MY REMINISCES-16 A GREAT MIRACLE AT HARIDWAR

A GREAT MIRACLE AT HARIDWAR

We have been going regularly to Haridwar, known for its legendary tirthas, temples and ashrams. Some time back, around Ardh Kumbh, we went for pilgrimage to holy Haridwar along with my maternal grand-mother Smt. Radha Mali, a noble, pious and religious house wife. Haridwar is an important religious destination that draws countless devotees and tourists from across the globe. In this hallowed place, lies a renowned temple, built in honour of a Goddess Chandi Devi who is a demon slayer. Chandi Devi means Goddess ‘Chandika’, an annoyed form of Maa Durga since She is the destroyer of the demons like Chand-Mundand and Shumbh- Nishumbh. It is believed that after killing these demons Devi Chandika relaxed for a while at this place, therefore it is called a Sidhapeeth. Amidst the serene beauty of the Shivalik Hills, Chandi Devi beautiful temple perched atop the 1 Neel Parvat, also known as the Neel Parvat Tirtha, one of the five sacred pilgrimages of Haridwar. It is said that this divine confrontation took place on Neel Parvat, and thus, the Chandi Devi Temple stands there as a testament to this legendary saga. Chandi Devi is the combined form of Lakshmi, Saraswati, and Durga, the ferocious form of Parvati. The rich architecture of the temple is built atop the hill, from where one can have an astonishing view of the Haridwar. While the temple was constructed in 1929, legend has it that the temple’s main idol, Chandi Devi, was put there in the 8th century by Adi Shankaracharya, a revered saint who sought to harness the celestial energies of the Himalayas. Since then, it has remained a beacon of spiritual enlightenment, drawing devotees who seek solace, guidance, and blessings from the Divine Mother. According to Hindu scriptures, the kingdom of heaven, ruled by Lord Indra, faced a dire threat from the demon kings Shumbh and Nishumbh, who sought to seize control of the heavens. The demon duo started terrorizing the Gods and to confront them, Goddess Chandika Devi emerged from the essence of Goddess Parvati. Mesmerized by her beauty, the demon king Shumbh demanded her hand in marriage, only to be met with fierce rejection. This led to an epic battle, culminating in the triumph of good over evil. Chandika Devi vanquished the demon army's chief, Chand Munda, before ultimately defeating Shumbh and Nishumbh themselves. On a selected day, my wife, a great devotee of Mother Goddess, prepared Kheer, as Prasad, to be offered at the temple early in the morning and started for the Darshan. Those days there was not even a link road, we had to cross Ganga at a particular point where Ganga gave us a way to cross it and started climbing the hillock. On our way my grand-mother stopped before a Sadhu. We all stopped there and she started her usual prayers. We also joined her. There was a miracle beyond description! After having Puja and offerings at Chandi Devi temple, we also visited the Anjani Devi temple nearby. I found it unique that Maa Anjani Devi is holding baby Lord Hanuman in her lap in this temple. There is a separate large Lord Hanuman idol also there and is being worshiped by devotees. For devout Hindus, a visit to Chandi Devi Temple is not merely a physical journey but a spiritual pilgrimage. The ascent to the temple is arduous, comprising a steep trek of approximately 3 kilometers from the base of the hill. Pilgrims, clad in vibrant attire and chanting hymns in praise of the Goddess, traverse the rugged terrain with unwavering determination and devotion. As pilgrims reach the summit, the atmosphere pulsates with the rhythm of prayer and devotion as devotees offer flowers, incense, and prayers at the sanctum sanctorum. The air resonates with the melodious strains of bhajans and the reverberations of temple bells, invoking a sense of spiritual awakening. Chaman Lal Gadoo