Bharat Temple, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand India

Bharat temple is situated in the heart of the township of Rishikesh. It is approximately half kilometer away from the Triveni Ghat, the famous river bank in the town. Said to be the oldest temple in Rishikesh, it is also regarded as one of the most ancient shrines in India. According to historical evidences, Adiguru Shankracharya, the great theologian, laid the foundation stone of Bharat temple. The temple has been named after Lord Ram’s second brother ‘Bharat’; however the presiding deity of this temple is Lord Vishnu, ‘the Preserver’.

The statue of God Narayana (Vishnu), enshrined in Bharat temple, is of black stone, carved out from a single piece of Saligram. The image has a noticeably Himalayan appearance. Though the temple’s main deity is Lord Vishnu, it holds a number of other illustrations as well, generally related to Lord Shiva, the Destroyer. The idol of Lord Hrishikesh Bharatji is also installed in this temple. The idol was obscured in the Maya Kund of the temple, in order to save it from the attack of the Boddha people.

Every year, on the day of Basant Panchami, the idol of Lord Hrishikesh is taken out, in a holy procession, for a dip in the sacred water of river Ganga. Followers from far off places come to Rishikesh for participating in this procession. The holy records of Bharat temple can be found in the ancient records of Kearkhand, a religious text of Hindus. It is said that the temple that stands now is actually a renovated image of the original temple, which was destroyed by Tamur, a bandit. Bharat temple is the perfect destination for tourists who have a love for ancient religious monuments and a desire to explore historical facts.

It is the most ancient, most sacred & most famous temple situated at the heart of the city. It is believed that city's existance came into being with this temple only. In about 789 A.D on the auspicious day of Basant Panchmi, Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya reinstalled the presiding deity in the temple. On this day every year the Shaligram is taken for a holy bath in the scared Mayakund and then carried in a grand procession through the city to be taken back to the temple for the symbolic reinstallation. It is also believed that if any pilgrim on the day of Akshya Tritiya takes 108 parikarmas(rounds) of Lord Shri Hrishikesh Naranyan at this temple and seeks the blessing at his feet (it is only day when Lord's feet are uncovered), all his wishes are fullfilled and it is equivalent to the piligrimage to Badrinath

The temple is mentioned in Vishnu Puran, Shrimadbhagwat, Mahabharat, Vaman Puran & Narsingh Puran. Lord Hrishikesh known as Shri Bharatji Maharaj is different from Lord Rama's younger brother Bharat. He is known by the name of Bharat because he is the incarnation of Lord Vishnu in Kaliyuga, the preserving force holding Shankh, Chakra, Gada & Padam in his four hands.