A famous legend of Goddess Parvati associated with Gaurikund: According to Hindu mythology, it is believed that this was the place where Goddess Parvati meditated for about hundred years, to have Lord Shiva as her husband. Nearby, is an ancient temple of Gaura Mai which dedicated to goddess Parvati.
Gauri Kund is associated with Shiva's wife, Parvati, who is also known as Gauri. In Hindu folklore, Gauri committed to penance involving many ascetic and yogic practices to win over Shiva's affections. Local tradition claims that Gauri Kund is the spot where Gauri lived while carrying out these practices and it was here that Shiva finally admitted His love for Her. They were married at Triyugi Narayan, which is located nearby. There are hot springs in Gauri Kund and they are converted to bathing places.[3]
This place is also associated with the legend of how Ganesha acquired his elephant head. While bathing in the kund, Goddess Parvati fashioned Ganesha from the soap suds on her body, breathed life into him and placed him at the entrance as her guard.
Lord Shiva happened to arrive at the spot and he was stopped by Ganesha. Indignant at this affront, Shiva cut off Ganesha's head and Parvati was inconsolable. She insisted that the boy be brought back to life and Shiva took the head of a wandering elephant and placed it on Ganesha's body. Parvati had her son back and Ganesha acquired the persona by which he is known all over the Hindu world since then.[3]
Gauri Kund is basically an idyllic spot that is situated on the banks of the Mandakini River. Gauri Kund is the place from where we need to start our Pilgrim Yatra of Kedarnath Temple. Here you can take the feel of Hot Water Presence. Just below the starting point to the Kedarnath trek is the Gauri Kund hot spring. The earlier Gauri Kund was rinsed out by flooding in 2013 and this one has come up again but needs more proper getup. The most interesting thing about Gauri Kund is that it is the same place where God Shiva confessed his love for Goddess Parvati. Besides Gauri Kund, there is the existence of Gauri Kund Temple.
