Kankhal
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| ?Kankhal Uttarakhand • India |
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| Coordinates: | |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Area • Elevation |
• 259 m (850 ft) |
| District(s) | Haridwar |
| Codes • Pincode • Telephone |
• 249408 • +01334 |
| Website: http://haridwar.nic.in | |
| [1][2] [3] | |
Coordinates: Kankhal (Hindi:कनखल) is a small town of historical and religious importance, 3 km. south of Haridwar [1] in Uttarakhand state in India.
Mentioned in the Vayu Purana and the Mahabharata as Kanakhala [2] [3], Kankhal is one of 'Panch Tirth' (Five Pilgrimages) within Haridwar, with other spots being Gangadwara (Ancient name of Haridwar), Kushwart, Bilwa Teerth and Neel Parvat [4][5].
It is most known for the Daksheswara Mahadev temple, numerous ashrams and old houses built by Hindus pilgrims in the 19th century, with exquisite wall paintings [1].
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[edit] History
Kankhal was the summer capital and Kurukshetra the winter capital of Shiva. Shiva after ascending to the throne visited plain areas, the present Haridwar. To give a warm welcome to Shiva the site of Haridwar was made a welcome-gate hence called Haridwar.
In the Vanaparva of the Mahabharat, where sage Dhaumya tells Yudhisthira about the tirthas of India, Gangadwar, i.e., Haridwar and Kankhal, have been referred to [6]. Kankhal also finds mention in the poem Meghaduta (Cloud messenger), of the 3rd century AD, classical Sanskrit poet and dramatist, Kalidas [2].
| “ | "Bathing in Gangadwara (Haridwar) and Kusavarta...as also in Kankhala, one is sure to become cleansed of all one's sins and then ascend to heaven." [3] -- The Mahabharata, Book 13: Anusasanika Parva: Section XXV, p. 130. |
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When the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak (1469-1539), visited Haridwar in 1504 AD, on the Baisakhi day, he went on to visit Kankhal, en route to Kotdwara in Garhwal. [7]. Kankhal also finds mention in the travel accounts of Sister Nivedita (1867-1911), a disciple of Swami Vivekananda, wherein she mentions that long before Haridwar became popular, Kankhal had been a center for education and pilgrimage [8] As late as early 19th century it used to be a separate town, from Haridwar and Mayapur in the areas [9], though due to urban development it now falls within the city limits of Haridwar.
Work on the Upper Ganga canal, commenced in April 1842, between Haridwar and Kankhal [10].
[edit] Important places in Kankhal
- Daksheswara Mahadev - Kankhal is most known for the ancient temple of Daksheswara Mahadev [11], situated in the south Kankhal town. The present temple was built by Queen Dhankaur in 1810 AD [12] and rebuilt in 1962. The mythological story about this place is that King Daksha Prajapati, the father of Sati, Lord Shiva 's first wife, performed yagya at this place. Daksha Prajapati did not invite Lord Shiva, and Sati felt insulted. Therefore she burnt herself in the yagya kund. Shiva burned with anger, sent the terrible demi-god Vīrabhadra, Bhadrakali and also his ganas [2] [13]. 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 [14]. Next to the temple is the 'Daksha Ghat' on the Ganga, and close by is the Nileshwar Mahadev Temple. Much of the details of the famous Ashvamedha Yagna (Horse Sacrifice) of Daksha are available in the Vayu Purana [2]
| “ | Here, O king, before thee is the Kanakhala range, the favourite resort of sages. 'And yonder is the mighty river Ganga. Here, in ancient times, the holy sage Sanatkumara attained ascetic success. O scion of the Ajamidha race, by performing thy ablutions here in this river, thou wilt be freed from all thy sins. - The Mahabharata, Book 3: Vana Parva: Tirtha-yatra Parva: Section CXXXV.[15] |
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Dharma · Artha · Kama |
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Vedas · Upanishads |
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Related topics
Hinduism by country |
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- Sati Kund, another well-known mythological heritage worth visit is situated in the Kankhal region. Legend has it that Sati laid down her life in this kund [5] Pilgrims from all over India visit this place and feel blessed.
- Ramakrishna Mission - This branch of the Ramakrishna Mission was built in 1910 at behest of Swami Vivekananda [16].
- Anandamoyi Ma Ashram - This quaint ashram was the residence of this Hindu saint Sri Anandamoyi Ma (1896-1982), and also houses her samadhi shrine and a museum dedicated to her, in the vicinity [17][4].
- Dera Baba Dargah Singh ji, Gurudwara - Situated near Sati Ghat, this Gurudwara is dedicated to the third Sikh Guru, Guru Amar Das, who visited this place many times during his lifetime [18][19], is situated near Sati Ghat in Kankhal; it is managed by the Nirmala Sikhs [20], a scholarly sect of the Sikhs, who came here in 1705, after evacuating from Anandpur, Punjab and made it their headquarters [21]
- Gurukul Kangri University - Situated in Kankhal, on the banks of river Ganga, on Haridwar-Jwalapur bypass road, Gurukul Kangri is one of the oldest Universities of India, founded in 1902 by Swami Shraddhananda (1856-1926), according to the tenets of Swami Dayananda Saraswati, the founder of Arya Samaj. It was visited by British Trade Union leader Charles Freer Andrews and British Prime Minister, Ramsay MacDonald [22], to study the unique Gurukul based education system. Mahatma Gandhi visited its campus three times [22], and stayed in its sprawling and serene campus for extended periods of time, most notably in 1916, when on March 20, he spoke at Gurukul Anniversary [23].
[edit] Transport
Kankhal is well connected by road to National Highway 58, between Delhi and Manapass. Nearest railway stations are at Jwalapur and Haridwar. The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun, though Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi is preferred. Its neighbouring towns are Jwalapur, Haridwar, and Laksar.
[edit] References
- ^ a b A study of Kankhal
- ^ a b c d Vishnu Purana SACRIFICE OF DAKSHA (From the Vayu Purana.) The Vishnu Purana, translated by Horace Hayman Wilson, 1840. p. 62, "In former times, Daksha commenced a holy sacrifice on the side of Himaván, at the sacred spot Gangadwara, frequented by the Rishis. The gods, desirous of assisting at this solemn rite, came, with Indra at their head, to Mahadeva, and intimated their purpose; and having received his permission, departed in their splendid chariots to Gangadwára, as tradition eports.” 62:2 Gangadwára, the place where the Ganges descends to the plains--or Haridwar, as it is more usually termed--is usually specified as the scene of action, The Linga (Purana) is more precise, calling it Kanakhala, which is the village still called Kankhal, near Haridwar.(Megha Dúta, p. 63 p. 59). p. 68 I am called Virabhadra, the issue of the wrath of Rudra. Bhadrakálí also, who has sprung from the anger of Devi…
- ^ a b Bathing in Gangadwara….. as also in Kankhala The Mahabharata translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli (1883 -1896], Book 13: Anusasanika Parva: Section XXV, p. 130.
- ^ Travel guide Haridwar
- ^ a b Kankhal www.indiainfoweb.com.
- ^ Historical, Cultural and Social Perspectives Chapter 3, The Cultural Dimension Of Ecology, Baidyanath Saraswati, 1998, Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts. ISBN 81-246-0102-x. ignca.nic.in. Vanaparva (The Book of the Forest) is third parva , book of Mahabharata.
- ^ Janasakhi Janamsakhis of Miharban and Mani Singh, mention this visit to have taken place on the Baisakhi day in 1504 AD. Janamsakhi Tradition, Dr. Kirpal Singh, 2004, Punjabi University, Patiala. ISBN 81-7205-311-8. p. 92. www.globalsikhstudies.net.
- ^ Kedar Nath & Badri Narayan - A Pilgrim's Diary. Sister Nivedita, 1928, p. 10-11. www.vivekananda.net.
- ^ History The Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 21, p. 371.
- ^ Upper Ganges Canal The Imperial Gazetteer of India 1909, v. 12, p. 138.
- ^ Haridwar
- ^ Places around Haridwar
- ^ 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.”
- ^ Story of Daksha's sacrifice and Sati-Shakti
- ^ Kanakhala The Mahabharata, Book 3: Vana Parva: Tirtha-yatra Parva: Section CXXXV.
- ^ Ramakrishna Mission
- ^ Anandamayi ma Ashram
- ^ Itihas Gurudwara Guru Amaradas ji, Kanakhala Bishan Singh Kreet. Pub. Diyal Siṅgha Niraṅkari, 1950. (Punjabi) Microform. worldcat.org.
- ^ Janamsakhi Guru Granth Sahib p. 1116-1117.
- ^ Gurudwara Nankwara www.sikhiwiki.org.
- ^ Nirmala www.sikhcybermuseum.org.
- ^ a b Gurukul Official website of Haridwar.
- ^ Chronology of Mahatma Gandhi's life/India 1916 Wiki Source.
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