The pyramidal shape of Lingam which is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas and one of the highest located at Rudra Himalayan range is said to be a place of penance where Goddess Parvati worshipped Kedareshwar which is known as Ardhanareeswara to unite with Shiva. Another legend says that Nara and Narayana – two incarnations of Vishnu performed severe penance to Lord Shiva to take up a permanent abode as a Jyotirlinga at Kedarnath.