Gangadvara

Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R)

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Gangadvara (गंगाद्वार) is sacred place mentioned in Mahabharata. It is the place or locality in the Indo-Gangetic plane where the river Ganges falls from the Himalayas. It is identified with Haridwar in Uttarakhand, India.

Variants

Gangadwara (गंगाद्वार) (AS, p.263)

History

Source: Google Books: Crossing the Lines of Caste

Gaṅgādvāra (गङ्गाद्वार).—Indra had sent Menakā to seduce Viśvāmitra, “as he practiced austerities at Gaṅgādvāra [Haridwar] for the purpose of achieving Brahminhood”. After succumbing to Menakā’s flirtations, and after having a daughter with her, Viśvāmitra then travels south to the Godāvarī to resume his austerities, settling down at a spot next where Śiva stood as Kālañjara (Brahma-purāṇa 147.8-9).

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

Gaṅgādvāra (गङ्गाद्वार).—The place or locality in the Indo-Gangetic plane where the river Ganges falls from the Himālayas. This place is known as Haridvāra also. Haridvāra has an epic importance. It was here that King Pratīpa did tapas. (Ādi Parva, Chapter 97, Verse 1).

Sage Bharadvāja had stayed on the banks of the Gaṅgā, at Haridvāra. (Ādi Parva, Chapter 129, Verse 33).

Arjuna visited Haridvāra during his tour or Pilgrimage. (Ādi Parva, Chapter 213).

This is the entrance to heaven. A bath here in the Koṭitīrtha is as beneficial as the Puṇḍarīka Yajña. (Vana Parva, Chapter 34, Verse 27).

Sage Agastya and his wife Lomapādā once did tapas here. (Vana Parva, Chapter 97, Verse 11).

It was here that Śiva appeared to Jayadratha, who did tapas. (Vana Parva 72, Verse 24).

Dakṣaprajāpati had once performed tapas at Kanakhala in Haridvāra. (Śalya Parva, Chapter 38, Verse 27).

Those who bathe at Kuśāvarta, Vilvaka, Nīlaparvata and Kanakhala in Haridvāra will attain heaven. (Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 25, Verse 13).

Bhīṣma did the funeral rites of his father at the mouth of the Gaṅgā. (Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 34, Verse 11).

Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Gāndhārī, Kuntī and others died in wild fire in the forest at Gaṅgādvāra, and Yudhiṣṭhira conducted their funeral rites there itself. (Āśramavāsika Parva, Chapter 39, Verse 14).

Source - https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/gangadvara

In Mahabharata

Gangadwara (गङ्गा दवार) (Tirtha) in (III.88.18), (XIII.26.12)

Vana Parva, Mahabharata/Book III Chapter 88 mentions tirthas in the North. Gangadwara (गङ्गा दवार) (Tirtha) is mentioned in (III.88.18).....O Yudhishthira, the spot where Ganga rusheth past, cleaving the foremost of mountains which is frequented by Gandharvas and Yakshas and Rakshasas and Apsaras, and inhabited by hunters, and Kinnaras, is called Gangadwara (गङ्गा दवार) (III.88.18).

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Anusasana Parva/Book XIII Chapter 26 mentions the sacred waters on the earth. Gangadwara (गङ्गा दवार) (Tirtha) is mentioned in (XIII.26.12)...... Bathing in Gangadwara and Kushavarta and Bilvaka in the Nemi mountains (Nemi Parvata), as also in Kankhala, one is sure to become cleansed of all one's sins and then ascend to heaven.

गंगाद्वार

विजयेन्द्र कुमार माथुर ने लेख किया है ... गंगाद्वार (AS, p.263) गंगाद्वार का महाभारत में कई स्थानों पर उल्लेख हुआ है। गंगा नदी का पहाड़ी से नीचे आकर मैदान में प्रवाहित होने का स्थान 'हरद्वार' या हरिद्वार। गंगाद्वार का उल्लेख महाभारत में अनेक बार आया है। आदिपर्व 213, 6 में अर्जुन का अपने द्वादश वर्षीय वनवास काल में यहाँ कुछ समय तक ठहरने का वर्णन है- "सगंगाद्वारमावित्य निवेशमक रोत् प्रभु:।" इसी स्थान पर अर्जुन ने पाताल में प्रवेश कर उस देश की राजकन्या से विवाह किया था। [p.264]: 'एतस्या: सलिलं मर्ध्नि वृषांक: पर्यधारत् गंगाद्वारे महाभाग येन लोकस्थितिर्भवेत्।'--वनपर्व 142, 9 अर्थात् "शिव ने गंगाद्वार में इसी नदी का पावन जल लोक रक्षाणार्थ अपने सिर पर धारण किया था।

महाभारत, वनपर्व 97, 11 में गंगद्वार में अगस्त्य की तपस्या का उल्लेख है- 'गंगाद्वारमथागम्य भगवान्षिसत्तम:, उग्रमातिष्ठत तप: सह पल्यानुकूलया।'

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यह कहा जाता है कि यहीं भगवान विष्णु ने वामन रूप धारण कर बलि को छला था। शैव क्षेत्र के रूप में इसकी ख्याति है।