Last Updated on January 10, 2025 by Swami Satyananda Saraswati
Travelogue:The Temple of Daksha’s Yajna Where Sati Left Her Body
Shree Maa and Swamiji took the group to a very special temple, the Daksha Prajapati Temple, in the town of Kankhal, adjacent to Haridwar. This temple is also referred to as the Daksha Mahadev Temple and the Shri Daksheshwar Temple.
This temple, which sits right next to the Ganga, is believed to be where Daksha showed great disrespect to his daughter Sati’s husband, Lord Shiva, by not inviting Him to a special Yajna (fire ceremony).
This is the location where the Yajna took place and where Sati Devi left Her body. As such, it is a Shakti Pith, a special place for the worship of the Divine Mother.
Prior to my arrival to the temple, I had learned about the story, the events, and the significance from Swamiji (Click Here to watch Daksha’s Yajna Video). Knowing the story brought a special bhavana of respect and sacredness to this ancient temple.
While there is nobody that can tell a story with more expression than Swamiji, I found that being at the very location of where these events unfolded – seeing the homa kund – worshiping where Sati Devi left her body – brought even more “life” to the story.
It enhanced the meaning and heightened the sense of reality that I would not have obtained otherwise.
It seemed surreal being at the location of such a significant historical event. I became aware of an integration between the historical story and the physical location. The physical surroundings enhanced the appreciation of the story, and the story enhanced the significance of the physical location!
As we entered the main temple where Daksha’s Havan Kund resides, there was a young priest giving out prasad in the form of a tilak.
As soon as the main priest realized that Shree Maa and Swamiji had come, he moved himself to the station of the younger priest so he too could listen to the chanting.
Shree Maa first honored the Divine Mother by offering flowers to the Murti of Mother Durga which was to the side of the Havan Kund.
Then, we all assembled and, as a group chanted the Kali Sahasranam. With each verse we were calling out to the Divine Mother, who was no doubt listening to our prayers.
That ancient temple, combined with being along side Shree Maa and Swamiji, enhanced the power of the recitation as we tried to merge with the inspiration.
We really felt the power of Satsang there. We had a divine association with that sacred place, with it’s story, with our Gurus, with the other devotees and with the Goddess.
One could not help but to be inspired by this confluence of Divine associations.
The priest was also absorbed listening to the recitation of the thousand names of Kali.
After the recitation was complete Swamiji, in a playful bhavana, offered the priest dakshina and a cloth. When Swamiji recited the mantra for offering the cloth, the priest, took the cloth and placed it around Swamiji’s neck!
Everyone was filled with joy to see the love and respect offered by the priest.
Swamiji too was surprised and accepted the offered cloth graciously.
The priest, with great delight, then offered prasad to the entire group.
In the middle of the temple, and adjacent to Daksha’s Havan Kund is the famous Shiva Temple, with an ancient Shiva Lingam.
This Shiva Lingam, is symbolic of the neck portion of Daksh Prajapati who was decapitated by the angry Lord Shiva. Led by Shree Maa, we offered our worship to Lord Shiva, the Divine Father.
We all felt our worship was complete as we honored God both as the Mother and the Father.
Gratitude comes to mind when I reflect upon the opportunity to live life consumed with loving God, with worshiping God, and traveling along side Shree Maa and Swamiji to visit the Temples of God.
Thank You Shree Maa and Swamiji!