Temples in Haridwar
Kumbha-mela
Haridwar is one of the four places where Kumbha-mela is held every 12 years. The other places are Allahabad (Prayag), Nasik, and Ujjain. It is said that some nectar fell at this place when the nectar pitcher was being carried by Jayanta (son of Lord Indra). Over 2 million people come to the Kumbha-mela here. The bathing takes place at Har-ki-Pauri Ghat.
The next Kumbha-mela here is in April/May, 1998. Every six years Ardha Kumbha (half Kumbha) is held. The astrological timing of Kumbha-mela at Haridwar is when Jupiter is in Aquarius and the Sun is in Aries.
On April 14, 1986 over 50 people were trampled to death and many more injured when the crowd became so huge that they stampeded. There have been many deaths because of congestion at this Kumbha-mela.
One of the main bathing days is at 1st of Vaisakha (April-May), when the Hindu solar year begins. It is also said that the Ganges appeared on this day.Every year about a hundred thousand people come to Haridwar to bath in the Ganges on this day.
Har-ki-Pauri Ghat (Brahma Kund)
The name Har-ki-Pauri means the feet of Hari (Lord Vishnu). This ghat is also called Brahma Kund because it is said that Raja Shveta performed austerities here and received blessings from Brahma. Kumbha-mela is held here, as this is where the nectar fell. The footprints of Lord Vishnu are imprinted on the wall underneath the water at this ghat. You need to ask one of the priests to be able to touch it. There are temples dedicated to the goddess Ganga and Haricharan here. This ghat is supposed to be the exact spot where the Ganges enters the plains after leaving the mountains.
Every night at about 6 pm there is an arati to the sacred Ganges. The arati consists of offering some large lamps to the Ganges and the loud banging of gongs and other instruments. It is a dramatic and interesting event. Non-Hindus are not allowed on the actual Har-ki-Pauri Ghat, but can take bath or view the Ganga arati from the platform-like island with the clock tower on it.
Before starting their "Char Dhama yatra," pilgrims are supposed to come and bathe in this ghat. Four hundred thousand people can bathe here at one time. There are chains and rails that enable people to have a safe bath here, as the Ganges flows very quickly at this spot.
Hundreds of thousands of people come to bathe at this ghat on the first day of Vaisakha in April/May. On Gangadashera, at the beginning of the rainy season, the Ganges is said to have come down from the heavens. Other important bathing days are on Purnimas (full moon days, especially Kartika Purnima), Ekadasis, Amavasyas (new moon days) Sankrantis (when the sun enters the next zodiac sign), and solar and lunar eclipses.
The ashes of the dead are supposed to be cast into Ganges at the sourthern part of the ghat.
Mansa Devi Temple
This temple is situated on Vilwa Parvat, the hill above the city. Mansa Devi is a form of Shakti Durga. There is a cable car that goes to the top of the hill, which you board close to Ratan Cinema, just off the main road. There is a beautiful garden in the stretch of land along the ropeway. From on top of the hill you get a bird's eye view of Haridwar, the Ganga valley, and the Himalayan peaks.It takes about a half hour to walk up the hill.
Other Places
About four and a half km from Haridwar on the eastern summits of the Siwaliks Hills are the Chandi Devi and Anjani Devi Temples. At the foot of the hills are the Gauri-Sankara and Neeleswara temples.
Gaurikund is a holy well about 4 feet wide, which is one of the four main tirthas (bathing places) in Haridwar. The other three are Hari-ki-Pairi, Neel Dhara (the main branch of the Ganges), and Kankhal, by the Daksa Mahadeva Temple.
There are three old temples in Haridwar called Narayana-shila, Mayadevi, and Bhairava. Mayadevi is a three-headed, four-armed female, who is killing a prostrated figure.
Kankhal
Kankhal is said to have been the capital of Prajapati Daksa. Kankhal is about 4 km south of the Haridwar railway station.
Daksa, the son of Lord Brahma and father of Sati, once performed a yajna (great sacrifice) at this place. When Daksa entered the assembly of great sages, philosopheres, and demigods, all the participants in that great assembly, with the exception of Lord Brahma and Lord Siva, stood in respect. Daksa was very much offended to see Lord Siva sitting and not showing him any respect. He considered Lord Siva inferior to him because Siva was married to his daughter Sati. Therefore he cursed Lord Siva: "The demigods are eligible to share in the oblations of sacrifice, but Lord Siva should not have a share." Daksa then went back home, and Lord Siva's followers cursed his supporters. Lord Siva then left the assembly with his followers.
At the next yajna (sacrifice) that Daksa performed he did not invite Sati's husband, Lord Siva. Lord Siva did not go to the sacrifice, but Sati went. When her father would not even talk to her because she was the wife of Lord Siva, Sati felt insulted and burnt herself in a blazing fire by meditation on the fiery elements. Hearing about his wife's death, Lord Siva then created Virabhadra, a fearful black demon as high as the sky, who had thousands of arms and was equipped with various weapons. Lord Siva sent Virabhadra and his followers to ruin the sacrifice and cut off Daksa's head. On fulfilling his assignment, Virabhadra threw Daksa's head in the sacrifical fire. Later, at the request of Lord Brahma, Siva restored Daksa to life; but because his head was destroyed by the fire, Siva gave him the head of a goat.
The Dakseswara Mahadeva Siva Temple (also called Daksa Prajati Temple) is said to have been built in commemoration of Lord Siva coming down to help Sati. Next to this temple on the bank of the Ganges is Daksa Ghat. Sati Kand, on Kankhal Jwalapur Road, is said to mark the spot where Sati actually burnt herself.
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