Chandi Devi Temple, Haridwar

01Chandika on the blue hill

The Durga Saptashati tells how the asura brothers Shumbha and Nishumbha drove the devas from Swarga, and how a radiant Devi came forth from the body of Mata Parvati to fight them. From her anger came Chamunda, who slew their generals Chanda and Munda; then Chandika herself destroyed the brothers. Haridwar’s tradition holds that she rested afterwards on this summit of the Shivaliks. The temple’s own account says the murti in the sanctum was installed by Adi Shankaracharya when he passed through on his way to the Himalayan dhams.

02A Kashmiri raja’s temple

The present building went up in 1929 under Suchat Singh, named in the temple’s records as a raja of Kashmir. Close by stands a small temple of Anjana, mother of Hanuman. The hill is part of Haridwar’s Panch Tirtha circuit, and pilgrims who climb Mansa Devi often cross the river for Chandi Devi the same day. A ropeway climbs from the Nazibabad road; the old path of about three kilometres still has its regular walkers.

The life of this place