Legend of Gayaasur and the Broken Lotus Throne

The Skanda Purana recounts that the demon Gayaasur tried to seize Vishnu’s lotus throne. In the ensuing battle the throne shattered, and one fragment fell on the Haridwar riverbank, becoming the Narayani Shila. This myth endows the rock with direct divine energy, making it a preferred venue for pind‑daan.