Maha Shivratri 2018: This is the place where Lord Shiva and Parvati tied the nuptial knot

Located in Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand at the confluence of the Mandakini and Songanga rivers, the Triyuginarayan Temple is one of the holiest places of worship in India.

The temple structure bears an uncanny resemblance with the Badrinath complex.

Triyuginarayan Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu is apparently the pious place where Lord Shiva tied the nuptial knot with Devi Parvati, who won his heart by doing intense tapasya.

This is where, the two solemnised their divine marital union in presence of Vishnu, often referred to as Parvati’s brother. The wedding rituals were conducted by Lord Brahma, who performed the role of a priest.

Pilgrims can also see the visuals of the eternal flame that has been burning since the divine couple got married. People often give wood as sacrificial offerings and in return take some sacred ash (bhasm) as Prasad. The flame has been burning since time immemorial and hence it is also called Akhand Dhuni. And the exact spot where Shiva and Parvati exchanged marital vows is called Brahma Shila.

There are three water bodies namely – Rudra Kund, Vishnu Kund and Brahma Kund. These kunds draw their water from Saraswati Kund which is believed to have originated from Lord Vishnu’s naval. Pilgrims take a dip in these Kunds before entering the temple. The holy water has therapeutic and medicinal properties. 

Here’s how can you visit Triyuginarayan:

If you wish to pay a visit to this divine destination, then you need to reach Sonprayag. You can either deboard a train at Dehradun or Rishikesh. If you are flying then the nearest airport is at Dehradun.

From Sonprayag, Triyuginarayan is about 6 kilometers away. You can go trekking or hire a vehicle to reach the spot.