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      Introduction to Haridwar

Vedic history describes Haridwar as the land of salvation. This is the place where the Ganga joins the plains and forms an entrance to the various pilgrim centers of the holy land of Uttarachal/Uttarakhand. This is the land of Lord Shiva as also the land of Lord Vishnu. It is also known as the land of power – Mayapuri.

This land, which vibrates with the constant chants of ‘Alakh Niranjan’, ‘Har Har Mahadev’ and ‘Jai Ganga Maiya’ and the sounds of bells from the temples, celebrates the devotion of the pilgrims from all over the world. It is a tangible proof of the Hindu culture, which strives continuously to seek salvation amidst chaos, pain and confusion. Haridwar is the ideal pilgrim spot for people who worry about death and desire mukti. This is also the first stop for religious scholars and intellectuals.

At some point of time in the past, the route of the Ganga was from Mayapur and Kankhal to Jwalapur. Today, buildings line that path. The ancient Haripad pilgrimage was renamed Haridwar. Also, the people of the Shaiv community called this place ‘Hardwar’ – named after Har or Shiva. They believed it to be the gateway to Daksheshwar and Kedarnath. The ‘Matsya Puran’ (200–400 BC) also describes the greatness of Haridwar and Ganga.

By the 15th century, this place was famous as both Hardwar and Haridwar. According to the story of the King Daksha and his religious sacrifice in the ‘Skanda Purana’, the navel of the destroyed body of Goddess Sati fell here. As a result, a council of the Goddess Sati came up in the area. Hence, Haridwar geographically developed as a natural area of the goddess. In recent times, if one assumes the Maya temple to be the main point of a triangle, then Chandi devi and Mansa Devi would be the other two points of the triangle. If one joins these three points, an inverted triangle is formed. Followers of the Goddess agree that the inverted triangle represents Shakti (Goddess Sati or power) and the upright triangle represents Lord Shiva.
 
     Importance of the Holy Ganga

Lord Krishna has stated in the epic Shrimad Bhagvat Gita – ‘nadiyon me mein Ganga hoon’ means that I am Ganga, above all the rivers. This statement proves the importance of the holy river Ganga. Ganga is said to have originated on the tenth day of Shukl Paksh of Jyestha month (third month of Hindu calendar). This day is also known as Ganga Dussehara. The Puranas state that Ganga is the daughter of the Himalayas and Sumeru’s daughter Menaka is the mother of Ganga.

Ganga originates from Gomukh in the Himalayas. Reference of Ganga is available in the Vedas and the Puranas. Ganga is known by 1000 names. According to Skandpuran, a person who takes a bath in Ganga on Ganga Dashmi, is blessed and goes to heaven.

It is believed that if Jyestha month, Shukla Paksh, `Dashmi Tithi', Wednesday, Hast Nakshatra, Moon of Virgo sign, Sun of Taurus sign falls on Ganga Dashmi and a person worships Ganga on this day and takes a holy dip in Haridwar, Prayag or Gangasagar, he is exonerated from all his sins and becomes pure. This is also mentioned in a Sanskrit hymns which says

"Jyeshtha mase site pakshe dashamya budh hastiyoh |
Dashehara jayate vyas ganga janm par shuchi"

People have a lot of faith in the Ganga. During the recently concluded Ardh Kumbh in Haridwar, thousands of people took a holy bath in the river Ganga, which is worshiped as `Mokshdayini' (enabling people to attain salvation).

Ganga is very dear to Lord Vishnu. She is also called as Visnupuri as she was born from the nail of Vishnu’s feet. According to Vayupuran, before coming to the earth, Ganga lived in the heaven. Bhagvat Puran states that descendents of king Sagar brought the Ganga to the earth from heaven after performing a lot of rituals.

As mentioned in the Vishnu Puran, people get rid of their sins, by taking the name of Ganga, remembering her, talking a bath in the Ganga or drinking its water.Three places are most prominent for taking a bath in the Ganga: Haridwar, Prayag and Gangasagar near Kolkata. If a person is unable to take a bath in the Ganga on Ganga Dashmi, he can take a dip in any river on this day and it is considered to be equally auspicious and holy.

According to the Puranas, there are three tributaries of the Ganga and they are Swarg Ganga (Mandakini), Bhoo Ganga (Bhagirathi) and Patal Ganga (Bhagvati). Before entering into the sea, the Ganga divides into several tributaries and then merges into the Bay of Bengal.

     Significance of the Ganga

The Saraswati was the favourite river of the Vedic sages. In the post-Vedic age when Saraswati mysteriously went out of sight, the Ganga and her plains became the hub of Aryan culture and civilization. Time recorded the descent of the Ganga and many legends and stories about festivals like the Kumbh became part of our written tradition. The average Indian deified the Ganga, revered her as a goddess and mother. And she, in turn, became that – much more than a river. She became the highway through which Haridwar and surrounding areas ferried their pilgrims and possessions. Deep jungles and missing roads compelled her to do so for 300-400 years.

Shaivite philosopher and Acharya Adi Shankar emphasised the importance of rivers and organised by their banks assemblies of sages, saints and yogis who came together to deliberate on and disseminate their faith. Thus, the tradition of Kumbh was born. Four rivers in four directions of the country became sacred bathing sites. Consequently, the Ganga and her contiguous cities in North India became principal centres of spiritual and cultural congregations.

The river became a geographical and social link between the high Gangotri and the flatlands of northern India stretching right up to Gangasagar. Bathing and other festivals brought people closer and facilitated exchange of ideas.

Ganga has played a significant role in drafting the economic structure of the country. Silted by the river, the vast tracts of Gangetic Plains became granaries for the people. Crop rotation, water harvesting and the toiling Indian farmer put many states on the path to prosperity. Down the ages, Ganga has been the source of farm and potable water, fish culture and several industries like timber and gold. It is difficult to visualise an urban civilisation, indeed our lives, without her.

Modern life is dependent on water harvesting and hydel power without which our factories and mills would stop functioning. The Tehri dam on the Bhagirathi is one such project that will ensure drinking and irrigation water to many states, and generate hydro-electricity for multiple purposes.

 
   Haridwar Dharshan


Mahadev Temple in Haridwar - Daksh Mahadev Mandir, Bilkeshwar Mahadev Mandir, Nealeshwar Temple, Tilbhandeshwar Temple, Gupteshwar Temple, Guri-Shankar Temple, Daridra Banjan Temple, Dukh Banjan Temple, Dandi-Kundi Soda Temple etc.

Devi Temple in Haridwar - Maya Devi Temple, Chandi Devi, Mansa Devi, Sureshwari Devi, Veshno Mata Temple, Vasnti Devi Temple, Vidh-Vashni Devi Temple etc.

Major Ashram in Haridwar - Shantikunj Ashram, Prem Nagar Ashram, Saptrishi Ashram, Bhuma Neketan Ashram, Dudha Dahari Ashram, Jai Ram Ashram, Panjali Yoga Peeth Ashram, Shankar Ashram, Jalandhar Ashram, Bhola Giri Ashram Etc.
 
Other Places to See in Haridwar - Har-ki-pauri, Bharat Mata Temple, Pawan Dham Temple, Bhuma Neketan Temple, Indian Temple, Gita Mandir, Rudrakesh Tree, Shani Dev Temple, Rajaji National Park, Water Park etc.
 
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