ART-0508 Haridwar: Gateway to Lord Hari

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Haridwar is connected with Krishna (Hari) and is one of the four Maha Kumbha Mela sites (See Teachers’ Book, page 72).

Haridwar is on the west bank of the Ganges River at the foot of the Himalayan Mountains. Haridwar means “The gateway to Hari (Lord Vishnu)”.

The Bhagavat Purana, written 5000 years ago, describes how Uddhava, Lord Krishna’s cousin, instructed Vidura, to go to Haridwar to be instructed by Maitreya Muni. The following is written in the Shrimad Bhagavatam (3.20.4):

‘Vidura was purified of all passion by wandering in sacred places, and at last he reached Haridwar, where he met the great sage, Maitreya, who knew the science of spiritual life, and he inquired from him.’

This verse indicates that one must go to sacred places not only to take a bath there, but also to search out great sages like Maitreya and take instructions from them. If one does not do so, travelling to places of pilgrimage is considered to be simply a waste of time.

Haridwar also has other names: Gangadwara (because the Ganges enters the plains), Kapilastan (because Kapiladeva performed penances there) and Mayapuri Kshetra (according to the Puranas).

At Sapta Sarovara, the Ganges splits into seven streams to please the seven Rishis doing austerities.

The famous bathing ghat is called Har-ki-Pauri, which, which means the feet of Lord Hari (Lord Vishnu). The footprints of Lord Vishnu are imprinted on the wall at this ghat. There are temples dedicated to the goddess Ganga and Haricharan as well as this ghat where the Ganges enters the plains after leaving the mountains.

Every night at Har-Ki- Pauri at about 6pm there is an arati to the sacred Ganges. The arati consists of offering large lamps to the Ganges and the loud banging of gongs and other instruments. It is a very dramatic event.

The Maha (great) Kumbha Mela is held here every twelve years, the last one being in April/May 1998. Over two million pilgrims come to the Kumbha Mela here. The Ganges flows at this spot very swiftly and thus there are chains and rails that enable people to bathe safely here.

Haridwar is about 140 miles northeast of Delhi.