About Joshimath ( Jyotirmath )

Jyotirmath (Hindi: ), also called Jyotir Math and Joshimath ( ), is a city and a municipal board in Chamoli District in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is home to one of the four cardinal pthas established by Adi Shankara. As of 2001 India census, Joshimath had a population of 13,202. Males constitute 61% of the population and females 39%. Joshimath has an average literacy rate of 77%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 83%, and female literacy is 67%. In Joshimath, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age. Jyotirmath is the uttarmnya matha or northern monastery, one of the four cardinal institutions established by Adi Shankara, the others being those at Shringeri, Puri and Dwaraka. Their heads are titled "Shankaracharya". According to the tradition initiated by Adi Shankara, this matha is in charge of the Atharvaveda. Jyotirmath, which is close to the pilgrimage town of Badrinath, has not always been an active matha. It is...