Triyuginarayan Temple – The Wedding Place of Shiva-Parvati
Wedding at Triyuginarayan
Weddings at the Triyuginarayan Temple in Uttarakhand It is said that the Triyuginarayan temple was the site where Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati tied the knot. There is an Agni-Kund in front of the temple, known as Akhand Dhuni. This fire was lit on the wedding day of Lord Shiva and Parvati, and it has not yet been extinguished. It is the fireplace where Lord Shiva married Goddess Parvati.
Moreover, Lord Vishnu is believed to have witnessed this sacred ceremony of Shiva and Parvati exchanging vows. Lord Vishnu served as Parvati's brother while Lord Brahma served as the priest.
Wedding Process and Rituals at Triyuginarayan
It is believed that Shiva and Parvati also took a bath before their marriage from the water of the three holy Kunds – Rudra Kund, Brahma Kund, and Vishnu Kund.
Akhand means ‘Perpetual’ and ‘Dhuni’ means ‘Flame’. The Akhand Dhuni flame, which is eternally burning in the temple where Shiva and Parvati married seven times, is also surrounded by Vedic mantras and couples recite specific vows at each round of the fire.
Since three Yugas, devotees have been offering wood to this temple’s fireplace. The word Tri Yug means three ages. As part of the wedding ceremony, couples add Samidha (offerings of wood) to the eternal flame before the temple and collect the ashes.