Adi Badri

Adi Badri, is a historical religious place in the Himalayan Shivalik hills, about 15 kms from Kapal Mochan, at the far end of Sinduwan. A place of natural beauty, Adi Badri is the ancient place of Adi Badri Nath, Lord Vishnu, who lived here in the Satyayuga, Tretayuga and Dwaparayuga.

The ancient temple of Lord Badri Narayana at the northern bank of Som River was constructed almost 2034 years ago by Adi Jagatguru Sankaracharya. To its south, is the temple of Kedarnath, where Lord Shiva had conducted austerities at the commencement of Kaliyuga. To its east, is the temple of Matr Mantra and at its west, is the Saraswati Kund.

Devotees throng Adi Badri and Kapal Mochan on Akshaya Tritiya of Baisakh, and Kartika Purnima of Kartika.

Adi Badri is considered as the place where Maharishi Veda Vyas wrote the 18,000 verses of the Srimad Bhagavat Mahapuran after the Dwapara Yuga. And thus, Adi Badri is also known as the Teerthadhiraja (the king of kings of pilgrimage places), whereas Prayag is known as Teertharaja (the king of pilgrimage places). The description of Adi Badri is presented in the first cantos of Srimad Bhagavatam. Maharishi Ved Vyas is also known as Badarayana.

Maharishi Veda Vyas has presented a composite treatise in his Srimad Bhagavatam in the glory of Vishnu, Shiva and Shakti. This is also representative of Adi Badri, considered as the sacred place of Vaishnavas, while Adi Kedar is considered the sacred place of Shaktas, the devotees of Shakti.

The Saraswati River is also considered to have emerged at Adi Badri. There is an account of this in the Puranas. At the commencement of Kaliyuga, all the gods selected Kapal Mochan as the befitting spot for offerings but could not agree upon it. Upon their request, Lord Shiva sat in samadhi at Adi Badri and conducted austerities. Meanwhile, due to various conflicts between Lord Brahma and Saraswati Devi, she ran to Lord Shiva, who was however in his state of samadhi. Lord Brahma followed Saraswati Devi to Adi Badri. To escape from Lord Brahma, Saraswati Devi transformed herself into a river.

It is written that Maharishi Veda Vyas composed the Srimad Bhagavatam at the Shamyaprasa Ashram, supposed to have been on the left bank of the River Saraswati, while the Mantra Devi Temple is known to have been the place of performing penance by the sages of the Shri Vidya Sect.