situated at a distance of 256 kms from Joshimath. After de-boarding from the station you will be required to hire a cab, taxi or get on a bus which is headed towards Joshimath. Once you reach the bus stand you will be making your way to the temple which is located in close proximity to the stand.

Opening and Closing Time of the Temple

The temple opens at 5 am and closes at 8:30 pm. In case you want to have a good look at the arm of the statue then you should visit when the statue of the lord is being bathed between 7:30 am to 8:30 am.

Best Time to Visit

Being located in the hilly regions the temple should be visited during the comfortable summer times of April and May. Travelling to hilly regions should be avoided during the monsoon months of July and August since the entire area remains susceptible to unexpected weather changes. You can also visit this place during the winter months of October and November when the idol of Lord Badri is brought down to this temple which is his winter home. The remainder of the months is uncomfortably cold to visit this region.