Pilgrimages and Temples of Uttarakhand

1. Foothills of the Himalayas:

Haridwar, Haridwar district, Uttarakhand

Haridwar (Mayapuri): Haridwar (Haridwar district):

• Greatness:
▪ Maya Devi: Moksha Puri known as Mayapuri after Maya Devi.
▪ Kumbha Mela: Purna Kumbha Mela is held in Haridwar every 12 years. Ardha Kumbha Mela is held every 6 years. (Samudra Manthana incident)
▪ Devi Sati: Devi Sati gave up her body during Daksha Yagna.
▪ Lord Shiva: Lord Shiva destroyed the Daksha Yagna.
▪ Char Dham Yatra: The starting point of Char Dham Yatra (Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, Yamunotri).
▪ River Ganga: Sacred River Ganga flows, Ganga Aarti is held. River Ganga first touches the plain. River Ganga divided into seven streams near Saptarshi Ashram.
▪ Attributes: A Moksha Puri, a Place of Kumbha Mela.

• Sacred Geography:
◍ River Ganga: River Ganga flows through Haridwar between the Bilva Parvat and Nila Parvat (Shivalik range).
◍ Bilva Parvat: River Ganga flows through Haridwar between the Bilva Parvat and Nila Parvat (Shivalik range).
◍ Nila Parvat: River Ganga flows through Haridwar between the Bilva Parvat and Nila Parvat (Shivalik range).

• Puranic References:
► Valmiki Ramayana (VR) → About Samudra Manthana
► Mahabharata (MB) → About Samudra Manthana, About Daksha Yagna
► Padma Purana (PP) → About Samudra Manthana
► Shiva Purana (SP) → About Daksha Yagna
► Skanda Purana - Maheshwara Khanda - Kedara Khanda (SKP1) → About Daksha Yagna
► Skanda Purana - Kedara Khanda (SKP2) → About Haridwar

► Period of Devi Sati	1. Devi Sati gave up her body in Yogagni during Daksha Yagna. (VR) 2. Lord Shiva destroyed the Daksha Yagna, killed Daksha and later restored him. (MB) (SP) (SKP1)
► Period of Samudra Manthana	1. Samudra Manthana, the churning of the Milky Ocean. (VR) (MB) (PP) 2. After Samudra Manthana, the jar of Amrita was kept in four places and a few drops of Nectar fell there.

• Stotras: Ganga Aarti, Sapta Mokshapuri
• Festivals: Kumbha Mela

2. Badrinath Route:

Dev Prayag: Dev Prayag (690 m) (Tehri Garhwal district): A Divya Desam [Thirukandamennum Katinagar Divya Desam] (DD-68) and a Pancha Prayag of Uttarakhand.
- Sacred Geography: Confluence of River Alakananda and River Bhagirathi.

Rudra Prayag: Rudra Prayag (610 m) (Rudra Prayag district): A Pancha Prayag of Uttarakhand.
- Sacred Geography: Confluence of River Alakananda and River Mandakini.

Karna Prayag: Karna Prayag (788 m) (Chamoli district): A Pancha Prayag of Uttarakhand.
- Sacred Geography: Confluence of River Alakananda and River Pindari.

Nanda Prayag: Nanda Prayag (914 m) (Chamoli district): A Divya Desam [Thirupirudhi Divya Desam] (DD-67) and a Pancha Prayag of Uttarakhand.
- Sacred Geography: Confluence of River Alakananda and River Nandakini.

Vishnu Prayag: Vishnu Prayag (1372 m) (Chamoli district): A Pancha Prayag of Uttarakhand.
- Sacred Geography: Confluence of River Alakananda and River Dhauli Ganga.

Joshimath: Joshimath (1875 m) (Chamoli district): A Divya Desam [Thirupirudhi Divya Desam] (DD-67)
- A gateway to Badrinath and has a Math of Sri Adi Shankaracharya.

Badrinath: Badrinath - Badrinarayana Temple (Badarikashrama) (3300 m) (Chamoli district): A Swayam Vyakta Kshetra, Divya Desam [Thiruvadariyasramam Divya Desam] (DD-69), All India Char Dham and Uttarakhand Char Dham.
- An ancient pilgrimage of Lord Vishnu. (Skanda Purana - Badarikashrama Mahatmya)
- Sacred Geography: Bank of River Alakananda.

3. Kedarnath Route:

Dev Prayag: Dev Prayag (690 m) (Tehri Garhwal district): A Divya Desam [Thirukandamennum Katinagar Divya Desam] (DD-68) and a Pancha Prayag of Uttarakhand.
- Sacred Geography: Confluence of River Alakananda and River Bhagirathi.

Rudra Prayag: Rudra Prayag (610 m) (Rudra Prayag district): A Pancha Prayag of Uttarakhand.
- Sacred Geography: Confluence of River Alakananda and River Mandakini.

Gaurikund: Gaurikund (1982) (Rudraprayag district): A Paadal Petra Sthalam [Anekathangapadam] (PP-11.1)
- A Paadal Petra Sthalam

Kedarnath: Kedarnath - Kedareshwarar Temple (3581 m) (Rudraprayag district): A Jyotirlinga [Kedarnatha Jyotirlinga] (JL-5) and a Paadal Petra Sthalam [Thirukkedaram] (PP-11.2).
- Where Lord Shiva granted boon to devotees Nara and Narayana and abided in that place for their worship. (Shiva Purana - Koti Rudra Samhita - 19)
- Sacred Geography: Bank of River Mandakini.

4. Gangotri:

Gangotri: Gangotri - Devi Ganga Temple (3140 m) (Uttarkashi district): An Uttarakhand Char Dham.
- Sacred Geography: Source of River Ganga.

5. Yamunotri:

Yamunotri: Yamunotri - Devi Yamuna Temple (3292 m) (Uttarkashi district): An Uttarakhand Char Dham.
- Sacred Geography: Source of River Yamuna.

Bharatavarsha - The Land of Gods and Sages:

1. Stotras
2. Scriptures
3. Pilgrimages
4. Festivals
5. Saints: Ramakrishna - Vivekananda - Ramana
6. Sadhana
7. Sanskrit
8. Nature