• Aneka – “possessor of many”; dham – “giver”; kā – “protection”; padam – “Abode.”
  Thus, He is the wondrous Lord of this sacred place, who grants all desired boons (sarvābhīṣṭa-siddhi) and protects them unfailingly - those who worship Him here .
• The Divine Mother performed penance here under the name Gaurī.
  Desiring never to be separated from Lord Śiva, as one half of His form, Mother Gaurī undertook severe austerities on the banks of the Mandākinī River at the foot of this very Kṣetra, in accordance with the instruction of Sage Gautama to observe the Kedāra-vrata. Pleased with her penance, the Lord accepted her as His inseparable half, manifesting as Ardhanārīśvara. The sacred site where the Goddess performed her austerities is revered as Gaurīkuṇḍa.
• Saint Tirugnānasambandar, in his hymn on this place, refers to this divine event in the verse:

“Anekataṅkāvataṁ — Nīlamuṇḍa taḍangkaṇ Umai pāgam Nilāyador kōlamuṇḍu aḷavillai kulāviyakoḷgaiyē,”

which alludes to the holy austerities of mother Uma (Goddess Pārvatī), through which she attained the eternal union of sharing the Lord’s very form (Vamabhaga).

Devaram Hymn : Padhikam    :    Sambandhar -    1.நீடல் மேவுநிமிர் (2.05);

• This site is located at the point where the mountain ascent to Kedār begins.
• Here, there is a shrine dedicated to the Divine Mother, and directly opposite to it stands the temple housing the self-manifested liṅga (svayambhu-liṅga) of Lord Śiva.
• The svayambhu-liṅga of Umāpati Mahādeva is notably broad in dimension, though short in height. Within the shrine of the Divine Mother is enshrined a marvelous image depicting the Goddess standing on one leg in penance.
• Within this kuṇḍa (sacred pool) flows a natural hot spring.

• Significance of Kedara (Gauri) Vrata - Deepavali