Editing Badrinath (section)

==Legend==
According to the [[Bhagavata Purana]], "There in Badrikashram, the supreme being ([[Vishnu]]), in his incarnation as the sages [[Nara and Narayana]], had been undergoing great penance since time immemorial for the welfare of all living entities" (Bhagavata Purana 3.4.22).

The Badrinath area is referred to as Badari or Badarikaashram (बदरिकाश्रम) in Hindu scriptures. It is a place sacred to Vishnu, particularly in Vishnu's dual form of Nara-Narayana. Thus, in the [[Mahabharata]], [[Krishna]], addressing [[Arjuna]], says, "Thou wast Nara in a former body, and, with [[Narayana]] for thy companion, didst perform dreadful austerity at Badari for many myriads of years."<ref>Dowson's Classical Dictionary of [[Hindu mythology]]</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=India through the ages|url=https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada|last=Gopal|first=Madan|year= 1990| page= [https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada/page/75 75]|editor=K.S. Gautam|publisher=Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India}}</ref>

As per one legend, when the goddess [[Ganga in Hinduism|Ganga]] was requested to descend on earth to help the suffering humanity at the request of [[Bhagiratha]], the earth was unable to withstand the force of her descent. Therefore, the mighty Ganga ([[Ganges]]) was split into two holy channels, with [[Alaknanda]] as one of them.

Another lore states that the area was full of Badari, a wild berry. Vishnu meditated here and [[Lakshmi]] took the form of the Badari tree to provide shade for him from scorching sun.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shri Badarinath Kedarnath Temple Committee |url=https://badrinath-kedarnath.gov.in/AboutUs/shri-badrinath.aspx |website=badrinath-kedarnath.gov.in |access-date=29 November 2024}}</ref>

The mountains around Badrinath are mentioned in the [[Mahabharata]], when the [[Pandava]]s were said to have died one by one, when ascending the slopes of a peak in western Garhwal called Swargarohini (literal meaning - the 'Ascent to Heaven'). The Pandavas passed through Badrinath and the town of Mana, 4&nbsp;km north of Badrinath, on their way to [[Svarga]] (heaven). There is also a cave in Mana where [[Vyasa]], according to the legend, wrote the Mahabharata.<ref name=nautiyal>Nautiyal, Govind Prasad, Call of Badrinath, Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temples Committee, 1962.</ref>

The area around Badrinath was celebrated in [[Padma Purana]] as abounding in spiritual treasures.

This place is considered holy in [[Jainism]] as well. In Jainism, [[Himalaya]] is also called Ashtapad because of its eight different mountain range [[Gaurishankar]], [[Kailash]], Badrinath, Nanda, Drongiri, Nara-Narayana and [[Trishuli]]. [[Rishabhanatha]] attained Nirvana on [[Mount Kailash]] situated in the Himalayan range and according to Jain faith (Nirvankand), from Badrinath numerous Jain Muni got Moksha by doing Tapsya. According to Shrimadbhagwat, at this place Rishabhdev's father Nabhirai and mother [[Marudevi]] had done hard Tapa after Rishabhdev's [[Rajyabhishek]] and taken Samadhi. Even today footprint of Nabhirai at [[Neelkanth]] mountain attracts everybody towards him.<ref name=nautiyal/>