About Indrasani Mansa Devi; Goddess of Serpents
It is believed by the locals that the goddess Manasa Devi cures snake bites and relieves the person in pain. The Snake Goddess is also known by the names of Vaishnavi, Shavi, and Vishari in the region. The Goddess is believed to have either the swan or the snake as her vahana (vehicle).The Sij plant (Euphorbia Hguhria called Sehund or Sij in Hindi) is considered sacred and is associated with Mansa it can cure harms.
Kedarkhand, Devibhagvata, and Skanda Purana mention the origin of Indrasani Mansa Devi. The temple has a history of more than 13 centuries. This temple was built during the time of Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century. Manasa has a sister, Neta, and these both signify to an indivisible pair.
According to mythology, the Goddess was born out of the semen of Lord Shiva which he dropped on a lotus bloom. It is also believed that Mansa Devi was a Mansi Kanya of Kashyapa, one of the Seven ancient sages (the saptarishi), the sage Rishi Kashyap.
To reach by air, you need to land in the Jolly Grant Airport near Dehradun. It is the nearest airport to Rudraprayag, situated about 183 kms away from the town. You can hire a cab or taxi from outside the airport to reach your destination. Close to Dehradun, there is Rishikesh that serves as the closest railway station to Rudraprayag, around 140 kms away from it. The further road connectivity is uninterrupted. Rudrapayag is a gateway to several other important pilgrimages of Uttarakhand. Hence it is well connected to all the major cities of Uttarakhand and to the northern states of India.
Buses, taxis and shared cabs are easily available till Rishikesh and Rudraprayag from major cities like Delhi, Haridwar, Pauri Garhwal, Dehradun and Srinagar etc.
The weather remains pleasant during the summer seasons in the hilly areas which makes it the ideal time to visit the Indrasani Mansa Devi Temple. During the winters the roads to the temple get blocked due to the heavy snowfall. During the monsoon the heavy rainfall makes the region slippery and it makes it difficult to traverse through this region.
The journey of Indrasani Mansa Devi Temple can be done throughout the year, but the best time to visit here is between the months of October to May.
Rudraprayag in Monsoons
Rudraprayag, like any other town in the hilly region experiences moderate to heavy rainfalls. It becomes dangerous to travel in these regions due to possible landslides. But in the months of July and September the rain here brings rejuvenating greenery and makes this place sightseeing worthy.
Rudraprayag in Winters
The winters here commences from the month of December. It is cold here till March. Heavy snowfall is a common feature of winters in Rudraprayag.
Rudraprayag in Summers
Rudraprayag offers a hot summer season where the temperature sometimes crosses the 40 degree celsius mark. Its regular temperature ranges between 20°C to 36°C . The summer here lasts from the month of April to June.
Hariyali Devi Mela : Held every year during the months of Navratri (September-October) at Hariyali Devi Temple. The temple has an ornate of the Goddess on a lion’s back.
Madhameshwar Mela : Madhameshwar Mela is organized at Ukhimath Block headquarter. Second Kedar Lord Madheshwar’s Doli, reaches the Panchkedars Omkareshwar temple, Ukhimath after the winter migration, from Madhameshwar Dham, on this occasion, a grand ceremony of the Madhameshwar fair is organized.
Pandava Dance : According to the belief, in order to get rid of the sin of death of Gotra and Guru, Pandav had come here to ask Lord Shiva for forgiveness right after the Kurukshetra war had ended. The Pandav Leela is still celebrated in this region. It is very popular in the district Rudraprayag and of mythological importance. This dance is based on the music and dance style of the Kaurava- Pandavas, as described in the epic Mahabharata.
Nag Panchami : A day celebrated for thanking the Nagas or serpent gods, Nagpanchami is celebrated on the fifth day of Shravan. The Nagas are offered milk and figures of snakes are made. Raksha Bandhan, Janmashtami, Diwali, and Dussehra are among the major festivals that are celebrated with great pomp and show in the region. Folk dances and spirit dances are a part of festivities and culture of the land.
The Indrasani Mansa Devi Temple is surrounded by the astounding structures of Jakh Devta Temple, Maa Hariyali Devi Temple,Jalkedareshwar Temple, Khetarpal Temple, and the August Muni Temple.
Located in the Rudraprayag district, also lies Kedarnath. Kedarnath Dham is also nestled around 50 km away from Rudraprayag and makes it an important destination for religious tourism or Char Dham Yatra, attracting tourists and devotees throughout the year.
Uttarakhand is the home to many gods and goddesses. This temple of Goddess Mansa lies in close proximity to one of the most important pilgrimages of the country and hence can be visited by tourists and devotees with ease. It is always advised to visit all the nearby temples of Uttarakhand while touring the state for major religious destinations.
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