“O Yudhishthira, the spot where Ganga rusheth past, cleaving the foremost of mountains which is frequented by Gandharvas and Yakshas and Rakshasas and Apsaras, and inhabited by hunters, and Kinnaras, is called Gangadwara (Haridwar). O King, Sanatkumara regardeth that spot visited by Brahmarshis, as also the Tirtha Kanakhala (that is near to it), as sacred.
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The Mahabharata, Vana Parva: Tirtha-yatra Parva: Section XC.
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In the Vanaparva of the Mahabharat, where sage Dhaumya tells Yudhisthira about the tirthas of India, Gangadwar, i.e., Haridwar and Kankhal, have been referred to, the text also mentions that Agastya Rishi did penance here, with the help of his wife, Lopamudra (the princess of Vidharba).
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Sage Kapila is said to have an ashram here giving it, its ancient name, Kapila or Kapilastan.
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Haridwar is regarded as one of the seven holiest places to Hindus. According to the Samudra manthan, Haridwar along with Ujjain, Nasik and Prayag (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. This is manifested in the Kumbha Mela being celebrated every 3 years in one of the 4 places, and thus every 12 years in Haridwar. Amidst the Kumbha Mela, millions of pilgrims, devotees, and tourists congregate in Haridwar to perform ritualistic bathing on the banks of the river Ganges to wash away their sins to attain Moksha. Brahma Kund, the spot where the Amrit fell, is located at Har ki Pauri (literally, “footsteps of the Lord”) and is considered to be the most sacred ghat of Haridwar.
A paradise for nature lovers, Haridwar presents a kaleidoscope of Indian culture and civilisation. In the scriptures it has been variously mentioned as Kapilsthan, Gangadwar and Mayapuri. It is also an entry point to the Char Dham (the four main centres of pilgrimage in Uttarakhand viz, Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri), hence, Shaivaites (followers of Lord Shiva) and Vaishnavites (followers of Lord Vishnu) call this place Hardwar and Haridwar respectively, corresponding to Har being Shiv and Hari being Vishnu.
Haridwaris an important pilgrimage city and municipality in the Haridwar district of Uttarakhand, India. The River Ganges, after flowing for 253 kilometres (157 mi) from its source at Gaumukh at the edge of the Gangotri Glacier, enters the Indo-Gangetic Plains of North India for the first time at Haridwar, which gave the city its ancient name, Gangadwára.
Haridwar is the headquarters and the largest city of the district. Today, the city is developing beyond its religious importance, with the fast developing industrial estate of State Industrial Development Corporation of Uttarakhand (SIDCUL), and the close by township of Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited in Ranipur, Uttarakhand as well as its affiliated ancillaries.
In Sanskrit, Hari means “Lord Vishnu” and dwar means “gate” or “gateway”. So, Haridwar stands for “Gateway to Lord Vishnu”. In order to reach Badrinath, one of the four Char Dhams, (namely Badrinath, Dwarka, Jagannath Puri, and Rameshwaram) with, a temple of Lord Vishnu, Haridwar is a typical place to start a pilgrim’s journey. Therefore, the name Haridwar.
A K?etra is a sacred ground, a field of active power, a place where Moksha, final release can be obtained. The Garu?a Pura?a enumerates seven cities as giver of Moksha. These are Ayodhya, Mathura, Puri, Maya, Kasi, Kañchi, Avantika and Dvaravati.
In Sanskrit, Har means “Lord Shiva”. Hence, Hardwar stands for “Gateway to Lord Shiva”. in order to reach Kedarnath, one of the Chota Char Dhams with a temple of Lord Shiva, Haridwar is a typical place to start a pilgrim’s journey.
Haridwar is also known as the home of Devi Sati and the palace of her father Daksha. In ancient times, the town was referred to as Gangadwára, the place where the Ganges descends to the plains.
Haridwar is one of the seven most holy Hindu places in India, with Varanasi usually considered the holiest.
“O Yudhishthira, the spot where Ganga rusheth past, cleaving the foremost of mountains which is frequented by Gandharvas and Yakshas and Rakshasas and Apsaras, and inhabited by hunters, and Kinnaras, is called Gangadwara (Haridwar). O King, Sanatkumara regardeth that spot visited by Brahmarshis, as also the Tirtha Kanakhala (that is near to it), as sacred.
Â
The Mahabharata, Vana Parva: Tirtha-yatra Parva: Section XC.
Â
In the Vanaparva of the Mahabharat, where sage Dhaumya tells Yudhisthira about the tirthas of India, Gangadwar, i.e., Haridwar and Kankhal, have been referred to, the text also mentions that Agastya Rishi did penance here, with the help of his wife, Lopamudra (the princess of Vidharba).
Â
Sage Kapila is said to have an ashram here giving it, its ancient name, Kapila or Kapilastan.
Haridwar is regarded as one of the seven holiest places to Hindus. According to the Samudra manthan, Haridwar along with Ujjain, Nasik and Prayag (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. This is manifested in the Kumbha Mela being celebrated every 3 years in one of the 4 places, and thus every 12 years in Haridwar. Amidst the Kumbha Mela, millions of pilgrims, devotees, and tourists congregate in Haridwar to perform ritualistic bathing on the banks of the river Ganges to wash away their sins to attain Moksha. Brahma Kund, the spot where the Amrit fell, is located at Har ki Pauri (literally, “footsteps of the Lord”) and is considered to be the most sacred ghat of Haridwar.
A paradise for nature lovers, Haridwar presents a kaleidoscope of Indian culture and civilisation. In the scriptures it has been variously mentioned as Kapilsthan, Gangadwar and Mayapuri. It is also an entry point to the Char Dham (the four main centres of pilgrimage in Uttarakhand viz, Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri), hence, Shaivaites (followers of Lord Shiva) and Vaishnavites (followers of Lord Vishnu) call this place Hardwar and Haridwar respectively, corresponding to Har being Shiv and Hari being Vishnu.
Haridwaris an important pilgrimage city and municipality in the Haridwar district of Uttarakhand, India. The River Ganges, after flowing for 253 kilometres (157 mi) from its source at Gaumukh at the edge of the Gangotri Glacier, enters the Indo-Gangetic Plains of North India for the first time at Haridwar, which gave the city its ancient name, Gangadwára.
Haridwar is the headquarters and the largest city of the district. Today, the city is developing beyond its religious importance, with the fast developing industrial estate of State Industrial Development Corporation of Uttarakhand (SIDCUL), and the close by township of Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited in Ranipur, Uttarakhand as well as its affiliated ancillaries.
In Sanskrit, Hari means “Lord Vishnu” and dwar means “gate” or “gateway”. So, Haridwar stands for “Gateway to Lord Vishnu”. In order to reach Badrinath, one of the four Char Dhams, (namely Badrinath, Dwarka, Jagannath Puri, and Rameshwaram) with, a temple of Lord Vishnu, Haridwar is a typical place to start a pilgrim’s journey. Therefore, the name Haridwar.
A K?etra is a sacred ground, a field of active power, a place where Moksha, final release can be obtained. The Garu?a Pura?a enumerates seven cities as giver of Moksha. These are Ayodhya, Mathura, Puri, Maya, Kasi, Kañchi, Avantika and Dvaravati.
In Sanskrit, Har means “Lord Shiva”. Hence, Hardwar stands for “Gateway to Lord Shiva”. in order to reach Kedarnath, one of the Chota Char Dhams with a temple of Lord Shiva, Haridwar is a typical place to start a pilgrim’s journey.
Haridwar is also known as the home of Devi Sati and the palace of her father Daksha. In ancient times, the town was referred to as Gangadwára, the place where the Ganges descends to the plains.
Haridwar is one of the seven most holy Hindu places in India, with Varanasi usually considered the holiest.