Haridwar Sri Rajarajeswari temple ~ Lalithashram

Haridwar is a holy, tranquil place, the gateway to Sri Badrinath & Kedarnath shrines .. .. ..

அழகிய மலைகள் நிறைந்த மாநிலமான உத்தரகாண்டில் அமைந்திருக்கும் ஹரித்வார் 'கடவுள்களின் நுழைவாயில்' என்றழைக்கப்படும் புகழ்பெற்ற யாத்ரீக ஸ்தலமாகும்.  'சப்த புரி' என்றழைக்கப்படும் இந்தியாவின் ஏழு புனிதமான நகரங்களின் ஹரித்வாரும் ஒன்றும். மேலும் ரிஷிகேஷ், கேதர்நாத், பத்ரிநாத் ஆகிய உத்தராகாண்டின் பிற புண்ணியஸ்தலங்களுக்கும் ஹரித்வார் நுழைவாயிலாக விளங்குகிறது.

நமக்கு மிக புண்ணிய நதியான கங்கை மலையிலிருந்து தோன்றி இங்கே ஹரித்துவாரத்தில்  சமவெளியை தொடுகின்றது. தனது ஆதாரமான கவுமுக்கிலிருந்து 253 கி.மீ. (157 மைல்கள்), கடல் மட்டத்திலிருந்து 3,139 மீட்டர் (10,300 அடி) கங்கோத்ரி பனிமுகட்டின் முனை வரையில் பயணம் செய்த பின்னர் கங்கை நதியானது  ஹரித்வாரில், பரந்து  பாய்கிறது . இந்த நகரத்திற்கு பழம் பெயரானது  கங்கத்வாரா (गंगाद्वार).

 

"Ayodhyā Mathurā Māyā Kāśī Kāñcī Avantikā

Purī Dvārāvatī caiva saptaitā mokṣadāyikāḥ" – Garuḍa Purāṇa I XVI .14

 

Ayodhya, Mathura, Haridwar, Kasi, Kanchi, Avantika and Dwaraka are the seven holy places… .. Haridwar is mentioned here as Maya !! – mayapuri.

The legendary King, Bhagiratha, the great-grandson of the Suryavanshi King Sagar through his unstinted  penance,  brought the river Ganges down in Satya Yuga, for the salvation of 60,000 of his ancestors from the curse of the saint Kapila. ,   Sriman Narayana left His footprint on the stone that is set in the upper wall of Har Ki Pauri, where the Holy Ganges touches it at all times.

Haridwar came under the rule of the Maurya Empire (322–185 BCE), and later under the Kushan Empire (c. 1st–3rd centuries).  First modern era written evidence of Haridwar is found in the accounts of a Chinese traveller, Huan Tsang, who visited India in 629 AD during the reign of King Harshavardhan (590–647) records Haridwar as 'Mo-yu-lo', the remains of which still exist at Mayapur, a little to the south of the modern town. Among the ruins are a fort and three temples, decorated with broken stone sculptures,he also mentions the presence of a temple, north of Mo-yu-lo called 'Gangadwara', Gateway of the Ganges.

It perhaps is the ultimate dream of a Srivaishnavaite – darshan at the most holy Sri Badrinath.  It is not easy even in the modern World.  As we travelled, the bus would stop – one would find hundreds of vehicle in a line extending to couple of kilo-meters  (mostly disciplined !) – the gorges on the mountain would offer a very pleasant at the same time a fearsome view !  One could see river flowing all the way – yet the vehicle passing on a ridge could evoke fear.  At many cross-points only one vehicle can go – so vehicles would stop for an hour or so. Then traffic would flow from one side – then from the waiting side.  One could see bolsters falling down; they might fall on the vehicles, at times they would close the road.  Army and Govt agencies would work effectively clearing the debris – everyone will have to wait.  .. .. and if it were to rain, the work could be hampered, vehicles would have to remain as they are – at times they would return back to the nearest city and continue the next day. 

~ and the holy journey to ‘Jai bolo Badrinath’ originates from Haridwar, one travels via Rishikesh, can have darshan at Devaprayag, then probably halt at Pipalkot – next day morning proceed to Badrinath via Joshimath.  One will pass through Pauri, Srinagar, Chamoli Gopeshwar. On the way is the beautiful Devaprayag.  A mystic place where the holy rivers Bhagirathi and Alaknanda meet, merge into one and take the name ‘Ganga’. Lord Rama  and his father Emperor  Dasharatha did penance here.  

Haridwar is holy, peaceful, scenic, beautiful Haridwar has Ganga flowing through. A great sight and a holy place for bathing – on the foothills of Himalayas, it has ashrams and a very pious ambience enveloping all over. Haridwar is one of the four holy Indian cities that host the Kumbh Mela, a pious gathering of millions of devotees every 12 years. The Ardh Kumbh is organised here every six years. It also hosts the Kanwar mela every year during the rainy season. The ‘Panch Tirth’ or the five pilgrimages located within the periphery of Haridwar, are Gangadwara (Har Ki Pauri), Kushwart (Ghat), Kankhal, Bilwa Tirtha (Mansa Devi Temple) and Neel Parvat (Chandi Devi). Haridwar serves as the gateway to the Char Dham of Uttarakhand as well.

An ancient city, Haridwar's roots are steeped deep in culture and traditions of the ancient Vedic times, and there are several institutions here imparting traditional knowledge of wellness. There  are many certified Ayurvedic clinics in Haridwar – and Pathanjali Guru Ramdev too has set up his ashram here.   Every morning and evening, the ghats (stepped banks of a river) of River Ganga witnesses the blissful Ganga aarti, which attracts devotees and tourists. The evening ritual being more popular, it makes for a mesmeric sight to see the river being venerated with loud and rhythmic chants and tall lamps, their lights lightening up the darkening waters. It is a spectacular sight as thousands of small diyas (earthen lamps) are set afloat on the river.

Haridwar is well connected by motorable roads with major destinations of Uttarakhand and northern states of India. Luxury and normal buses to Haridwar are easily available from Delhi ISBT Kashmiri Gate and Meerut.   According to the Samudra manthan, Haridwar along with Ujjain, Nashik and Prayagraj (Allahabad) is one of four sites where drops of Amrit, the elixir of immortality, accidentally spilled over from the pitcher while being carried by the celestial bird Garuda. Brahma Kund, the spot where the Amrit fell, is located at Har ki Pauri and is considered to be the most sacred ghat of Haridwar.

As we proceeded to Sri Badrinath, we stayed overnight in Haridwar (to and fro) and was fortunate to have darshan of Sri Rajarajewsari mata at Sri Lalitha Ashram, Mukhiya Gali, Haridwar H O, Haridwar – 249401.

Goddess Tripura Sundari (Sodashi and Lalita) , is venerated in Shaktism. , Rajarajeswari is Mahavidya, glorified in many Shakta texts, with Lalita Sahasranama being the most popular one.  Here  she sits on the throne holding ‘Ikshu khanda’ (golden sugarcane) in one hand, a beautiful golden parrot on right hand and divya authangal too.  There is a very beautiful conch placed at her feet.    Sweet Juice of Sugarcane symbolises the juice of bliss (atma gnana – the self realisation). She whips those who are wicked and arrogant or harmful to others.   In temples here, Shri Rajarajeshwari is considered as the Kul-devi.  

This Lalitha Ashram housing the temple for Sri Rajarajeswari in swarnam is a really beautiful place running a veda patashala and free food too.  It is so holy  and serene place – the vedic chants were reverberating .. .. indeed a divine experience to be there and have darshan of Goddess Raja Rajeswari wielding sugarcane.

Praying God that live returns to normal, Corona is totally eliminated, people live happily without fear and we have opportunities of travelling such holy places, having darshan of our Emperuman.

With regards – S. Sampathkumar
22^nd May 2021