Mata Mansa Devi Mandir in Haridwar
Mata Mansa Devi is an extremely powerful and holy temple in Haridwar that is dedicated to the goddess Mansa Devi. Located on top of the Bilwa Parvat on the Shivalik foothills of the Himalayas, the temple is also a significant part of the Bilwa Teerth or the Panch (five) Teerth Yatra that takes place within Haridwar. Due to its location, the temple offers a peaceful combination of spirituality with stunning natural beauty. There are several temples dedicated to Mata Mansa Devi dotted all over the subcontinent and each of them is as powerful and important as the other.
About Mansa Devi Temple Haridwar
mansa devi templeA visit to Mansa Devi temple is a must for anyone on a pilgrimage to Haridwar. This tradition of visiting Mansa Devi has been persisting for centuries and continues to be an important practice. The temple is famous for its stunning views and is home to 2 of the finest statues dedicated to goddess Durga. One of the statues has 3 mouths with 5 arms and the other one has eight arms. This makes the temple very spiritually powerful. The temple graces the pristine surroundings of Rajaji National Park. So a visit to this temple can be a great combination of spirituality and adventure.
History
Mata Mansa Devi is the Hindu goddess of snakes and she is mainly worshipped in Bengal, Jharkhand, and Uttarakhand. She is worshipped for the prevention of snakebites along with prosperity and fertility. Mansa is Vasuki and Sheha’s sister who is the king of Nagas (serpents) and the wife of sage Jaratkaru. She is also sage astika’s mother. She has time and again been called the Vishahri or the destroyer of poison and Nitya or eternal. In certain scriptures, she has often been mentioned as sage Kashyap’s daughter. She has been depicted to be kind to her devotees and very harsh to people who don’t worship her. Due to her mixed parental lineage, she has been denied the position of full godhead but she aims to fully establish her authority as a goddess.
Architecture
The temple architecture is very simple and humble to look at. The stunning and glistening red walls of the temple standing tall atop the Bilwa Parvat adds a hint of contrast to the lush and deep green surroundings of the national park. Just as a flame in the forest the temple showcases its red exterior in full glory, this is the typical style of temple architecture traditionally in all of the Shaktipeeth. Although the temple architecture of Shaktipeeth may be different from the others, the main features remain the same. The inner sanctum or the Garbhagriha, where the main Murti is kept, is the same across any temple.
Temple Timing
The temple remains open for Darshan from 8 am to 5 pm. The Prasadam price varies from 20 to 50 rupees. The entry fees have been made very reasonable to welcome as many devotees of goddess Durga as possible.
Best Time to Visit
The town experiences moderate temperatures throughout the year. The best time to visit Haridwar is from November to March. This is a perfect time because the weather remains clear and pleasant to head out and explore more. People also choose to go for adventure activities during this time like camping, bungee jumping, paragliding, and white river rafting.
Summer and monsoon months are not the best time to visit Haridwar. During the months of April to October, the entire region remains susceptible to heavy rain showers, flooding situations, and unexpected landslides. This can prove to be a very fatal Endeavour. Summer time makes travelling outside in the hot, scorching sun unbearable to go out and explore.
How to Reach
Located facing the Chandi Devi Temple near the Neel Parvat, Mansa Devi Temple has a 3 kms of pedestrian pathway available to make reachability easier for the devotees. There is also a ropeway option available for visitors called Udan Khatola. The services for it remain open from 8 am to 5 pm. It is a much-preferred service for senior citizens as well as for physically incapable individuals.
If you decide to walk up to the temple, then the devotees are expected to walk up over 850 stairs from the first floor up to the main temple entrance.
Reaching Haridwar is not a challenge. People can pour into this holy city from anywhere via railways. There are many trains available for Haridwar from various big and small cities. The connectivity to nearby cities of Delhi, Haryana, and Punjab etc. is maintained through strong and smooth roadways. People choose to take their private vehicle to Haridwar or book a ticket bus. Many people can also book a cab or a taxi service from Delhi to Haridwar. The connectivity to Haridwar is not an issue and is in fact very easy for devotees.
Travel Tips
- Carry a good pair of walking shoes. No matter where you go on the hills, you will be expected to walk some and it can be done easily with the help of a good pair of walking shoes.
- Keep a heat pack or knee support with you in case you experience leg pain.
- Keep your vertigo in check if you decide on taking the ropeway up to the main temple.
- Carry a pair of good binoculars. The temple location offers some of the most stunning and unbelievably scenic views of the Haridwar valley below. It would be a great idea to savour these views with the help of a good pair of binoculars.
- Make sure to book your accommodation close to the Parvati area in order to save up on travel time and cut back the expenses. It is also a great way of being a seamless part of the Aarti procession at the temple. You can even go there way early before the break of dawn and catch one of the best sunrises of your life.
