Friday, June 25, 2010

Haridwar : Land of Temples and Pilgrimage Places

Mansa Devi: The Mansa Devi Temple is situated on the hill called the Bilwa Parvat; a chair lift takes you there. Mansa Devi is one of the forms of Shakti Durga (The Inaccessible, consort of Lord Shiva. Photography is forbidden in the temple.

Daksha Mahadev Temple: About 4 km to the south of Haridwar is the newly built Pareshwar Mahadev Temple. The late former President of India, Gyani Zail Singh, inaugurated the temple. It houses a sacred lingam reputedly made of mercury. Further 2 km along this route is situated the Daksha Mahadev Temple (also known as Shri Dakeswar). Daksha, the father of Sati (Shiva's first wife), performed a sacrifice here but did not care to invite Shiva. This inexcusable indiscretion enraged Sati and she immolated herself! Opposite this temple is the Anandamoyee Ma Ashram which has become an enormous mausoleum since the death of this Bengali guru.

Chandi Devi: This temple is on the top of the hill called Neel Parvat. Chandi Devi is a three-km trek from the Chandi Ghat.

Maya Devi: It is one of the Shaktipeeths in India. This ancient temple of Maya Devi is also the Adhisthatri deity of Haridwar. It is said when Lord Shiva was carrying his wife Sati, who had burnt herself to keep the honor of her husband, then the heart and navel of Sati had fallen at this place.

Pawan Dham Temple: This temple is widely known for its incredible glass and mirror work and richly garbed idols. About 1 km further along this road the Lal Mata Temple is situated. The temple, which was completed in 1994, is an imitation of the Vaishno Devi Temple in Kashmir. The artificial hill on which the replica is situated also resembles the original hill. Next to the temple is a perpetually frozen ice lingam that is an imitation of the one in the Amarnath cave in Kashmir.

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