Daksheswara Mahadev Temple

Daksheswar Mahadev temple
Daksheswar Mahadev temple Location within Uttarakhand
Coordinates:	29°55′18.72″N 78°08′45.04″E / 29.9218667°N 78.1458444°E / 29.9218667; 78.1458444Coordinates: 29°55′18.72″N 78°08′45.04″E / 29.9218667°N 78.1458444°E / 29.9218667; 78.1458444
Name
Other names:	Daksh Mahadev Mandir, Daksh Prajapati Mandir
Devanagari:	दक्षेश्‍वर महादेव मन्दिर
Location
Country:	India
State:	Uttarakhand
District:	Haridwar
Locale:	Kankhal
Architecture and culture
Primary deity:	Daksheswara Mahadev (Shiva)
Important festivals:	Maha Shivaratri, Navratri
Architectural styles:	Nagara style
History
Date built: (Current structure)	1810 CE
Creator:	Queen Dhankaur

Daksheswara Mahadev (Hindi: दक्षेश्‍वर महादेव मन्दिर) or Daksha Mahadev temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in the town of Kankhal, about 4 km from Haridwar in the Haridwar district of Uttarakhand, India. Named after King Daksha Prajapati, the father of Sati or Dakshayani, Lord Shiva 's first wife. Daksha is one of the fourteen Prajapatis, creator deities, presiding over procreation, and protector of life, in Hindu mythology.

The present temple was built by Queen Dhankaur in 1810 AD and rebuilt in 1962, and is a place of pilgrimage for Shaivaite devotees on Maha Shivaratri.^[1]

The legend of Daksha

Shiva carrying the corpse of his consort Dakshayani (Sati)

The mythological story as mentioned in the Mahabharata and other sacred texts of Hinduism, details the episode when King Daksha Prajapati, the father of Sati, Lord Shiva 's first wife, performed Yagna at this place, he did not invite his son-in-law Lord Shiva, thus Sati felt insulted. Nevertheless she arrived, when she found her husband being spurned by her father, she burnt herself in the yagya kunda itself. Shiva burned with anger, sent the terrible demi-god Vīrabhadra, Bhadrakali and also his ganas.^[2]

On the direction of Shiva, Virabhadra appeared with Shiva's ganas in the midst of Daksha's assembly like a storm wind and waged a fierce war on the gods and mortals present culminating in the beheading of Daksha, and later being bestow the head of a goat, at the behest of Brahma and other gods. Much of the details of the famous Ashvamedha Yagna (Horse Sacrifice) of Daksha are available in the Vayu Purana

Other structures

Standing next to the main temple is the Das Mahavidya temple, dedicated to the Mahavidyas, a venue for devotees of Devi to congregate for special pujas, during the Navratri celebrations. Also within the complex, there is a temple dedicated to Ganga. Next to the temple is the Daksha Ghat on the Ganges and close by is the Nileshwar Mahadev Temple.

Left: Das Mahavidya temple, within Daksha temple complex. Right: Ganga Maa temple within Daksheshwar Mahadev temple

Gallery

Daksheswara Mahadeva Temple Complex, Kankhal

Peepal tree in the temple courtyard   Entrance to the temple   Daksheswara Mahadeva temple   Statue of Shiva carrying the corpse of Dakshayani (Sati) at the entrance of the temple

References

1. ^ Daksheswara Mahadev Temple
2. ^ the Horse-sacrifice of the Prajapati Daksha The Mahabharata translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli (1883 -1896], Book 12: Santi Parva: Mokshadharma Parva: Section CCLXXXIV. p. 317. “I am known by the name of Virabhadra’’ and I have sprung from the wrath of Rudra. This lady (who is my companion), and who is called Bhadrakali, hath sprung from the wrath of the goddess.”

External links

• Religious Places in Haridwar district