The Mansa Devi Temple, Haridwar is a Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess Mansa Devi in the holy city of Haridwar in the Uttarakhand state of India. The temple is located on top of Bilwa Parvat in the Sivalik Hills, the southernmost mountain range in the Himalayas. The temple, also known as Bilwa Tirth is one of the Panch Tirth (Five Pilgrimages) within Haridwar.
The temple is known to be the sacred abode of Mansa Devi, a form of Shakti and is said to have arisen from the mind of Lord Shiva. Mansa is considered the sister of the Nāga (serpent) Vasuki. She is also believed to be the daughter of Lord Shiva in human incarnation of him. The term Mansa means desire and the goddess is believed to fulfill all the wishes of a sincere devotee. There is a folk tale about this, once Mansa, an ordinary girl who was unaware of the full truth of her from her guardians, decided to meet Lord Shiva and ask him about the truth of her. To meet Lord Shiva, she sat down for Sadhana and after years of spiritual exercise, she obtained the fortune of meeting Lord Shiva and clarifying the truth about her. After learning the truth of her, she obtained the powers of the goddess of well-being for the world. Devotees who pray to Mansa Devi to fulfill her wishes tie threads to the branches of a tree located in the temple. Once her wishes are fulfilled, the people return to the temple again to untie the thread from the tree. The Goddess Mansa is also offered coconuts, fruits, garlands and incense sticks for prayer.
The Mansa Devi temple is a Siddh Peeth (known to fulfill the wishes of worshipers). It is one of the three Peeths located in Haridwar, the other two being the Chandi Devi Temple and the Maya Devi Temple. The inner sanctuary has two deities, one with eight arms and the other with three heads and five arms.
The Temple
Mansa Devi Temple is considered a must see for pilgrims going to Haridwar. It enhances the sacred tradition of Haridwar that persists in the place for many centuries past. It offers views of the Ganges River and the Haridwar Plains. To get to the sanctuary you have to follow the hiking route to this sacred sanctuary or ride the cable car. The cable car service known as “Mansa Devi Udankhatola” was introduced for the benefit of pilgrims and is also used to transport pilgrims to the nearby Chandi Devi Temple. The cable car takes pilgrims from the lower station directly to the Mansa Devi temple. The total length of the cable car is 540 meters (1770 feet) and the height it covers is 178 meters (584 feet). On a typical day, the temple is open between 5 a.m. M. And 9 p.m. M., Except closings for lunch from 12 pm. M. At 2 p. M.
Shivalik Hills near BHEL Haridwar Stadium This temple, together with the almost-located Chandi Devi Temple, is visited by thousands of devotees from various parts of the country, and especially during Navaratri and Haridwar Kumbh Mela.
Devi Mansa and Chandi, the two forms of the goddess Parvati, are said to always reside close to each other. This belief may also be true in other cases, as near Mata Mansa Devi Mandir in Panchkula, Haryana, there is a Chandi Mandir located nearby in Chandigarh.
Mansa Devi Temple is a popular temple of the goddess Mansa Devi located in Bilwa Parvat near Haridwar. Mansa Devi Temple, located 3 km from Haridwar, has a 3 km pedestrian path from Haridwar. Mansa Devi Mandir open from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
