Haridwar Bhagirath Saga

Haridwar Bhagirath Saga : Legend about King Bhagirath bringing Ganga river for salvation of his ancestors

Haridwar Bhagirath Saga : Haridwar, meaning “Gateway to God”, is an ancient city located in the Haridwar district of Uttarakhand. It has great religious significance in Hinduism as one of the holiest places and the site of famous Kumbh Mela that is held once every 12 years.

The legend of King Bhagirath bringing the sacred Ganga river from heaven to earth in order to provide salvation to his ancestors is deeply rooted in Hindu mythology and forms an integral part of Haridwar’s history and identity. This article explores this legend in detail along with the history and significance of Haridwar.

The Legend of King Bhagirath

Haridwar Bhagirath Saga : According to Hindu mythology, during the Satyuga epoch, there was a noble king named Sagara who had 60,000 sons from his wife Kesini. Sagara performed the Ashwamedha Yagna (horse ritual sacrifice) to prove his supremacy. The horse which was let loose for the ritual went missing. Sagara ordered his 60,000 sons to search for the horse.

After searching for long, the sons finally located the horse tied near the hermitage of Kapila Muni. Enraged on finding their missing horse, they started accusing Kapila Muni of theft. When the sage did not respond, the angry prince’s attacked the sage with their weapons.

Angered by this act, Kapila Muni opened his eyes and 60,000 princes were reduced to ashes instantly. When Sagara heard about his sons’ fate, he sent his grandson Ansuman to Kapila for their salvation. Kapila told Ansuman that only the celestial river Ganga brought down from Swarga (heaven) could provide redemption to his ancestors.

Several generations passed, and finally Bhagiratha was born in the lineage of Sagara. Bhagiratha was determined to save his ancestors by bringing Ganga from Swarga to the earth. He performed intense Tapasya (penance) for many years, living only on air and meditating. Finally, his penance bore fruit and Goddess Ganga agreed to descend down to earth.

However, the force of Ganga’s descent was so fierce that Lord Shiva had to step in to contain her power in his matted locks to prevent destruction of earth. Even the mighty ocean was incapable of withstanding Ganga’s power.

It was now up to Bhagiratha to take Ganga to the spot where his ancestors lay as ashes. He guided Ganga by chariot across the earth, with her flowing behind him. The place where Ganga first touched earth came to be known as Haridwar. From Haridwar, Bhagiratha led her to the ashes of his ancestors, thereby liberating them. The Ocean was filled and came to be known as Ganga Sagar.

Thus, through his perseverance and devotion, Bhagiratha succeeded in bringing Ganga down to earth for the salvation of his ancestors as well as humanity. The river is therefore also known as Bhagirathi. Haridwar celebrates this legend during the Ganga Dussehra festival held in May/June every year.

Haridwar Bhagirath Saga : Significance of the Legend

The legend underlines certain important themes:

• The importance of devotion, perseverance and penance
• The redemptive power of Ganga which can wash away sins
• Haridwar as a holy gateway between heaven and earth
• Inter-generational bonds and responsibilities in Hindu ethos

It established Haridwar’s identity as a holy place blessed by both Lord Shiva and Goddess Ganga. Millions of pilgrims over centuries have visited Haridwar to bathe in Ganga and be absolved of their sins. The legend continues to be a defining feature of Haridwar’s culture and ethos.

Haridwar Bhagirath Saga : History of Haridwar

Haridwar Bhagirath Saga : Haridwar finds mention in several ancient Hindu scriptures, establishing it as an ancient living city. Some key historical aspects are:

Ancient Period

• Haridwar was known by several names like Mayapur, Gangadwar, Kapilasthana in ancient times.
• It was an important place for Hindu sages and ascetics for meditation and learning. Many ashrams and centers of learning developed.
• Adi Shankaracharya visited in 8th century AD, as did the Chinese traveler Huan Tsang.

Medieval to Modern Period

• Haridwar came under the rule of the Mughals and then the British after 1803 AD.
• It became part of Saharanpur district administration under the British.
• Haridwar municipality constituted in 1868.
• Haridwar electrified in 1933.
• Haridwar railway station opened in 1944.
• Haridwar separated from Saharanpur district and became part of Uttarakhand upon its formation in 2000.

Religious Significance of Haridwar

As evident from the legend and history, Haridwar has great religious importance in Hinduism:

• Site where Ganga descended from heaven and so site of salvation
• Gateway to Char Dham sites like Badrinath and Kedarnath
• Venue of Kumbh Mela held every 12 years
• Home to many ancient temples like Mansa Devi, Chandi Devi, Maya Devi etc.
• Auspicious for rituals like mundan, asthi visarjan etc.
• Ashrams and centers of Hindu philosophy and learning like Sapta Rishi Ashram

Its location on banks of Ganga add to the religious significance as the river is worshipped as Goddess and source of purification from sins.

Conclusion to Haridwar Bhagirath Saga

Haridwar Bhagirath Saga : The legend of King Bhagirath’s bringing of Ganga stands at the heart of religious ethos of Haridwar. His perseverance led to the river’s descent which in turn established Haridwar as a holy city.

Over the centuries, millions have bathed in Ganga at Haridwar to wash away their sins. Kumbh Mela celebrates this legend and draws millions. The legend continues to form an integral part of Haridwar’s identity as a holy city.