Daksheswara Mahadev Temple
| Daksheswar Mahadev temple |
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Daksheswar Mahadev temple
Location within Uttarakhand
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| Coordinates: |
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| 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
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.
Gallery
| Daksheswara Mahadeva Temple Complex, Kankhal |
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Peepal tree in the temple courtyard
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Daksheswara Mahadeva temple
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Statue of Shiva carrying the corpse of Dakshayani (Sati) at the entrance of the temple
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References
External links