Yog Nagri Rishikesh is a popular spiritual pilgrimage located on the banks of River Ganga, in the Garhwal region of the Uttarakhand state in India.
Rishikesh, known as the ‘Yog capital of the world’, is located on the banks of the mighty river Ganga, in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand state in India. Apart from Yog and Spirituality, the city has witnessed several historical events that have taken place over many centuries.
History and significance of the ancient city Rishikesh
Various ancient Indian scriptures have mentioned Rishikesh in their texts. The Skand Puran mentions this region as ‘Kubjamrak’. It is said that a great Rishi named Raibhya had performed a rigorous austerity under a mango tree. Bhagwan Vishnu was pleased by his tapa and came to bless Rishi Raibhya in the form of a ‘Hrishikesh’. The word Hrishikesh is a combination of two words, Hrishik (the senses) and Esh (master), when put together, it means the Master of the senses.
There are several historical stories that mention Rishikesh. One such story mentions that, Bhagwan Vishnu had defeated a rakshas (demon) named Madhu. Whereas, the Ramayan mentions that, after killing Ravan, Bhagwan Ram along with His brother Lakshman had visited Rishikesh to take a dip into the river Ganga. This is when Lakshman built a bridge with the help of Jute ropes, which is known as ‘Lakshman jhula’ till date.
Rishikesh is also known as the place where Bhagwan Shiv had consumed the ‘Halahal’ (poison) during ‘Samudra manthan’. This temple called the ‘Neelkanth Mahadev’ mandir is built at the same place where Bhagwan Shiv had consumed the Halahal. As per another account, Rishikesh is also known as the Agni tirth because, once Bhagwan Shiv got furious due to Agni dev, so to appease Bhagwan Shiv, Agni dev had performed a difficult penance here.
Present day Rishikesh
Rishikesh has always been a significant pilgrimage for the devotees, from all across the world. The place started to become more well-known in India, though, in the early mediaeval era. Adi Shankaracharya, one of India’s most revered gurus, established a number of temples and ashrams in the area during the eighth century. Sadly, the region has experienced numerous earthquakes and floods over the years, which have destroyed most of the temples and ashrams. Nevertheless, some temples, including Shatrugna Mandir and Lakshman Mandir, still serve as reminders of the area’s rich cultural legacy.
The everyday routine of Rishikesh is significantly regulated by two large footbridges. They are referred to as Ram Jhula and Lakshman Jhula, respectively. Recently, a new suspension bridge has been constructed and named as the Janki jhula, in the honour of Maa Sita (Bhagwan Ram’s wife). Rishikesh consists of many small sectors of land namely Swarg Ashram, Muni Ki Reti, Shivanand Nagar, Tapovan, Shisham Jhari, Dhalwala, 14 Bigha, and Pashulok Barrage.
The existing grandeur of the world Yog capital is largely due to Swami Shivanand, who went to Rishikesh in 1924 and settled there. In the following years, Shivanand formed a society named the Society of Divine Life and established numerous Ashrams, Temples, and Hospitals etc. His teaching was freely available to the masses and offered as a humanitarian aid to those in need. In 1963, when Swami Shivanand attained Mahasamadhi he left behind a large number of disciples. They eventually transformed the concept of Yog forever.
The route to the Chaar Dhaam yatra passes from Rishikesh. Thousands of devotees and spiritual seekers visit Rishikesh to find solace, peace and to learn yog. According to popular belief, one can attain ‘Moksha’ by taking bath in the river Ganga. The Ganga aarti performed every evening at the Parmarth Niketan and the Shatrughan ghat is very famous for its divinity.
Adventures in Rishikesh
In addition to spirituality, adventure sports like river rafting, hiking, bungee jumping, trekking, camping etc, have become popular in Rishikesh. Furthermore, there are huge numbers of ashrams, Ayurvedic massage centres and other recreational centres in Rishikesh.
