Deveshwar Nath Mandir Devkali Lakhimpur
Snakes do not come where the soil of Devkali is kept, King Janmejaya had performed a yajna.
There is a place in the district about which it is believed that if the soil is kept here, snakes will not come there. Located about nine kilometers west of the city, this place is famous by the name of the legendary Devkali Tirtha. This place is known as the place of snake sacrifice of King Janmejay during the Mahabharata period.
There is a legend that King Janmejaya performed a snake sacrifice here to avenge the death of his father King Parikshit due to the bite of Takshak snake. The ashes and remains of havan found in the depths of the Sarpkund and Kund present here confirm this rumor. There are hundreds of snake dens in the high dunes here, in which snakes of different species live. The name of this place, once famous as Devasthali, gradually changed to Devkali. This is the main center of Tantra Sadhana for snake worship and prevention of Kaal Sarp Yoga. On the day of Nag Panchami, people take the soil of Sarpkund to their homes, so that they do not have fear of snakes and snakes.
There is also a legend that at the beginning of Kaliyuga, King Devak lived here. His daughter Devkali did penance here. This place was named Devkali after his name. King Devak had established the Deveshwar Shiva temple here. A fragmented Shivalinga is installed in the temple premises. It is said that the Mughals tried to destroy it completely, but they were only able to disintegrate it.
Mention is found in the Puranas as a place of worship
Devkali is mentioned as a place of worship in the Tirtha Mahatmya of Parasara Purana. In many Puranas and texts of the Mahabharata period, there is also mention of the Nag Yagya performed by King Janmejaya here. Bhavani Prasad Upadhyaya alias Nepali Baba, a saint from Nepal, reached here while searching for this place. When he got the Sarpkund excavated, after a depth of five feet, black soil mixed with ash was found. After the confirmation of the Nagayagya site of King Janmejaya, Nepali Baba established Chandrakala Ashram in Devkali, which still exists today. Nepali Baba passed away about two years ago. The ashram established by him, the twelve Jyotirlingas and other deities are still present.
Evidence has also been found of a prosperous settlement here during the Gupta period.
Evidence has also been found of a prosperous settlement here during the Gupta period. Devkali temple shrine and the surrounding area is full of high mounds. Dozens of ancient stone sculptures have been found during excavation here. Dr. Manik Lal Gupta, former head of the history department of Yuvraj Dutt College, says that the construction style of these sculptures found during excavation is of the Gupta period. This proves that there must have been a prosperous and developed settlement here during the Gupta period. A coin from the reign of Alauddin Khilji has also been found at this place.
Devkali is the main center of sun worship.
Devkali has been a major center of Sun worship. Right in front of the Deveshwarnath Shiva temple, there is a picturesque shrine 70 meters long and 60 meters wide, with concrete stairs on the north side. A bathing ghat has been built for women to take bath. This pilgrimage is famous by the name of Suryakund. The presence of Suryakund proves that this place must have been a major center of Sun worship.
Snake charmers gather here on Nag Panchami, a fair is organized
On the day of Nag Panchami, a big fair of snake charmers is organized in Devkali. Those who have Kaal Sarp Yoga in their horoscope, perform special rituals here. This cures their Kaalsarp defect. On the day of Nag Panchami, a large number of people come here for the diagnosis of Kaal Sarp Yoga. Apart from this, devotees come here from far and wide to perform Jalabhishek of the ancient Deveshwar Nath Shivalinga and for snake worship. A fair is held here on Nag Panchami.
