Maya Devi Temple

Maya Devi Temple Haridwar is a Hindu temple dedicated to goddess Maya in the holy city of Haridwar of Uttarakhand state in India. It is believed that the heart and navel of goddess Sati fell in the region where the temple stands today and thus it is sometimes referred to as a Shakti Peetha.Goddess Maya is the Adhisthatri deity of Haridwar. She is a three-headed and four-armed deity who is believed to be an incarnation of Shakti. Haridwar was previously known as Mayapuri in reverence to this deity. The temple is a Siddh Peetha which are the places of worship where desires get fulfilled. It is one of three such Peethas located in Haridwar, the other two being Chandi Devi Temple and Mansa Devi Temple.

History of Maya Devi Temple
The history of the Maya Devi temple dates back to the 11th century. Devotees as well as tourists from all across the country and the world flock to Haridwar to visit the shrine and to seek blessings of goddess Maya Devi; the goddess represents shakti (divine power). Among the Hindu community this divine power is very highly regarded and revered. Maya Devi temple came into existence in Haridwar in the 11th century. This shows the ancient glory associated with this famous Maya Devi shrine of Haridwar. Devotees come to this sacred temple of Haridwar to offer their prayers to the presiding deity. The Goddess of Maya Devi temple resembles the form of Shakti and as such people worship this divine power.

Have you ever heard of Siddhapeeth Triangle in Haridwar? The temple of Maya Devi completes the trio along with Mansa Devi Temple and Chandi Devi Temple. So if you are in Haridwar on a pilgrimage tour, you can never afford to miss a visit to these temples, of which the Maya Devi temple is considered to be the vertex. A peek into the religious history of Haridwar tells you alot about the significance of the Maya Devi Temple. The temple, stand in dedication to goddess Maya Devi, who is also the Adhisthatri deity of Haridwar. According to what frequent pilgrims to Haridwar say, it is almost blasphemous if you visit Haridwar and miss a visit to the Maya Devi Temple.

Architecture
The temple dates back to the eleventh century. It is one of the three ancient temples of Haridwar which are still intact, the other two being Narayana-shila and Bhairava Temple. The inner shrine consists of murtis (icons) of goddesses Maya in the centre, Kali on the left, Kamakhya on the right. There are also two other goddesses who are also forms of Shakti, present in the inner shrine. The temple is located to the east of Har ki Pauri and is easily accessible by buses and auto rickshaws. It is regarded as a must visit for devotees going to Haridwar. The temple is visited by many devotees from various parts of the country especially during the Navratra and the Kumbha Mela in Haridwar.