Joshimath

Joshimath, the first Math established by Shri Adi Sankaracharya, is located at a distance of 14 km from Helang en route to Badari.
An important town en-route Shri Badarinathji has religious history, magnificent scenery, bracing climate & a hub of commercial centre for all one needs for a holiday or pilgrimage. Joshimath or Jyotirmath holds an important position in the history of Vedic revivalism. Adiguru Shankaracharya got enlightenment here in a cave and in this cave he wrote his famous Shankar Bhasya.

Atop the cave is the Kalpvriksha, a Mulberry tree that is said to be 2500 years old under which Adi Guru is believed to have attained enlightenment. It is one of the four ‘Maths’ organized by Adiguru, the other three are at Dwarka, Puri and Rameshwaram. Located at a height of 6150 ft above sea level, there are separate temples for Lord Narsimha and Lord Vasudev (different forms of Lord Vishnu). This is one of the 108 Divya Desams (sung by Sri Vaishnavite Saints).

Narsimha temple

In the temple for Lord Narasimha, separate vigrahas (deities) of Badari Narayan, Uddhava, Kuber, Chandikadevi, Ram, Lakshmana, Sita and Garud can be seen together in the sanctum. Outside the temple separate statues of Brahma, Krishna, Lakshmi & Anjaneya can be seen. Vyas Maharishi is believed to have worshipped Goddess Lakshmi here. The presiding deity Lord Narasimha is believed to have been established by Adi Sankara. It is widely believed that one hand of the presiding deity is getting weakened and the day it disjoints, the way to Badari will get blocked, with the coming close of the mountains Jay and Vijay  and Lord Badari Narayan will thereafter give darshan only at either Bhavishya Badri (part of Panch Badari’s).

The temple of Lord Vasudev houses Lord Vasudev in the sanctum sanctorum as well as Sridevi, Bhoodevi, Leela devi, Oorvasi devi & Balram in the outer praharam. Further separate structures are available for Vinayaka, Brahma, Indira, Chandra(Moon), Navadurgas & Gauri Shankar.