Narasimha Temple (Joshimath)
Joshimath, Uttarakhand · Lord Narasimha (Badrinath winter seat) · Vishnu Temple
Winter seat of Badrinath and Adi Shankaracharya matha gateway to the upper Alaknanda valley.
Joshimath’s Narasimha temple is where the Badrinath idol resides in winter when the high shrine closes, as Incredible India’s Badrinath guide and BKTC seasonal notices describe for the Char Dham circuit.
History
Incredible India notes daily worship continues at Joshimath while Badrinath is snowbound.
The Shankaracharya matha tradition ties Joshimath to the Himalayan peethas established by Adi Shankara.
Stories
Badrinath's Winter Home
Each year, when the Badrinath temple closes for the winter, an idol of Lord Badri is brought down to the Narsingh temple in Joshimath and worshipped there for about six months. The temple is regarded as Joshimath's main shrine and houses an idol of Narsingh, believed to have been established by Adi Shankara.
Joshimath, also called Jyotirmath, is linked to the northern monastery that tradition associates with Shankara, and it serves as a gateway for pilgrimages to Badrinath.
The Thinning Arm
Local belief holds that the left arm of the Narsingh idol has grown very thin. It is said that when the arm breaks, the Nar and Narayan mountains on the Badrinath road will join, closing the route.
Tradition adds that Badrinath will then be worshipped at a new place called Bhavishya Badri, about 10 km from Joshimath. This is a prophecy of belief, not a documented prediction, and accounts differ on details.
Good to know
Badrinath winter puja seat
Auli cable car base town
Upper Alaknanda hub
Getting there
Nearest airport: Dehradun. Joshimath on NH7 (~256 km from Rishikesh) toward Badrinath and Auli.
Best time to visit: May – Jun, Sep – Nov