Shiva Hides from the Pandavas — the Panch Kedar

After the war of Kurukshetra, the Pandavas sought Shiva's forgiveness for killing their own kin. But Shiva did not wish to meet them, and he hid in the Himalaya disguised as a bull among a herd.

Bhima recognised him and stood with his legs astride a valley; all the cattle passed beneath, but the bull would not. As Bhima grabbed at it, the bull began to sink into the earth.

Shiva's body reappeared in five places: the hump at Kedarnath, the arms at Tungnath, the face at Rudranath, the navel at Madhyamaheshwar, and the hair at Kalpeshwar. Together they are the Panch Kedar.

Pleased by their devotion, Shiva forgave the Pandavas. Their legend lives on across Garhwal in the Pandav Nritya, and many villages believe the Pandavas passed through on their final journey towards Swargarohini.