The Pandavas and the Origin of Panch Kedar

This happened after the Mahabharata war had ended and the five Pandavas were reviewing the war with Lord Krishna. Krishna told the Pandavas that although victory in the war was theirs, they had become bearers of sin because they had killed their gurus and their own relatives. Because of these sins, attaining liberation was impossible. The Pandavas then asked how they could be freed from their sins.

Krishna said that only Mahadeva could free them from these sins and therefore they should seek refuge in Mahadeva. When Mahadeva learned that the Pandavas were coming to him, he became alert. He repeatedly changed his location to avoid appearing before the Pandavas because Mahadeva was angry with them for killing their relatives to gain the kingdom.

The Pandavas had also resolved in their hearts that they must find Mahadeva at any cost and learn from him the path to their liberation. Following Mahadeva, the Pandavas reached Kedarnath. When Mahadeva saw that the Pandavas had arrived at Kedarnath, he began searching for a way to avoid them. Just then, he saw a herd of animals and took the form of a bull to hide his identity among them.

It became difficult for the Pandavas to identify Mahadeva among the herd. The mighty Bhima then stood with his feet planted between two mountains. All the other brothers began driving the animals between Bhima's legs. Every animal passed beneath Bhima's legs and ran away, but Mahadeva considered it improper to pass between his legs and remained standing there. The Pandavas recognized Shiva.

Mahadeva then began sinking into the earth while still in the form of a bull. Without a moment's hesitation, Bhima quickly caught hold of the hindquarters of Mahadeva in bull form. Mahadeva was compelled to reveal himself and, seeing the Pandavas' firm devotion and willpower, had to free them from their sins. Even today, evidence of this event is present in the form of Kedarnath's Shivalinga, which resembles a bull's hindquarters.

As Shiva was sinking into the earth in the form of a bull, the head emerged in Nepal, where it is worshipped as Pashupatinath. Shiva's arms appeared at Tungnath, his face at Rudranath, his navel at Madhyamaheshwar, and his matted hair at Kalpeshwar. Together, all of these are known as Panch Kedar.