Joshimath is a Himalayan town and holy place (tirtha) on the banks of the Alakananda River in Uttar Pradesh's Chamoli district.
The Jyotir math, one of the four mathematics (or ascetic
living places) created by the philosopher Shankaracharya, is located in
Joshimath.
Dashanami Sanyasis, or twiceborn renunciant ascetics, live
in the Jyotir math.
The Jyotir Math is said to be where Shankaracharya reached
ultimate awareness and wrote his comments on Hindu texts, according to local
mythology.
Joshimath is known for its link to a temple devoted to
Narasimha, the deity Vishnu's Man-Lion incarnation, in addition to the Jyotir
math.
Shankaracharya is said to have founded this temple, which
features numerous magnificent sculptural figures.
Joshimath is an essential stop on the way to Badrinath's
temple, as well as the winter residence of Badrinath's presiding god, where he
(symbolically portrayed by a wandering image) dwells and is worshipped while
Badrinath is snowbound and unreachable.
Also see Narasimha's avatar.
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