Due to its rich antiquity and strength of maintaining history through turmoils, Kampilya is truly ‘incredible’ deserving attention towards revival and preservation
Neera Mishra
“Om Ambe Ambikeambalike na ma nayati kashchan
Sasastyashvakah subhadrikam kampeelvasineem”(SY 23/18)
The above mantra is familiar to all those who perform puja and yajna. This is part of karmakand. Kampilya was a significant centre of Vedic learning, patronised by kings like Pravahanajaivali, who promoted the best practices for mankind’s holistic development. In ‘Kampila’, syllable kam comes from Kanj-janusa (born from lotus), Brahmaji; pi derived from Shivaji’s name, Pinakin (pinaka), la from Lakshmipati, one of the names of Lord Vishnu. Thus, the name ‘Kampila’ is composed of these three syllables. Some call it Kampila, others call it Kampilya (Kampilyamahatam).
According to Vishnu Purana (4/19, 58-59) the place was named after the King Kampilya, who ruled over here. Yajurveda mentions that Kampilia was a son of Bhrigyasva, who ruled here in the later Vedic period.
Notice this mantra’s deep reverence for women and shakti. Kampilvasini Temple is situated at current Kampil (Kampilya) and revered place since time immemorial. Ambe Ambike Ambalike were the names of daughters of Kashi Naresh. Draupadi, the reincarnation of Parvati (Kampilyamahatam), was born at Kampilya. In ancient times, Kampilya was a state or ‘Vishay’ itself (Prof Rajaram Mishra ‘Kamlesh’). It had powerful Kings who held sway over North India. It has long antiquity. It is referred in Balkand of Valmiki’s Ramayana that Brahmadatta, the 12th descendant of Ikshavaku Dynasty ruled here like Indra.
Sa Raja Brahmdattastu Purimadhyavast tadaa
Kampilyaa Parayaa Lakshmyaa devrajo yatha divam (Balaand, 33/19)
Somak, Sanjai, Durmukh and Pravahan Jaivali were rulers of this line who are associated with Kampil. The Shatapath Brahman mentions that king Kaivya and Durmukha performed Ashvamedh yajna at Kampil. During Treta age King Sudas was so powerful that he expanded his empire up to Punjab in West and Saket in East. The early rulers of Kampil relating to Krivi (Rigveda 1/30/1, 8/2/24, 8/22/12, 8/87/1, 9/9/6), Turvasu (Rigveda 1/36/18, 5/31/8, 6/20/12, 8/4/7, 10/49/8), Keshin (Shatapath Brahman 11/8/4/6), Shrinjai (Rigveda 4/15/4, 6/27/7, 6/47/22) and Somak families are frequently mentioned in Vedic literature. Kampilya is a very ancient settlement; there is a mention of Goddess Subhadra in Yajurveda.
Pranaaya Swaha Panaya Swaha Byanaay Swaha,
Ambeambikeambalike na ma nayati kashchan,
Sasastyashvakah subhadrikam kampeelvasineem (SY 23/18)
This verse is again quoted in Taittiriya Samhita (7/4/19), Maitrayani Samhita (3/12/20), Kathak Samhita, Ashvamedh (4/8), Vajasaneyi Samhita (23/18), Taittiriya Brahman (3/9/6) and Shatapath Brahman (13/2/8/3). Some commentators write that women of Kampil were learned and beautiful. Mammat is also of the same view in his commentary on this verse;
Kampeel Vasineem Kampeel Nagare hi subhagah suroopaa striyo bhavanti
A detailed description of the city is found in Mahabharata. The daughter of King Drupad, Draupadi, and his son Dhristadyumna who participated in Mahabharata war were born here (Mahabharata 1/166/39-44). It is also famous as the birth place of Varahmihir, the writer of Brihatsamhita.
Kampilya is a Vedic era heritage city with rich composite cultural heritage of Bharat, located in Kaimganj Tehsil under present Farrukhabad District of Uttar Pradesh. Farrukhabad got its name from Farruk Shiyyar son of Aurangzeb in 1714, later coming under United Provinces. Panchala was independent till 10th century, and started drawing attention of various rulers, finally coming under Mughal rule during Akbar’s time. Aurangzeb too travelled to Kampilya. British surveyor General Alexander Cunnigham visited Kampil in 1878 and identified it with the original ancient Kampilya. In 1920 it became a protected site under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
Kampilya came to great prominence during Mahabharata period, as capital of Panchala. This kingdom extended from Ganges River, Himalayas in the North to the River Charmanwati in the South. Panchala consisted of Central UP, on both sides of Ganga (see map). It had Kuru, Surasena and Matsya kingdoms to the West and the Naimisha Forest to the East. After division of Panchala, between Drupad and Dronacharya, Kampilya became capital of Southern Panchala.The ruins of Kampil’s Drupad Quila were quite apparent till a decade ago. Now even the Kushan era temples on this mound has been destroyed.
Kampily’s importance can also be accessed from Panchala’s contributions to Bharat. Panchala area was the culmination of Indian intellectualism. It was a land of philosopher kings and learning that created synergies between Spiritualism, Materialism and ‘Purshartha’ got relevance. It was also a land of protests; Aruni Uddalika protest against Karamkanda or Draupadi’s protest against injustice (Dr B R Mani, ADG ASI, GoI). See Map (Map: RC Majumdar, Publisher: BVM. Graphics Shri SK Sharma ASI). Vatsyayana mentions that Rigveda was aptly called Chatuhshashti due to Galava-babhravya works of text planning, and Babhravya composed original version of Kamasutra. Both were from Panchala.
The historical and cultural importance of Kampilya can be visualised from the large legacy it still retains, though in torn and destroyed form, gasping in neglect and anonymity. The oldest is the Kampilvasini Temple of Vedic era, and Kapil Muni’s ‘Tapasya Sthal’ linked to ‘Satyuga’. Treta era is represented by Rameshwar Mandir, where Shivlinga from ‘Ashok Vatika’ was brought and established by Sri Ram’s brothers Shatrughan and Lakshman, (Kampilya Mahatamya).
The city’s Dwapar era prominence is visible via the ‘Yajna Kund’ (Mahabharata, ancient texts, Gazette of Farrukhabad) where King Drupad prayed for a ‘yoddha’ son and Queen was blessed with Drstadyumna and Draupadi, which exists in a dilapidated condition. Kaleshwar Mandir was established by Draupadi, to honour Shiva. Buddha and his mother visited Kampilya, as Sankisa nearby fell within its ancient areas.
Meenpur Gram is where Arjuna heroically, pierced the revolving fish eye, at Draupadi’s Swayamvar Tournament. This is immortalised through the Arjuna Award, and UP State’s symbol. Rudayain is a holy place as Pandavas did tarpan for their ancestors here. Other places linked to Mahabharata period are Dhampura of Dham Rishi (where Pandavas lived during Swayamvar), Durvasa Rishi Ashram at Panchal Ghat, in city Farrukhabad. Chinese Traveler Hiuen Tsang also passed through this region. The vast span of its rich antiquity, its strength in maintaining history through centuries of turmoil, Kampilya, or ‘Choti Kashi’ is truly ‘incredible’, deserving attention towards revival and preservation of this intangible and tangible heritage wealth.
(The writer is chairperson, Draupadi Dream Trust)
