Maya Devi Temple, Haridwar

Maya Devi is the presiding goddess of Haridwar, the holy city whose older name, Mayapuri, comes from her. Her shrine is a Shakti Peetha linked to the falling of Sati’s heart and navel, and it is among the oldest surviving temples in the town, dated to around the eleventh century. With Chandi Devi and Mansa Devi, it forms one of the three Siddhapeethas that anchor the sacred geography of Haridwar.

The goddess of Mayapuri

Haridwar’s ancient name Mayapuri — the city of Maya — derives from this goddess, marking her as the town’s tutelary deity. To pilgrims she is the presence that gives the place its sacred character, presiding over a city famous for its Ganga ghats and bathing rites.

As a Shakti Peetha, the shrine is tied in tradition to the falling of Sati’s heart and navel. This places Maya Devi within the network of Peethas while also rooting her firmly in the identity of Haridwar itself.

A three-headed form

The deity at Maya Devi is depicted with three heads and four arms, an iconography that sets her apart and underscores her standing as a powerful form of the Mother goddess. The image is the focus of devotion within the old sanctum.

Such multi-headed forms in Shakta tradition express the goddess’s many capacities and her command over different domains of power. At Haridwar this form is bound to her role as guardian of the city.

One of the three Siddhapeethas

Maya Devi is one of Haridwar’s three Siddhapeethas, alongside the hilltop shrines of Chandi Devi and Mansa Devi. Together these three goddess-temples frame the spiritual map of the city and are commonly visited as a set by pilgrims.

Where Chandi Devi and Mansa Devi crown the surrounding hills, Maya Devi sits within the town as its central goddess shrine, completing the trio that defines Haridwar’s Shakta devotion.

• Shakti Peetha linked to the falling of Sati’s heart and navel.
• The deity is depicted with three heads and four arms.
• One of Haridwar’s three Siddhapeethas with Chandi Devi and Mansa Devi.

Antiquity and visiting

The temple is dated to around the eleventh century, making it among the oldest surviving shrines in Haridwar. That age gives it a special place among the city’s many temples and adds historical depth to a visit.

Maya Devi sits within easy reach of Haridwar’s main ghats and is well connected by road and rail. Pilgrims often pair darshan here with bathing at Har Ki Pauri and visits to Chandi Devi and Mansa Devi.

Frequently Asked Questions

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