Kedarnath Temple

Kedarnath Teerth Purohits are the ancient Brahmins of this region, their ancestors (Rishi-Muni) have been worshiping the lingam since the time of [[Nara-Narayana]] and Daksh Prajapati. King Janmejay, grandson of the Pandavas, gave them the right of worshiping this temple and donate the whole Kedar region, and they have been worshiping pilgrims ever since.Due to reciting Shukla Yajurveda or Bajsen Samhita, these people are called Shukla or Bajpai, being the followers of Madhyandin branch of Shukla Yajurveda, their gotra is Shandilya, Upmanyu, Dhoumya, etc. Since the time of Guru Shankaracharya Ji, the Rawals (priests of the Jangam community from South India) and the local Jamloki brahmins (Narayan's priest) of kedar vally worship the Shiv Linga in the temple, while the puja on behalf of the pilgrims is done by these Tirtha Purohit Brahmins.<ref name="Diana_2013" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

Kedarnath Teerth Purohits are the ancient Brahmins of this region, their ancestors (Rishi-Muni) have been worshiping the lingam since the time of [[Nara-Narayana]] and Daksh Prajapati. King Janmejay, grandson of the Pandavas, gave them the right of worshiping this temple and donate the whole Kedar region, and they have been worshiping pilgrims ever since.Due to reciting Shukla Yajurveda or Bajsen Samhita, these people are called Shukla or Bajpai, being the followers of Madhyandin branch of Shukla Yajurveda, their gotra is Shandilya, Upmanyu, Dhoumya, etc. Since the time of Guru Shankaracharya Ji, the Rawals (priests of the Jangam community from South India) and the local Jamloki brahmins (Narayan's priest) of kedar vally worship the Shiv Linga in the temple, while the puja on behalf of the pilgrims is done by these Tirtha Purohit Brahmins.<ref name="Diana_2013" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

According to a tradition recorded by the English mountaineer [[Eric Shipton]] (1926), "many hundreds of years ago" one priest used to hold services at both the Kedarnath and [[Badrinath temple|Badrinath]] temples, travelling between the two places daily.<ref>{{cite book |author=Jean M. Grove |title=Little Ice Ages: Ancient and Modern |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0ifEVJ6lytsC&pg=PA238 |year=2004 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-0-415-33422-8 |page=238}}</ref>

According to a tradition recorded by the English mountaineer [[Eric Shipton]] (1926), "many hundreds of years ago" one priest used to hold services at both the Kedarnath and [[Badrinath temple|Badrinath]] temples,<ref>{{Cite web |title=The HJ/55/6 SHIPTON'S LOST VALLEY |url=https://www.himalayanclub.org/hj/ |access-date=2025-07-04 |website=The HJ/55/6 SHIPTON'S LOST VALLEY |language=en}}</ref> travelling between the two places daily.<ref>{{cite book |author=Jean M. Grove |title=Little Ice Ages: Ancient and Modern |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0ifEVJ6lytsC&pg=PA238 |year=2004 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-0-415-33422-8 |page=238}}</ref>

==Deities and architecture==

==Deities and architecture==