July 16, 2013: The floods that ravaged the Himalayan dhams of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri last month may have surprised many, but ancient sages seem to have forseen the possibility of these shrines becoming inaccessible in the future. They also made provisions for the shrines - at least two of them - to be replicated elsewhere when that happens. Tucked away in the Garhwal Himalayas near Joshimath are the shrines of Bhavishya (future) Badri and, what some people claim, the Bhavishya Kedar. According to local belief, these are the places which have been prophesised as the future Badrinath and Kedarnath once the original shrines become inaccessible. The recent rains and cloudburst have almost brought about such a situation. Is the time then ripe for the prophecies to come true? 

"It is true that our scriptures contain references about Badrinath becoming inaccessible," says BD Singh, CEO of the Badri-Kedar temple committee, although he denies any such prophecy about Kedarnath. "In the Sanath Samhita, it is mentioned that when the arm of the Narasingha idol at Joshimath falls off and the mountains of Jay and Vijay near Vishnuprayag, making the present shrine of Badrinath inaccessible, the worship of Lord Vishnu as Badrinath will begin at Bhavishya Badri near Joshimath." 

Incidentally, the arm of the idol of Narasingha, one of the avatars of Vishnu - depicted in a meditative state unlike his usual ferocious self - is now 'as thin as hair' although it hasn't fallen off. Which means there is still time for Bhavishya Badri to emerge as the new Badrinath. The Bhavishya Kedar shrine, also on the outskirts of Joshimath, is believed by some as the place where Lord Shiva as Kedarnath has already emerged in preparation for the time when the original Kedarnath becomes inaccessible. Tulsi Bisht, a Shiva devotee who has been visiting the place since 1981, says that the swayambhu - or self-manifested—shivalinga has been rising on its own since the past few years. "It has now become almost as big as the original shivalinga at Kedarnath. This is a clear message from the Lord that He wants to stay in a place that is peaceful and undisturbed." 

Although the faithful may believe these places to be the dhams of the future, environmentalists caution that the problems that have plagued the original dhams will continue here as well unless pro-active action is taken soon. "Today, Bhavishya Badri can be reached only after a trek through dense forests," says environmental activist Shekhar Pathak. "Tomorrow, if hordes of pilgrims start going there, it will again pose a problem as the area is an environmentally fragile one, made moreso by the hydel projects being executed there. The need, therefore, is to stop this reckless development if we are to save the Himalayas and its shrines." 

source: The Times of India, DT. July 16, 2013.