On the night of June 16 2013, Kedarnath was hit by the worst
flood in 100 years that brought in its wake unprecedented disaster to
Uttarakhand. But a miracle rock, now known as Bhim Shila, protected the
Kedarnath Temple. It came along with the flood waters and stood few meters
behind the Baba Kedarnath Temple.
Landslide and mudslides occurred in and around Kedarnath. Waters
started gushing from Chorabari Tal down Mandakini River washing everything away
in its path. The waters brought along with it huge amount of silt, rocks and
boulders. But none of the boulders and rocks could damage the Kedarnath Temple due
to Bhim Shila. The huge boulder diverted the flow of water to the sides.
This rock has now become a part of the Kedarnath temple
sanctity and is known as the divine rock of Bhima of Mahabharata.
The rock has got anchored some thirty feet away, right
behind the main Kedarnath. It is around 20 feet wide and 12 feet or so tall.
Was it Hanuman meditating in the Himalayas that carried the rock down to protect Kedarnath Temple? It could be. Afterall Hanuman is Rudra Avatar.