- Mansa Devi Temple, Haridwar
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This article is about Hindu temple in Haridwar. For other uses, see Mata Mansa Devi Mandir.
Mansa Devi Temple, Haridwar 
Mansa Devi Temple, HaridwarLocation in UttarakhandCoordinates: 29°57′29″N 78°09′53″E / 29.95806°N 78.16472°ECoordinates: 29°57′29″N 78°09′53″E / 29.95806°N 78.16472°E Name Proper name: Mansa Devi Mandir Devanagari: मंसा देवी मंदिर Location Country: India State: Uttarakhand District: Haridwar Locale: Haridwar Architecture and culture Primary deity: Mansa Devi (Shakti) Important festivals: Navratri History Creator: Unknown Mansa Devi Temple, Haridwar (Hindi: मंसा देवी मंदिर, हरिद्वार) is a Hindu temple dedicated to goddess Mansa in the holy city of Haridwar in the Uttarakhand state of India. The temple is located atop the Bilwa Parvat[1][2] on the Sivalik Hills, the southernmost mountain chain of the Himalayas. The temple also known as Bilwa Tirth is one of the Panch Tirth (Five Pilgrimages) within Haridwar.
The temple is known for being the holy abode of Mansa, a form of Shakti and is said to have emerged from the mind of the sage Kashyapa. Mansa is regarded as the sister of the Nāga (serpent) Vasuki. The term Mansa means wish and it is believed that the goddess fulfils all the wishes of a sincere devotee. Devotees who want their wishes to be fulfilled by Mansa tie threads to the branches of a tree located in the temple. Once their wishes are fulfilled, people come back again to the temple to untie the thread from the tree. Mansa is also offered coconuts, fruits, garlands and incense sticks in order to appease her.
Mansa Devi Temple is a Siddh Peetha which are the places of worship where desires get fulfilled. It is one of three such Peethas located in Haridwar, the other two being Chandi Devi Temple and Maya Devi Temple.[3] The inner shrine has two deities installed, one with eight arms and the other one three headed with five arms [4]
Contents
The Temple
Ropeway carrying pilgrims to the shrine. In the background picturesque view of the River Ganges and Haridwar can be seen.
Mansa Devi Temple is an ancient temple that attracts people from both far and near due to its significance. The temple is considered a must visit for the pilgrims going to Haridwar.[5] It enhances the holy tradition of Haridwar which persists in the place from many past centuries.[6] It offers views of the River Ganges and the plains of Haridwar. To reach the shrine one has to either follow the trekking route up to this holy shrine or ride on the recently introduced rope-way service. The rope-way service known as "Mansa Devi Udankhatola" was introduced for the benefit of the pilgrims and it caters to the pilgrims also to the nearby located Chandi Devi shrine. The rope-way carries the pilgrims from the lower station directly to the Mansa Devi Temple. The total length of the rope-way is 540 metres (1,770 ft) and the height it covers is 178 metres (584 ft). On a normal day, the temple is open between 8 am and 5 pm, except for lunch closings of 12 pm to 2 pm.
This temple along with the nearby located Chandi Devi temple is visited by thousands of devotees from various parts of the country, and especially during the Navratra and the Kumbha Mela in Haridwar. It is said that goddesses Mansa and Chandi, the two forms of goddess Parvati always reside close to each other. This belief can also be found true in other case since near to the Mata Mansa Devi Mandir in Panchkula, Haryana, there is a Chandi Mandir located nearby in Chandigarh.
Other Mansa Devi temples
- Mata Mansa Devi Mandir, Panchkula, Haryana — A prominent temple dedicated to Mansa Devi.
- Mansa Devi temple, Alwar
- Mansa Devi temple, Dhuri
References
- ^ Sunita Pant Bansal (2008). Hindu Pilgrimage. Pustak Mahal. ISBN 9788122309973. http://books.google.com/books?id=F303Zb7EC0kC&pg=PA45&dq=mansa+devi+temple,+haridwar&cd=5#v=onepage&q=mansa%20devi%20temple%2C%20haridwar&f=false.
- ^ "Devotion and harmony by the Ganga". Chennai, India: The Hindu. 2006-06-25. http://www.hindu.com/mag/2006/06/25/stories/2006062500440800.htm. Retrieved 2010-06-04.
- ^ Mustseeindia.com. "Mansa Devi Temple, Haridwar". http://www.mustseeindia.com/Haridwar-Mansa-Devi-Temple/attraction/11699.
- ^ The Economic Times (2009-07-26). "Haridwar leaves you mesmerised". The Times Of India. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Features/The-Sunday-ET/Consumer-Life/Haridwar-leaves-you-mesmerised/articleshow/4820956.cms. Retrieved 2010-06-04.
- ^ "Places to visit in and around Haridwar". Zeenews.com. http://www.zeenews.com/news598843.html.
- ^ Mapsofindia.com. "Mansa Devi Temple". http://www.mapsofindia.com/haridwar/tourism/mansa-devi-temple.html.
External links
Hindu Temples in Uttarakhand Almora Golu Devata • Jageshwar.Nain Kalka, Vishnu templeChamoli Badrinath Temple • Gopinath Mandir • Kalpeshwar • Rudranath • TungnathChampawat Dehradun Haridwar Chandi Devi Temple, Haridwar • Daksheswara Mahadev Temple • Har ki Pauri • Mansa Devi Temple, Haridwar • Maya Devi Temple, HaridwarNainital Pauri Garhwal Rudraprayag Guptakashi • Kedarnath Temple • Madhyamaheshwar • Rudraprayag • Triyuginarayan TempleTehri Garhwal Udham Singh Nagar Moteshwar Mahadev • Maa Balsundari • Nagnath Temple
Uttarkashi Categories:- Shakti temples
- Hindu temples in Uttarakhand
- Haridwar
- Aerial tramways in India
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