Kankhal

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Kankhal
type = town
latd = 29.93 | longd = 78.15 | state_name = Uttarakhand
district = Haridwar
leader_title =
leader_name =
altitude = 260
population_as_of = 2001 | population_density =
area_magnitude=
area_total =
area_telephone = 01334
postal_code = 249408
vehicle_code_range =
sex_ratio =
unlocode =
website = http://haridwar.nic.in
footnotes = [http://haridwar.nic.in/history.htm#Geography] [http://www.whereincity.com/india/pincode/uttarakhand/haridwar.htm]

Kankhal (Hindi:कनखल) is a small town of historical and religious importance, 3 km. south of Haridwar [http://personal.carthage.edu/jlochtefeld/indiajterm/Kankhal.html A study of Kankhal] ] in Uttarakhand state in India.

Mentioned in the Vayu Purana and the Mahabharata as "Kanakhala" [http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/vp/vp043.htm 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… ] , 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" [ [http://www.asiarooms.com/travel-guide/india/popular-india-destinations/haridwar.html Travel guide Haridwar] ] .

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 .

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 [ [http://ignca.nic.in/cd_07006.htm 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.] . Kankhal also finds mention in the poem Meghaduta (Cloud messenger), of the 3rd century AD, classical Sanskrit poet and dramatist, Kalidas .

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. [http://www.globalsikhstudies.net/pdf/janamsakhi.pdf 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. ] . 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 [ [http://www.vivekananda.net/PDFBooks/KedarNathBadriNarayan.pdf Kedar Nath & Badri Narayan] - A Pilgrim's Diary. Sister Nivedita, 1928, p. 10-11. www.vivekananda.net. ] As late as early 19th century it used to be a separate town, from Haridwar and Mayapur in the areas [ [http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V21_377.gifHistory] The Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 21, p. 371.] , 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 [http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V12_144.gifUpper Ganges Canal] The Imperial Gazetteer of India 1909, v. 12, p. 138.] .

Geography

Kankhal is located at coord|29.93|N|78.15|E|. [ [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/39/Kankhal.html Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Kankhal] ] It has an average elevation of 260 metres (853 feet).

Important places in Kankhal

* Daksheswara Mahadev - Kankhal is most known for the ancient temple of Daksheswara Mahadev [ [http://www.indiantemples.com/Himalaya/haridwar.html Haridwar] ] , situated in the south Kankhal town. The present temple was built by Queen Dhankaur in 1810 AD [ [http://www.tourism-of-india.com/haridwar.html Places around Haridwar] ] 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 [http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m12/m12b111.htm 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.”] . 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 [ [http://www.indiantemples.com/beliefs/daksha.htm Story of Daksha's sacrifice and Sati-Shakti] ] . 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

* 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 [http://www.indiainfoweb.com/uttranchal/kankhal/ Kankhal] www.indiainfoweb.com.] 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 [ [http://www.rkmkankhal.org/ Ramakrishna Mission] ] .

* 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 [ [http://www.indiayogi.com/content/ashrams/maanand/main.asp Anandamayi ma Ashram] ] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIbsqKSQNI4] .

* 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 [ [http://worldcat.org/wcpa/top3mset/41790460 Itihas Gurudwara Guru Amaradas ji, Kanakhala] Bishan Singh Kreet. Pub. Diyal Siṅgha Niraṅkari, 1950. (Punjabi) Microform. worldcat.org.] [ [http://www.globalsikhstudies.net/pdf/janamsakhi.pdf Janamsakhi] Guru Granth Sahib p. 1116-1117.] , is situated near Sati Ghat in Kankhal; it is managed by the Nirmala Sikhs , a scholarly sect of the Sikhs, who came here in 1705, after evacuating from Anandpur, Punjab and made it their headquarters [ [http://www.sikhcybermuseum.org.uk/People/Nirmalas.htm Nirmala] www.sikhcybermuseum.org.]

* 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 , to study the unique Gurukul based education system. Mahatma Gandhi visited its campus three times [http://haridwar.nic.in/gurukul.htm Gurukul] Official website of Haridwar.] , 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 [ [http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Chronology_of_Mahatma_Gandhi%27s_life/India_1916 Chronology of Mahatma Gandhi's life/India 1916] Wiki Source.] .

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.

References

External links

* [http://encarta.msn.com/mapof_7900473/kankhal.html Kankhal in World Atlas]