Rudraprayag: The areas situated in the lap of Himalayas including the high altitude areas of Kedar Valley are full of Brahma Kamal flowers these days. The natural beauty of the place is looking very beautiful due to the blooming of Brahma Kamal in the picturesque velvety meadows. Three species of lotus are found in the Himalayan regions, Brahma Kamal, Fen Kamal and Surya Kamal. Whereas blue lotus is found in the sea.
Conservation and promotion of Brahma Kamal: Brahma Kamal is found at an altitude of 14 thousand to 16 thousand feet and Fen Kamal is found at an altitude of 16 thousand to 18 thousand feet. The species of Surya Kamal is considered very rare. Fen Kamal is found in snow-covered areas at an altitude of 18 thousand feet. Brahma Kamal is considered very dear to Lord Shankar. Kedarnath Wildlife Division has been making efforts for many years to conserve and promote Brahmakamal through Brahma Vatika around Kedarnath Dham.
It is offered to Lord Shiva: Offering Brahmakamal to Lord Shankar in the month of Saavan is considered extremely auspicious. After covering a distance of about 9 km from Kedarnath Dham, the area of Sila Samudra on Vasukital, Ransi-Mannamai walking track, Madmaheshwar-Pandavsera-Nandi Kund and Bisunital-Ghaula area of the gods are full of innumerable Brahmakamal flowers these days. The glory of Brahmakamal has also been praised in detail in Shiv Mahimna Stotram. According to mythological stories, once Lord Vishnu anointed Lord Shankar with one thousand Brahmakamal, then to test Lord Vishnu, Lord Shankar made one Brahmakamal flower disappear.
Lord Vishnu worshipped with Brahmakamal: When one flower fell short during the Abhishek of Lord Shankar, Lord Vishnu anointed Lord Shankar with his right eye. When Lord Vishnu anointed Lord Shankar with his right eye, Lord Shankar was very pleased with the devotion of Lord Vishnu and blessed Vishnu that from today you will be world famous by the name Kamal Nayan. From that day onwards, Lord Vishnu got another name Kamal Nayan. Acharya Vishwa Mohan Jamloki says that the person who offers a Brahmakamal to Lord Shankar in the month of Shravan attains Shiva Tatva, Shiva Gyan and Shivalok.
Following the rules to bring Brahmakamal to Shivalayas: He told that to bring Brahmakamal from a height of about 14 thousand feet to Shivalayas, one has to follow celibacy and rituals and the tradition of plucking Brahmakamal barefoot and taking it to Shivalayas is from ages ago. Pandit Devanand Gairola tells that the glory of Brahmakamal has been described in detail in Mahapuranas, Puranas and Up Puranas. Brahmakamal is a rare flower that grows in the Himalayan region. Bhagat Singh Panwar, the right holder of Madmaheshwar Dham, said that these days, due to the blooming of innumerable Brahmakamal in the region of Pandavasera-Nandi Kund, the natural beauty feels like heaven.
Tradition of offering Brahmakamal: Nagar Panchayat President Kubja Dharmwan said that continuous efforts should be made for the conservation and promotion of many species of flowers growing in the picturesque velvety meadows including Brahmakamal and exploitation of Brahmakamal should be banned. Rakeshwari Temple Committee Executive President Madan Bhatt said that there is a tradition of offering Brahmakamal to Bhagwati Rakeshwari on the occasion of the conclusion of the mythological jagaras that run for two months in the temple of Bhagwati Rakeshwari. Even today, the tradition is being carried out by the villagers. Sheep herder Birendra Dhirwan said that the tradition of offering Brahmakamal to Kshetrapal in the Daati and Lai festival of sheep herders is still alive.
