Question

The head priest (Rawal) of Badrinath Dham is chosen from which of the following region?
1. Garhwal
2. Kumaon
3. Malabar
4. None of the above

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 3 : Malabar

The correct answer is Malabar.

• Malabar region includes Kerala, Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu, and the Kodagu and old tulunad region of Karnataka.

 

• The head priest (Rawal) of Badrinath in Uttarakhand is normally a Malayalee priest from Kerala.
• As a matter of tradition, Uttarakhand Government normally requests Kerala Government to nominate a priest from the state for its temple services.
• It is a tradition done since 19th century when the erstwhile Kingdom of Garhwal (the princely state which comprises of modern Uttarakhand state) entered into an agreement with the Kingdom of Travancore for the supply of Nampoothiri priests to the temple of Badrinath.
• Badrinath Dham is located in the Chamoli district in Uttarakhand at the height of 3,133 meters.
• The pre-eminent abode of Lord Vishnu is one of the holiest of the holy shrines of the Char Dham pilgrimage in India.
• Other Char Dham sites include
  • Dwarka, Gujarat
  • Puri, Odisha
  • Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu