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Kankhal

© Harsh Nevatia

Kankhal is a small town adjoining Haridwar. Haridwar, which means Gateway to God, is a major pilgrimage centre for Hindus. The Kumbh Fair is held there every twelve years and many Hindus go there to immerse the ashes of the deceased in the river Ganga. Compared to the crowds and the hustle-bustle in Haridwar, Kankhal is quiet and peaceful. This is indeed ironic because Kankhal was the scene of one of the most violent events in Hindu mythology.

Daksha, the son of Brahma, was a proud and haughty king. He prayed to the Mother Goddess to be born as his daughter. She agreed on the condition that he would never displease her. He acquiesced and so she was born as Sati. Sati fell in love with Shiva and married him against her father's wishes. Though Daksha hated Shiva, he expected Shiva to pay obeisance to him because he was the father-in-law. Shiva viewed things differently. According to tradition if a more revered person paid obeisance to a less revered one, the latter would be cursed for all time. Now Shiva was a manifestation of the Supreme God and none was more revered than he was. So for Daksha's benefit he refused to pay obeisance on the odd occasions they happened to meet.

Daksha decided to avenge this humiliation. He organised a sacrifice at Kankhal to which he invited all Gods in heaven and prominent men on earth, with the exception of Shiva and Sati. When Sati heard that her father was holding a ceremony, she wanted to go despite not being invited. After all she was family and did not need a special invitation. Shiva cautioned her that only misery would result of her going uninvited but she was adamant. So Shiva reluctantly gave her permission but requested her to maintain her composure in the face of insults that Daksha would heap upon him.

Sati demanded an explanation from Daksha as to why she and Shiva were not invited. Daksha said that Shiva, a person who dressed in rags and adorned himself with ashes and skulls and snakes and who frequented graveyards had no place in this august gathering. Unable to bear the insult Sati proclaimed that she is giving up her life and in front of an astounded audience she stepped into the sacrificial fire. When Shiva learnt the Sati had given up her life he was furious. Accompanied by a battalion of ghouls he went to the site of the ceremony. Daksha and his soldiers tried to prevent Shiva from entering but were no match for him and his aides. All Daksha's men were killed including Daksha himself whose head was severed. Then Shiva held aloft Sati's limp body and began the Dance of Destruction or Tandava Nritya. This is the dance that heralds the destruction of the universe.