Kampil is a town and a Nagar panchayat in Farrukhabad district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is located about 45 km from Farrukhabad, and 55 km from Budaun. It is a very important place from a historical point of view.
History
Shraman Era
It is believed to be the birthplace of the 13th Tirthankara Bhagwan Shree Vimalnath. This is a Holy Land where the four Kalyanakas—chayavan, birth, diksa and omniscience—of Tirthankara 1008 Bhagawan Shree Vimalnatha, the thirteenth Tirthnakara took place. This Place was also graced by the visit of Lord Mahavira. Apart from these, there are many old temples, which signify the historical and religious importance of Kampil. During the epic period it was the capital of King Drupada, the father of Draupadi. The sacrificial altar (Yajna Kunda) from which Draupadi is believed to have been born from the fire of knowledge, is situated in Kampil. Near the sacrificial altar, there is a structure, which is the hermitage of a sage Kampila, where he used to perform penance.
Southern Panchala
Southern Panchala kingdom or Panchala-proper, one of the historical mahajanapadas of ancient India (c. 6th to 4th centuries BC), had Kampilya city as its capital. This kingdom extended from the Ganga River to river Charmanwati. It was annexed into the Nanda Empire during the reign of Mahapadma Nanda. Ahichchhatra was capital of northern Panchala and Kampilya was capital of southern Panchala.
By tradition the temple of Rameshwarnatha Mahadeva is attributed to Shatrughana, brother of Rama. It is said that he had brought the idol (Lingam) of Shiva, which was worshiped by Sita, the wife of Rama in Ashoka Vatika while she was held in captivity in Lanka and installed it in this temple.
Mughal era
Kampil is listed in the Ain-i-Akbari as a pargana under the sarkar of Kannauj, producing a revenue of 1,651,586 dams for the imperial treasury and supplying a force of 200 infantry and 100 cavalry.
References of Panchala in Mahabharata
People from Panchala
In Mahabharata many figures were mentioned as the natives of Panchala
Panchali : Wife of the Pandavas
Dhrishtadyumna : Commander-in-Chief of the Pandavas in Kurukshetra War and brother of Panchali Drupada : Father of Panchali and Dhristadyumna Shikhandi : Another son of Drupada (He married from Dasarna - see Dasarna Kingdom) Prishata : Father of Drupada (1,131) Satyajit : Commander-in-chief of Panchala army under king Drupada Sage Dhaumya : Priest of the Pandavas (1,185). Aruni : A Brahmin boy from Panchala and a disciple of sage Dhaumya (1,3).
Many other sons of Drupada (a total of 10) and other Panchala princes (like Yudhamanyu, Uttamaujas, Janamejaya (8,82) etc.) were mentioned as battling in Kurukshetra War, allied with the Pandavas.
Origin of Panchala Tribe
Mahabharata, Book 1, Chapter 94: The lineage extending from Puru to Santanu.
The following passage from Mahabharata, that describes the Puru lineage of kings, shows the kinship of the Kurus and the Panchalas, both branched out from the same line.
When Janamejaya wished to hear the history of kings who were descended from Puru. Vaisampayana narrated the lineage of kings in Puru's line.
Lineage of Puru Kings up to the branching of Panchala tribe
Puru had by his wife Paushti three sons, Pravira, Iswara, and Raudraswa. Amongst them, Pravira was the perpetuator of the dynasty. Pravira had by his wife Suraseni a son named Manasyu. Manasyu had for his wife Sauviri. And he begat upon her three sons called Sakta, Sahana, and Vagmi. Raudraswa begat upon the Apsara Misrakesi ten sons. They all had sons. They are Richeyu, Kaksreyu Vrikeyu, Sthandileyu, Vaneyu, Jaleyu, Tejeyu, Satyeyu, Dharmeyu and Sannateyu the tenth.