Daksheswara Mahadev Temple Haridwar (Timings, History, Entry Fee, Images, Aarti)
Daksha Mahadev, located in Kankhal, Haridwar, is one of the oldest temples and a popular pilgrimage destination for Shaivites. The temple’s primary deities are Lord Shiva and Goddess Sati. The temple is named for King Daksha Prajapati, the father of Goddess Sati. It is also known as Daksheswara Mahadev Temple and includes the Yajna Kund and the Daksha ghat on the left side of the main temple, where pilgrims can take a plunge in the holy Ganga. The temple is especially famous for its elaborate Shivratri celebrations.
Daksha Mahadev shrine is well-known among Lord Shiva followers, and lakhs of them visit the shrine each year. The rush intensifies throughout the month of Sawan. Aside from the Yajna Kund in one area of the temple, there is another section with a Shiv Linga built. The walls of the Daksheswara Mahadev temple show several scenes from King Daksha’s yajna narrative, as well as the temple’s history. The temple grounds also include a massive banyan tree that is thousands of years old.
Legend of Daksheswara MahadevÂ
The temple is named after King Daksha Prajapati, the father of Sati, Lord Shiva’s consort. The temple is built on the site of a great Yajna organized by King Daksha, who invited all gods and saints save his son-in-law, Lord Shiva. Sati was insulted by this and plunged into the Yagya fire. An enraged Lord Shiva then dispatched one of these Ganas, Virbhadra, to Kankhal to cut off King Daksha’s head and destroy it in the fire of the Yajna. However, the gods and sages, including Lord Vishnu, pleaded with what appeared to be a self-created shiv-linga. Lord Shiva then brought King Daksha back to life, completing the yajna that had been interrupted.
According to legends, Lord Vishnu used his Sudarshan chakra to cut off parts of Sati’s dead body to free Lord Shiva from mourning, and the places where the body parts were dropped later became Shakti Peethas and are revered. The restoration was accomplished by placing the head of a male goat on the shoulders of his corpse. King Daksha repented of his misdeeds, and Lord Shiva declared that Kankhal would be his abode during the month of Sayan each year.
Architecture of Daksha Mahadev TempleÂ
The temple is designed in the Nagara architectural style. The temple has a single spire in the centre, surrounded by tiny domes. A massive Shivalingam, a manifestation of Lord Shiva, is put in the center. Next to the main temple is the Das Mahavidya Temple, which is dedicated to the Mahavidyas. There is also a shrine in the compound dedicated to the Ganges. Devotees take a holy plunge at Daksha Ghat on the Ganges River.
How To Reach Daksha Mahadev Temple
The temple is located in Kankhal, four kilometers from Haridwar. From Haridwar, one can take a bus or taxi to the destination. The Haridwar railway station is about 3 kilometers from the temple, thus those wishing to travel directly from there can take a taxi.
