The very origin of river Ganga itself elevates her to this esteemed position, which is stated in Periya Thirumozhi verse 4-7-3 by Alwars:
Here two rivers join at Devpragag, one is originated from Badrikashram know as Alaknanda and other is originated from Gangotri know as Bhagirathi.
It's a sacred place where the Alaknanda river meets with the Bhagirathi river. Among the Hindus, this place is extremely popular as a holy pilgrimage destination. Alaknanda is on the right and Bhagirathi is on the left. (Prayag means confluence, hence the prayag in the name Devprayag). The two join together to flow forward as the Ganga. Periya-alwar praises this place as Kandam ennum Kadinagar, which is present Devaprayag. "Devaprayag" means "Godly Confluence" in Sanskrit. As per Hindu scriptures, Devaprayag is the sacred event of merging two heavenly rivers, Alakananda and Bhagirathi, to form the holy Ganges.
The place is very much relevant to the footsteps of Lord Rama (Sri Ramanin Padhayil). It is closely connected with Lord Rama. This place where the confluence of rivers take place is alarming, since just keeping the feet in the water will force the person into the river. So need to be careful and take holy dip in the slot where there are chains that too by holding the chains. We usually have river bath during the yatra and hence all the dresses we take might not be of much use. Since the devotees frequently take holy dip in many rivers which they come across and manage with few dresses. Men's don't find time to even shave and might look exhausted but their atma will be shining. But when we are at our homes our body might be shining and glowing but not the atma, mind and the knowledge which will all be lazy. In these type of places, the Bhakthi grows and multiplies. Also when we return from the yatra there will be great memories like "This is the dhoti which I had worn when I took bath in this prayag" and one will not even feel like washing them back home again since they were dipped in those great rivers. Everyone collect the water from this river and take home filled in small containers as Ganga Theertham (Holy/Sacred Water). We all had the sacred bath at Devprayag.
There is an ancient Raghunatha temple here with a 15 foot tall deity of Sri Raghunatha. It was installed about 1200 years ago and is one of the 108 divya desam (holy places) recognized by the South Indian saints Alwars. It is said that in Treta-yuga Rama and Lakshmana performed penance here. Behind the temple there is Lord Rama’s stone throne.
Devprayag is surrounded by 3 godly peaks, named Giddhanchal Parvat, Dashrathanchal Parvat, and Narsinghancal Parvat. Giddhanchal Parvat is on top of Raghunnathji temple. Narsinghanchal Parvat is in front of Giddhanchal Parvat and Dashrathanchal Parvat is on top right side of "Sangam". Here also we can get the footprints of Lord Rama at "RAMKUNDA".
Though these places were not covered in Sri Rama Anu Yatra i.e. Sri Ramanin Padhayil, this is also a place relevant to Lord Rama. We had travelled to these places in an different yatra and the same is shown as part of this Sri Ramanin Padhayil due to its relevance and for the benefit of our viewers.
Periya Thirumozhi verse 4-7-1 by Alwar:
If we further come down we get Haridwar. Haridwar meaning 'Gateway to God' is one of the seven holiest places of the Hindus. Haridwar is very much associated with the legends in Hindu philosophy. The legendary King, Bhagiratha, the great-grandson of the Suryavanshi King Sagara, is said to have brought the river Ganga down from heaven, through years of penance in Satya Yuga, for the salvation of 60,000 of his ancestors from the curse of the saint Kapila, a tradition continued by thousands of devout Hindus, who brings the ashes of their departed family members, in hope of their salvation. Lord Vishnu is said to have left his footprint on the stone that is set in the upper wall of Har-Ki-Pauri, where the Holy Ganga touches it at all times.
Har Ki Pauri marks the exit of the holy River Ganges or the Ganga from the mountains and its entry into the plains below. This sacred place is the landmark of the holy city of Haridwar. This place is also known as Brahma Kund and was built by King Vikramaditya, in memory of his brother Brithari who used to meditate on the banks of the River Ganga often. The word Har means "Lord Shiva", ki means "of" and Pauri means "steps". Thus the word Har Ki Pauri means The Steps of Lord Shiva.
When the flow in the river Ganga is less then the water runs at the foot level of Lord Shiva and when the flow of water increases, one can see the water level till the chest of lord shiva. Har ki pauri is always crowded with devotees and priests, offering prayers to the Sun God and the holy Ganges. This place is the perfect destination for people deeply in love with religion, philosophy and spiritualism. Throughout the year, religious rituals like 'upanayan' or the initiation ritual, 'mundan' or the head tonsuring ritual, 'asthi visarjan' or immersion of the ashes of the dead and 'shraddha' or prayers appeasing one's ancestors take place here.
To see the most breathtaking sight in Haridawar, come to the Harki pauri ghat in the evening, when the daily ritual of 'Maha Aarti' takes place. When the sun goes down, the most awaited activity of the evening Aarti takes places on the ghat. Ganges is decorated as a newly wedded bride and glows with fluorescence of the thousands and millions of diyas and marigold petals. The Ganga Aarti in Hardwar’s Har-ki-Pauri is one of the famous rituals in India. It starts at around 6.30pm after sunset, with large crowds gathered around both the banks of a canal that carries the waters of Ganges. Loud speakers blare songs in praise of Ganga Maiya and Shiva.
Ganga Aarti Means Prayer for the River Ganges. The Ganga is holy river in India. It is worshiped as a goddess. It is providing life in the form of water to India. Every day Morning and Evening Ganga Aarti is organized at Har Ki Pauri. Morning time is approximately 05:30 AM in winter and 06:30 AM in Summer according to Sunrise. Evening time for Ganga Aarti is approximately 05:30 PM in winter and 06:30 in summer. Evening Ganga aarti is widely visited by people instead of morning. There is no entry fees or charges for the ceremony. Evening at sunset priests perform Ganga Aarti here, when lights are set on the water to drift downstream. This is the most amazing and soul touching spectacle. A large number of people gather on both the banks of river Ganges to sing its praises. The priest hold large fire bowls in their hands, the bells in the temples at the Ghat start ringing and the chants flowing out of lips fill the air. People float diyas (candle), with burning flickers and flowers in them as a symbol of hope and wishes. The golden hues of floral diyas reflected in the river Ganges present the most enchanting sight.
In the trail of Ganga, we have reached till Haridwar, let us go on further.
chadumugan kayil chaduppuyan thalil sankaran sadayinil thangi
kadhir muga mani kondizhi punal gangai..
Here two rivers join at Devpragag, one is originated from Badrikashram know as Alaknanda and other is originated from Gangotri know as Bhagirathi.
It's a sacred place where the Alaknanda river meets with the Bhagirathi river. Among the Hindus, this place is extremely popular as a holy pilgrimage destination. Alaknanda is on the right and Bhagirathi is on the left. (Prayag means confluence, hence the prayag in the name Devprayag). The two join together to flow forward as the Ganga. Periya-alwar praises this place as Kandam ennum Kadinagar, which is present Devaprayag. "Devaprayag" means "Godly Confluence" in Sanskrit. As per Hindu scriptures, Devaprayag is the sacred event of merging two heavenly rivers, Alakananda and Bhagirathi, to form the holy Ganges.
The place is very much relevant to the footsteps of Lord Rama (Sri Ramanin Padhayil). It is closely connected with Lord Rama. This place where the confluence of rivers take place is alarming, since just keeping the feet in the water will force the person into the river. So need to be careful and take holy dip in the slot where there are chains that too by holding the chains. We usually have river bath during the yatra and hence all the dresses we take might not be of much use. Since the devotees frequently take holy dip in many rivers which they come across and manage with few dresses. Men's don't find time to even shave and might look exhausted but their atma will be shining. But when we are at our homes our body might be shining and glowing but not the atma, mind and the knowledge which will all be lazy. In these type of places, the Bhakthi grows and multiplies. Also when we return from the yatra there will be great memories like "This is the dhoti which I had worn when I took bath in this prayag" and one will not even feel like washing them back home again since they were dipped in those great rivers. Everyone collect the water from this river and take home filled in small containers as Ganga Theertham (Holy/Sacred Water). We all had the sacred bath at Devprayag.
There is an ancient Raghunatha temple here with a 15 foot tall deity of Sri Raghunatha. It was installed about 1200 years ago and is one of the 108 divya desam (holy places) recognized by the South Indian saints Alwars. It is said that in Treta-yuga Rama and Lakshmana performed penance here. Behind the temple there is Lord Rama’s stone throne.
Devprayag is surrounded by 3 godly peaks, named Giddhanchal Parvat, Dashrathanchal Parvat, and Narsinghancal Parvat. Giddhanchal Parvat is on top of Raghunnathji temple. Narsinghanchal Parvat is in front of Giddhanchal Parvat and Dashrathanchal Parvat is on top right side of "Sangam". Here also we can get the footprints of Lord Rama at "RAMKUNDA".
Though these places were not covered in Sri Rama Anu Yatra i.e. Sri Ramanin Padhayil, this is also a place relevant to Lord Rama. We had travelled to these places in an different yatra and the same is shown as part of this Sri Ramanin Padhayil due to its relevance and for the benefit of our viewers.
Periya Thirumozhi verse 4-7-1 by Alwar:
thangaiyai mukkum thamaiyanaith thalaiyum thadindha, em dasarathe poi
Such is the greatness of Devprayag. We all had wonderful darshan of Devprayag. When we come down from Devpragay, we get Rishikesh. It is said that various Rishi's have performed rigorous penances here. Lakshman Jhula is an iron suspension bridge situated in Rishikesh in Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is made over river Ganges to cross the river and is a landmark of Rishikesh. It is said that Lakshmana crossed Ganges on jute ropes between the place where this bridge is built. Lakshman Jhula was built in 1839. There are spectacular views from the bridge. Lakshman Ghat is located next to the bridge, where it is said that Lakshmana had performed penance. Laxman Jhula is 450- Feet long Bridge on the River Ganges. Lakshman Jhula connects the borders of the Tehri and Pauri district. Lakshman Jhula provides wonderful view. On a sunny day, fish can be seen in the clear water.If we further come down we get Haridwar. Haridwar meaning 'Gateway to God' is one of the seven holiest places of the Hindus. Haridwar is very much associated with the legends in Hindu philosophy. The legendary King, Bhagiratha, the great-grandson of the Suryavanshi King Sagara, is said to have brought the river Ganga down from heaven, through years of penance in Satya Yuga, for the salvation of 60,000 of his ancestors from the curse of the saint Kapila, a tradition continued by thousands of devout Hindus, who brings the ashes of their departed family members, in hope of their salvation. Lord Vishnu is said to have left his footprint on the stone that is set in the upper wall of Har-Ki-Pauri, where the Holy Ganga touches it at all times.
Har Ki Pauri marks the exit of the holy River Ganges or the Ganga from the mountains and its entry into the plains below. This sacred place is the landmark of the holy city of Haridwar. This place is also known as Brahma Kund and was built by King Vikramaditya, in memory of his brother Brithari who used to meditate on the banks of the River Ganga often. The word Har means "Lord Shiva", ki means "of" and Pauri means "steps". Thus the word Har Ki Pauri means The Steps of Lord Shiva.
When the flow in the river Ganga is less then the water runs at the foot level of Lord Shiva and when the flow of water increases, one can see the water level till the chest of lord shiva. Har ki pauri is always crowded with devotees and priests, offering prayers to the Sun God and the holy Ganges. This place is the perfect destination for people deeply in love with religion, philosophy and spiritualism. Throughout the year, religious rituals like 'upanayan' or the initiation ritual, 'mundan' or the head tonsuring ritual, 'asthi visarjan' or immersion of the ashes of the dead and 'shraddha' or prayers appeasing one's ancestors take place here.
To see the most breathtaking sight in Haridawar, come to the Harki pauri ghat in the evening, when the daily ritual of 'Maha Aarti' takes place. When the sun goes down, the most awaited activity of the evening Aarti takes places on the ghat. Ganges is decorated as a newly wedded bride and glows with fluorescence of the thousands and millions of diyas and marigold petals. The Ganga Aarti in Hardwar’s Har-ki-Pauri is one of the famous rituals in India. It starts at around 6.30pm after sunset, with large crowds gathered around both the banks of a canal that carries the waters of Ganges. Loud speakers blare songs in praise of Ganga Maiya and Shiva.
Ganga Aarti Means Prayer for the River Ganges. The Ganga is holy river in India. It is worshiped as a goddess. It is providing life in the form of water to India. Every day Morning and Evening Ganga Aarti is organized at Har Ki Pauri. Morning time is approximately 05:30 AM in winter and 06:30 AM in Summer according to Sunrise. Evening time for Ganga Aarti is approximately 05:30 PM in winter and 06:30 in summer. Evening Ganga aarti is widely visited by people instead of morning. There is no entry fees or charges for the ceremony. Evening at sunset priests perform Ganga Aarti here, when lights are set on the water to drift downstream. This is the most amazing and soul touching spectacle. A large number of people gather on both the banks of river Ganges to sing its praises. The priest hold large fire bowls in their hands, the bells in the temples at the Ghat start ringing and the chants flowing out of lips fill the air. People float diyas (candle), with burning flickers and flowers in them as a symbol of hope and wishes. The golden hues of floral diyas reflected in the river Ganges present the most enchanting sight.
In the trail of Ganga, we have reached till Haridwar, let us go on further.
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