Stories
Kedarnath 'Triangular', Pashupatinath 'Chaturmukh': Why Shivlings Differ in Shape?
- •Kedarnath's Shivling is triangular, unlike most round ones; its unique shape is rooted in religious beliefs and stories.
- •According to the Skanda Purana, after the Mahabharata war, the Pandavas sought Shiva to atone for their sins, and Shiva took the form of a bull.
- •It is believed that the hump of this bull appeared in Kedarnath, where the Pandavas established a Shiva temple; other parts appeared at Panch Kedar sites.
- •Kedarnath is counted among the twelve Jyotirlingas, where Lord Shiva agreed to reside at the request of Nar and Narayan Rishis.
- •India features many unique Shivlings, including Pashupatinath's Chaturmukh Linga, Amarnath's ice-formed Himling, and Bhojpur's colossal Bhojeshwar Shivling.
Key Questions Answered
The Kedarnath Shivling is a natural, unhewn stone whose triangular shape is traditionally connected to the hump of the bull form that Lord Shiva took to avoid the Pandavas. Some scholars also note that the triangle in the Shaiva-Shakta tradition symbolizes power, fire, and spiritual upliftment.
According to the Skanda Purana, after the Mahabharata war, the Pandavas sought Lord Shiva to seek liberation from the sins of Brahmahatya and kinsman slaughter. When Shiva assumed the form of a bull in Guptakashi to avoid them, Bhima attempted to catch him, and the bull's hump later appeared in Kedarnath where the Pandavas established the temple.
The other parts of the divine bull appeared in different locations known collectively as Panch Kedar, with Kedarnath representing the hump or back, Tungnath representing the arms, Rudranath representing the face, Madhyamaheshwar representing the navel and abdomen, and Kalpeshwar representing the hair.
