Holy Ganges, Haridwar, Uttarakhand

An evening by the Ganges.

Haridwar, considered as one of the seven  holiest cities of Hindus. This city is made sacred by the presence of Ganges.

Ganges after originating form Gaumukh enters Plains  in North India at Haridwar.

Ganges ,appears much  pretty same  here at  Haridwar without loosing her charm. Banks of this river is lined with hundreds of shrines. Thousands of pilgrims flock here everyday to bathe in river Ganges.  A bath in Ganges purifies one body and soul. They also carry  Holy water to their homes to distribute to their near and dear. 

The Ganga worship known as Ganga Aarti is very famous and pilgrims make it a point to attend and seek blessing of  Mother. Ganga aarti takes place in the evening. 

One can float oil lamps and offer flowers in Ganges during the worship.

One shouldn't miss Ganga Aarti at any cost. The evening by the sides of river with thousands of glowing lights, chanting of devotional songs, cool river flowing by your side  is really a spectacular view. Float a few lamps and you would wish that you would ever remained rooted  to the spot. It is just bliss.

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Holy Ganges, Rishikesh, Dehradun district, Uttarakhand

This time, I am taking you to Rishikesh, a lovely place  located at foot hills of Himalayas. It is also the Gateway to Himalayas. This is a sacred city for all Hindus and they make it a point to visit this town and worship, bathe in  Holy Ganges at least once in their life time.


Ganges is  considered as the most  sacred river in India worshipped by all Hindus. .She forms the life line of millions and they depend on her for their daily needs.A bath in Holy waters washes the sins away.

She is worshipped as Goddess  and Mother and as per legend she emanates from the matted locks of Lord Shiva.

One can also enjoy the breath taking view of the great river Ganges from the suspended bridge across the river. It is really difficult to take the eyes off this great enchantress, Ganges  from the suspended bridge. 2 Kms away from Lakshman jhoola is Ram Jhoola.


Legend : It is believed that Lord Rama did penance at this place here before he killed Ravana and Lakshmana crossed river Ganges at the place where the Lakshman Jhoola stands.

Rishikesh abounds in temples and ashrams one can spend time here  eternally in pursuit of the divine.

 Enjoy the pristine beauty of river Ganges below .

write to manchitra2001@yahoo.com for your queries.
Rishikesh- Rishikesh is well connected by air, road and rail as it is a Pilgrim center.
Dehradun is the nearest airport and one can also reach via road from New Delhi, Haridwar.
Nearest rail station is Haridwar, Yet another sacred city for all the Hindus.

Theperumanallur Rudraksheswarar temple , Kumbakonam, Tamilnadu

This temple is Just 2 kms  from Tirunageshwaram ( One of the Navagraha temples) and about 8 Kms from Kumbakonam town.

 Presiding deity of this  temple is Shiva known here as Rudraksheswar and His consort is Vedanayagi. This temple is very small in a quaint little village.

This temple was recently in news as there was a news item , that a cobra  appeared here during eclipse time and entered the sanctum with a Bilva leaf and crawled on to the Shivlinga.

You may check the video here.

The temple also has a huge Shivlinga fully covered with Rudraksha.
The priests here performs the worship using Rudraksha and offers the same to devotees when they perform various poojas.
There are also idols of  Kalabhairva and Saneeshwara which is just outside the Amman shrine ; Vedanayagi.

How to reach- This temple is just 7-8 Kms from Kumbakonam and a 2 Kms from Uppiliyappan temple, Yet another Vishnu divya desam. 

Temple is open from 7 Am-12 Pm and evening 5 Pm -8Pm

List of Tirunangur temples

In my last few posts I have covered all the Tirunangur temples.
All the temples listed here in one place for quick reference.


1.Thiru Nangur Annan Koil

2.Tirumanimada Koil- Narayana Perumal

3.Arimeya Vinnangaram or Kudamatukoothan

4.Pallikonda Perumal

5.Vanpurushtohamar

6 Vaikunta Nathar temple

7 Hema Ranganathar temple

8.Thiru Manikoodam Sri Varadaraja Perumal temple
9 TiruParthanpali- 

10.Thiru Deivanarthogai Or Madhava Perumal temple

11.Thiru Kavalampaadi Gopalalkrishna temple- 


Apart from the above temples 2 more temples are closely related to above 11,
They are the birth places of Tirumangai Azhwar and His wife.

Lakshmi Narasiimhar Tiruvali  and Tirunagari Vedaraja Perumal

Tirunangur divyadesams one can visit 13 temples in one trip.

Tirukavalampaadi Gopalakrishnan- rajagopalaswamy temple- 11th Tirunangur divyadesham

Here Lord Gopalakrishna is the presiding deity in a standing posture along with Rukmini and Satyabhama.

Utsavar is Rajagopalan. This temple is considered as sacred as  Dwarka.

 Legend is that once Lord Krishna was in search of Parijata flowers for Satyabhama. Lord Shiva directed Him to this place. The temple pond here is called Tatamalar poigai,

The temple has beautiful paintings  of Krishna's childhood depicted well on ceiling.

Lakshmi Narasimhar Perumal Tiruvaali and Tirunangari Closely associated with Tirunangur Divya desham

Tiruvaali- Lakshmi Narasimhar temple at Tiruvaali and Vedaraja Perumal temple at  Tirunagari are 2 separate shrines but are  considered as a single  divyadesham.

At Tiruvaali Lord Lakshmi  Narasimhar  blesses His devotees in a sitting posture ,Utsavar is Tirunagaralaan and His consort is also enshrined in  the same sanctum known as Poornavalli thaayar.

Thirumangai Azhwar's wife was brought up in Tiruvaali.

Thrumangai Azhwar refers to Lord at Tiruvalli as Vayalaali Manvalan. But Tiruvayalaali manvalan is enshrined at Tirunagari hence both these comprise one  divyadesham.

Tirunagari - Presiding deity is  Vedarajan Perumal in a sitting posture and Utsavar is Kalyana Ranganathar.

Thayar is enshrined in a separate shrine is known as Amrithavalli Thayar.

There are also shrines for Andal, Yoganarasimhar and Tirumangai Azhwar. 

Tirunagari is the birth place of Tirumangai Azhwar and has a separate shrine here and  is seen holding a spear. Out of the five Narasimhar idols worshipped by Tirumamgai azhwar, two  are in this temple.

Legend- Once a dacoit tried to rob Perumal in Kalyana kolam. When he touched the God he got transformed as a great devotee of Lord. Since then he started praising Lord singing hymns which forms a great chunk of Naalariya Prabhandam. This story is enacted in this temple during Vedaraja festival.