the ultimate facts
The 8th-century philosopher Adi Shankaracharya is believed to have attained Mahasamadhi (a saint's conscious exit from the body) near Kedarnath. A monument behind the temple marks this site.
According to legend, after the Kurukshetra war, the Pandavas sought Lord Shiva's forgiveness. Shiva, avoiding them, took the form of a bull. Upon being recognized, he disappeared into the ground, reappearing in parts across five locations, forming the 'Panch Kedar' temples, with Kedarnath being where the hump appeared.
In 2013, devastating floods ravaged Kedarnath. Remarkably, a large rock behind the temple diverted floodwaters, protecting the main structure, while the surrounding area suffered extensive damage.
Unlike typical cylindrical lingams, the Kedarnath Shiva lingam is uniquely triangular, symbolizing the hump of Shiva in his bull form, as per the legend.