Daksheswara Mahadev or Daksha Mahadev temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in the town of Kankhal, about 4 km from Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India. It is named after King Daksha Prajapati, the father of Sati. Daksha is one of the fourteen Prajapatis, creator deities, who preside over procreation and are the protector of life in Hindu mythology.
Shrine’s History
As mentioned in the Mahabharata and other texts of Hinduism, King Daksha Prajapati, the father of Sati, Shiva’s first wife, performed yajna at the place where the temple is situated. Although Sati felt insulted when her father did not invite Shiva to the ritual, she attended the yajna. She found that Shiva was being spurned by her father and she burnt herself in the Yajna Kunda itself. Shiva got angry and sent his Gaṇas, the terrible demi-god Virabhadra and Bhadrakali to the ritual.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 with the gods and mortals present culminating in the beheading of Daksha, who was later given the head of a goat at the behest of Brahma and other gods. Much of the details of the Ashvamedha Yagna (Horse Sacrifice) of Daksha are found in the Vayu Purana.
Shrine’s Map Location and How to Go There
By Road
The nearest bus stop is Haridwar.
By Rail
The nearest railway station is Haridwar
By Air
The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport.
Events Celebrated at This Shrine
Maha Shivaratri, Navratri
Extra Information About this Shrine
The holy Shiv idol, in phallic form, is situated at the centre of Shri Daksheshwar Temple. The temple is visited by thousands of devotees in August, also known as the holy month of Sawan, the month of Lord Shiva in the Hindu calendar. Special rituals are also performed here on the Shivratri, the marriage day of Shiva and Shakti. Close to this temple is two other holy places, Daksha Ghat and Nileshwar Mahadev Temple.