Triyuginarayan Temple () is a
Hindu temple located in the Triyuginarayan village in
Rudraprayag district,
Uttarakhand. The ancient temple is dedicated to god
Vishnu. Its fame is credited to the legend of god
Shiva’s marriage to goddess
Parvati witnessed by Vishnu at this venue and is thus a popular pilgrimage centre. Thus, the temple is also known as
Akhand Dhuni temple.
The temple courtyard is also the source of a water stream, which fills four sacred bathing ponds (kunds) nearby.
Etymology
The word "Triyugi Narayan" is formed of three words "tri" means three, "yugi" denotes the period of time -
Yuga and "
Narayan" is another name of Vishnu. Pilgrims have been offering wood to the fire in the
havana-kund (fire place) since the three Yugas - hence the place is given the name “Triyugi Narayan”. Yuga in Hindu philosophy is the name of an epoch or era within a cycle of four ages. The four Yugas are
Satya Yuga (1,728,000 human years),
Treta Yuga (1,296,000 years), the
Dvapara Yuga (864,000 years) and finally
Kali Yuga (432,000 years), which is the present Yuga.
The name "Akhand Dhuni...
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