When you are in Badrinath town, the locals or your guide will point to two peaks on either side of the Badrinath wally and explain to you that these are Nar and Narayan peaks. These peaks stand guard over the Badrinath valley and when the time is right sometime in the future, they will come together and block access to the Badrinath valley and the temple of Lord Badrinath. When this happens, mortals will have no option but to worship Lord Badrinath in the Bhavishyabadri temple above Tapovan near Joshimath.
According to the Vamana Purana(6.4.1), while explaining the manifestation of Nar and Narayana, Sage Pulastya says- “Dharma, the possessor of divine body and who manifested from the heart of Lord Brahma married Murti, the daughter of Daksha. Four sons were born to them- Hari, Krishna, Nara and Narayan. Hari and Krishna engaged themselves in the practice of Yoga while Nar and Narayan went to the Himalaya Mountain and started doing penance for the welfare of humans. ”
Dharma Raj and Mata Murti reached Badrinath in search of their meditating sons, Nar and Narain. Thus a small temple on the right bank of the Alaknanda river opposite the Mana village is dedicated to Mata Murti, who is also the local diety of the people of Mana village. Once a year, on the day of Vamana Dwadashi, Sri Narain (Sri Badrinathji) pays a visit to Mata Murti, when she is worshipped by the Rawal of Sri Badrinath. This is an occasion for an important festival for the people of Mana who assemble at the Mata’s temple to receive the son Lord Badrinath.
It is believed that Mata Murti has the power of granting vairagya (renouncement) to those who are sincere and meditate at her temple doors for a few days. Another belief is that through the worship of Mata Murti, preferably on the days of Shukla Tritiya, Ashtami and Chaturdashi, worried parents will have their wayward children returned to the path of righteousness.