Legend of Daksheswara Mahadev
This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva as Daksha Mahadev. As the legend goes, Daksha, the father of Sati, was not happy with her choice of husband, Lord Shiva. He organized a yagna (a fire sacrifice) and did not invite Shiva or Sati. Sati learnt about the yagna and decided to go to her father's house. However, Shiva knew about her intentions and followed her. When Daksha saw Shiva, he insulted him. This angered Sati and she immolated herself in the yagna fire. When Shiva learned about his wife's death, he was furious. He destroyed Daksha's yagna and killed many of Daksha's followers. To appease Shiva, Daksha had to perform a penance and seek his forgiveness.
Architecture of Daksha Mahadev Temple
The Daksha Mahadev Temple was built in the early 10th century, and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is a beautiful example of early North Indian temple architecture, and features a number of impressive stone carvings.
How To Reach Daksha Mahadev Temple
Daksha Mahadev Temple is located in the city of Haridwar in the state of Uttarakhand in India. The nearest airport is the Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun which is about 40 km away from the city of Haridwar. Haridwar is well connected by train to all major cities in India. The temple is located close to the Har-ki-Pauri ghat on the banks of the Ganges River.