Holy
Pilgrimage – Temples in Haryana State
Haryana
Haryana, / is a state in India. Constituted in 1966, it is one of two newly created states carved out of the greater Punjab province as a means of creating a stronger national identity. It has been a part of the Kuru region in North India.[1][2][3] The name Haryana is found mentioned in the 12th century AD by the Apabhramsha writer Vibudh Shridhar (VS 1189-1230).[4] It is bordered by Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to the north, and by Rajasthan to the west and south. The river Yamuna defines its eastern border with Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. Haryana also surrounds Delhi on three sides, forming the northern, western and southern borders of Delhi. Consequently, a large area of Haryana is included in the National Capital Region, the capital of which is Delhi and is administered as a union territory.
Sites in Haryana were part of the Indus Valley and Vedic Civilizations. Several decisive battles were fought in the area, which shaped much of the history of India. These include the epic battle of Mahabharata at Kurukshetra mentioned in the Hindu mythology (including the recital of the Bhagavad Gita by Krishna), and the three battles of Panipat. Haryana was administered as part of the Punjab province of British India, and was carved out on linguistic lines as India's 17th state in 1966. Haryana is now a leading contributor to the country's production of foodgrain and milk. Agriculture is the leading occupation for the residents of the state, the flat arable land irrigated by submersible pumps and an extensive canal system. Haryana contributed heavily to the Green Revolution that made India self-sufficient in food production in the 1960s.
Haryana is one of the wealthiest states of India and has the third highest per capita income in the country at Rs. 67,891,[5] including the largest number of rural crorepatis in India.[6] Haryana is also one of the most economically developed regions in South Asia and its agricultural and manufacturing industry has experienced sustained growth since 1970s.[7] Haryana is India's largest manufacturer of passenger cars, two-wheelers, and tractors.[8] Since 2000, the state has emerged as the largest recipient of investment per capita in India.[9] The city of Gurgaon has rapidly emerged as a major hub for the information technology and automobile industries. Gurgaon is home to Maruti Udyog Limited, India's largest automobile manufacturer, and Hero MotoCorp Limited, the world's largest manufacturer of two-wheelers. Sonipat,Yamuna Nagar, Panipat, Panchkula and Faridabad are also industrial hubs, with the Panipat Refinery being the second largest refinery in South Asia. There are also long established steel, plywood, paper and textile industries in the state
History
Etymology
There are several theories regarding the origin of the state's name. The name "Haryana" could mean "the Abode of God", derived from the Sanskrit words Hari (the Hindu God Vishnu) and ayana (home).[10] Scholars like Muni Lal, Murli Chand Sharma, HA Phadke and Sukhdev Singh Chib believe that the name Haryana comes from the words Hari (Sanskrit Harit, "green") and Aranya (forest).[11]The Yashastilaka-Champu of Somadeva mentions "Harivansha" as the ruling family of this region.[12] J. N. Singh Yadav, Pran Nath Chopra and some anthropologists believe that the name Haryana may have derived from Abhiras or Ahirs, its ancient inhabitants (Abhirayana -> Ahirayana -> Hirayana -> Haryana).
Ancient period
Haryana was the outermost location of the ancient Indus Valley Civilization with centers such as Banawali and Rakhigarhi. The most extensive center, Rakhigarhi, is now a village in Hisar District. The site is dated to be over 5,000 years old. Evidence of paved roads, drainage system, large rainwater collection, storage system, terracotta brick, statue production, and skilled metal working (in both bronze and precious metals) has been uncovered.Also the Vedic Civilization flourished on the banks of the now lost Sarasvati River. Several decisive battles were fought in the area, which shaped much of the history of India. These include the epic Battle of Kurukshetra described in the Mahabharata (including the recital of the Bhagavad Gita by Krishna) and the three battles of Panipat.
Medieval period
King Harshavardhana established his capital at Thanesar near Kurukshetra in the 7th century AD. After his death, the kingdom of his clansmen, the Gurjara Pratiharas continued to rule over a vast region for quite a while from Harsha's adopted capital of Kannauj. The region remained strategically important for the rulers of North India even though Thanesar was no more central than Kannauj. Prithviraj Chauhan established forts at Tarori and Hansi in the 12th century. Muhammad Ghori conquered this area in the Second Battle of Tarain. Following his death, the Delhi Sultanate was established that ruled much of north India for several centuries. The earliest reference to 'Hariana' occurs in a Sanskrit inscription dated 1328 AD kept in Delhi Museum, which refers to this region as The heaven on earth, indicating that it was fertile and relatively peaceful at that time. Firoz Shah Tughlaq established a fort at Hisar in 1354 to further fortify the region, and also constructed canals or rajwahas as they were referred to in the Indo-Persian historical texts.The three famous battles of Panipat took place near the modern town of Panipat in Haryana. The first battle took place in 1526, where Babur, the ruler of Kabul, defeated Ibrahim Lodi of the Delhi Sultanate, through the use of field artillery. In the second battle of Panipat (5 November 1556), Akbar's forces defeated, the local Haryanvi warrior Samrat Hem Chandra Vikramaditya popularly called Hemu, who belonged to Rewari in Haryana and who had earlier won 22 battles, from Punjab to Bengal including two against Akbar's forces during 1553-1556 before acceeding to Delhi throne and establishing 'Hindu Raj' in North India on 7 October 1556. The decline of the Mughal Empire in early 18th century, led to rapid territorial gains for the Maratha Empire, including Haryana. In 1737, Maratha forces sacked Delhi, following their victory against the Mughals in the First Battle of Delhi. A treaty signed in 1752 made Marathas the protector of the Mughal throne at Delhi.[14] Baji Rao's son, Balaji Baji Rao (popularly known as Nana Saheb), further increased the territory under Maratha control by invading Punjab and Peshawar in 1758. This brought the Marathas into direct confrontation with the Durrani empire of Ahmad Shah Abdali, who was based in Kabul. After the Third Battle of Panipat was fought in 1761 between the Maratha Empire and the Afghan warlord Ahmad Shah Abdali, Marathas lost Punjab, Delhi and Haryana to Ahmad Shah Durrani. Within 10 years, Mahadji Shinde re-established Maratha rule over North India, Haryana region remained under the rule of the Scindhia clan of the Maratha Empire, until in 1803, the British East India Company took control of Gurgaon through the Treaty of Surji-Anjangaon after the Second Anglo-Maratha War.
British period
During the Indian rebellion of 1857, several leaders from this region, including Rao Tula Ram, participated actively. People of the these towns Rewari, Narnaul, Mahendragarh were more active in freedeom struggle.Formation of Haryana
Haryana state was formed on 1 November 1966, on the recommendation of the Parliamentary Committee. The formation of this committee was announced in the Parliament on 23 September 1965. On 23 April 1966, acting on the recommendation of the Hukam Singh Committee, the Indian government set up the Shah Commission under the chairmanship of Justice J. C. Shah, to divide and set up the boundaries of Punjab and Haryana giving consideration to the language spoken by the people. The commission gave its report on 31 May 1966. According to this report the then districts of Hisar, Mahendragarh, Gurgaon, Rohtak, and Karnal were to be a part of the new state of Haryana. Further, the tehsils of Jind (district Sangrur), Narwana (district Sangrur), Naraingarh, Ambala and Jagadhri were also to be included.The commission recommended that Tehsil Kharar (including Chandigarh) should be a part of Haryana.[15] However, the city of Chandigarh was denied to Haryana, and Chandigarh and a Punjabi-speaking area of Rupnagar district were made a Union Territory serving as the capital of both Punjab and Haryana.
Pt.Bhagwat Dayal Sharma became first Chief Minister of Haryana
Rivers of Haryana
The river Yamuna flows along its eastern boundary. The ancient Sarasvati River is said to have flowed from Yamuna Nagar, but it has now disappeared. these are the greate rever of haryana define boundary with UP.The river Ghaggar is Haryana's main seasonal river. The Ghaggar rises in the outer Himalayas, between the Yamuna and the Sutlej and enters Haryana near Pinjore, Panchkula district. Passing through Ambala and Hissar, it reaches Bikaner in Rajasthan and runs a course of 290 miles before disappearing into the deserts of Rajasthan.
The Markanda river's ancient name was Aruna. A seasonal stream like the Ghaggar, it originates from the lower Sivalik Hills and enters Haryana near Ambala. During monsoons, this stream swells into a raging torrent notorious for its devastating power. The surplus water is carried on to the Sanisa lake where the Markanda joins the Sarasvati.
An important tributary is the Tangri. The Sahibi River originates in the Mewat hills near Jitgarh and Manoharpur in Rajasthan. Gathering volume from about a hundred tributaries, it reaches voluminous proportions, forming a broad stream around Alwar and Patan. On reaching Rohtak it branches off into two smaller streams, finally reaching the outskirts of Delhi and flowing into the Yamuna. There are three other rivulets in and around the Mewat hills – Indori, Dohan and Kasavati and they all flow northwards from the south.[16]
Climate
The climate of Haryana is similar to other states of India lying in the northern plains. It is very hot in summer (up to a high of 50 deg Celsius) and cold in winters (down to a low of 1 deg Celsius). The hottest months are May and June and the coldest being December and January. Rainfall is varied, with the Shivalik Hills region being the wettest and the Aravali Hills region being the driest. About 80% of the rainfall occurs in the monsoon season (July–September) and sometimes causes local flooding.[16]Flora and fauna
Thorny, dry, deciduous forest and thorny shrubs can be found all over the state. During the monsoon, a carpet of grass covers the hills. Mulberry, eucalyptus, pine, kikar, shisham and babul are some of the trees found here. The species of fauna found in the state of Haryana include black buck, nilgai, panther, fox, mongoose, jackal and wild dog. More than 300 species of birds are found hereCulture
Haryana has a rich cultural heritage that goes way back to the Vedic times. Dhosi Hill, the Ashram of revered Rishi Chyawyan is an important site where Chyawanprash was formulated for the first time.The last Hindu Emperor of India who belonged to Rewari in Haryana, Samrat Hem Chandra Vikramaditya, also called Hemu, taking a cue from Vedic times declared himself a 'Vikramaditya' king after defeating Akbar's forces in Delhi in 1556. It amounted to establishing a vedic 'Hindu Raj' in North India during medieval period after a gap of more than 350 years. The state is rich in folklore with the oldest extant romance of Sorath and Dhaj, Ror Kumar.[22] The people of Haryana have their own traditions. The age old customs of meditation, Yoga and chanting of Vedic Mantras, are still observed by the masses. Famous yoga guru Swami Ramdev is from Mahendragarh in Haryana.[23] Seasonal and religious festivals glorify the culture of this region. Haryana has a variety of folk dances.
The people of Haryana have preserved their old religious and social traditions.The culture of Haryana & the humour is very much similar to that of Punjab (as Haryana was a part of Punjab state).They celebrate festivals with great enthusiasm and traditional fervor. Their culture and popular art are Saangs, dramas, ballads and songs in which they take great delight. Regarding eating habits, there is an idiom that says, Hara-Bhara Haryana, Jit Doodh-Dahi ka Khana (meaning a lush-green state where milk and curd are the food).Food & cuisines of Haryana are almost same as the one's in Punjab & popular Haryanavi dishes include Makke di Roti (grounded dry corn) & Sarso da saag, Lassi (sweet yogurt),Rajma,Cholay-Bhature etc.
Languages
Haryanavi has traditionally been the dominant mother tongue in Haryana, with Standard Hindi being spoken as a second language. Haryanvi has no official status, as it is seen as a dialect of Hindi/Punjabi. Since 1947, Punjabi has also been spoken by a lot of people in Haryana especially by those Hindus and Sikhs who came over from the older Punjab region at the time of partition. As such, Punjabi is the second official language of Haryana (since Haryana was a part of Greater Punjab state). Haryana is also the second largest Punjabi speaking state after Punjab. Other language is Ahirwati, is know that Raath Region. it is an Indo-Aryan language, classified as a Rajasthani language,[24] and is spoken in the Mahendragarh, Rewari and Gurgaon districts of Haryana. According to famous historian Robert Vane Russell Ahirwati language is spoken in Rohtak and Gurgaon Districts of Punjab (now Haryana) and Delhi. This is akin to Mewati, one of the forms of Rajasthani or the language of Rajputana. The most striking feature of Haryana is its language itself; or rather, the manner in which it is spoken. Popularly known as Haryanavi, the language of Jats of Haryana, with Bangaru, spoken in the Heart of Haryana, being the most widely spoken dialect. With rapid urbanization, and due to Haryana's close proximity to Delhi, the cultural aspects are now taking a more modern hueRoads, aviation and infrastructure
It has a total road length of 23,684 kilometers. There are 29 national highways with total length of 1,461 km and many state highways with total length of 2,494 km. The most remote parts of the state are linked with metaled roads. Its modern bus fleet of 3,864 buses covers a distance of 1.15 million Kilometers per day. It was the first State in the country to introduce luxury video coaches.[31] Grand Trunk Road, commonly abbreviated to GT Road, is one of South Asia's oldest and longest major roads. It passes through the districts of Sonipat, Panipat, Karnal, Kurukshetra and Ambala in north Haryana where it enters Delhi and subsequently the industrial town of Faridabad on its way. The state government proposes to construct Express highways and freeways for speedier vehicular traffic. The 135.6-km long Kundli-Manesar-Palwal Expressway(KMP) will provide a high-speed link to northern Haryana with its southern districts such as Sonepat, Gurgaon,Jhajjar and Faridabad. The work on the project has already started and is scheduled to be completed by July 2013.[32] Haryana is in close contact with the cosmopolitan world, being right next to Delhi. As a result, international and domestic airports, diplomatic and commercial complexes are located in close proximity to the state. Haryana and Delhi government has also constructed Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway which has the largest toll plaza in Asia and 3rd largest in the world. There is a proposal for a Badarpur Flyover and the widening of the Mathura Road passing through Faridabad from 6 lanes to 8 lanes. There is also a proposal to connect Chandigarh to Haryana without entering Punjab through a 4-lane highway via Yamuna Nagar and Panchkula.Delhi Metro Rail Corporation connects Gurgaon with Delhi and it will connect Faridabad and Bahadurgarh by 2014 and 2016 respectively
Haryana State has always given high priority to the expansion of electricity infrastructure, as it is one of the most important inputs for the development of the State. Haryana was the first State in the country to achieve 100% rural electrification in 1970, first in the country to link all villages with all-weather roads and first in the country to provide safe drinking water facilities throughout the state.[33] Haryana is well connected on the railway network also
Temples
Mata Mansa Devi Mandir
Mata Mansa Devi is a Hindu temple dedicated to goddess Mansa Devi, a form of Shakti, in the Panchkula district of Haryana state in India. The temple complex is spread of 100 acres (0.40 km2) of the Shivalik foothills in village Bilaspur, near Mani Majra, and Panchkula, 10 km from Chandi Mandir, another noted Devi shrine in the region, both just outside Chandigarh.
It is one of the prominent Shakti temples of North India. Thousands of devotees visit the shrine from various parts of the country, and especially during the Navratra mela, this number rises to lakhs everyday for the nine auspicious days
History
Maharaja Gopal Singh of Mani Majra constructed the present main temple of Shri Mansa Devi, which is situated on the Shivalik foothills in village Bilaspur, Tehsil and District Panchkula, during the period 1811-1815. At a distance of 200 meters from the main temple is the Patiala temple which was constructed by Karam Singh, a Sikh, the then Maharaja Patiala in the year 1840. This temple had the patronage of Manimajra State. After the merger of princely states into PEPSU the Patronage of State Govt. ended and the temples remained neglected. The raja of Manimajra then appointed pujari as ‘khidmatuzar’ of this temple whose duty was to worship the deity of the temple. After the merger of princely State into Pepsu these pujaris became independent on the matter of controlling and managing the affairs of the temple and the land attached to the temple. They could neither maintain this temple nor provide necessary facilities to the visiting devotees and thus the condition of the temple deteriorated day by day. So much so that there were no proper arrangements for pilgrims visiting the temple during Navaratra melas. The complex was in awfully neglected condition till the establishment of the Board.Navratra Melas
Navratra festival is celebrated in the mandir for nine days. Twice in a year millions of devotees visit the temple. Shardiya Navratra mela are organized at the shrine complex during Chaitra and Ashvin months. Every year two Navratra melas are organised in the month of Ashvin (Shardiya, Sharad or Winter Navratra) and other in the month of Chaitra, Spring Navratra by the Shrine Board.Lakhs of devotees pay obeisance during the Navratra mela held in Ashvin and Chaitra and temples remain open throughout the day. These melas are of 9 days duration each time and concludes on the 9th day. The shrine Board makes elaborate arrangements for the comfortable stay and darshan of the devotees. The board makes arrangements for the provision of Chhowldari, tented accommodation, durries, blankets, temporary toilets, temporary dispensaries, mela police post and lines. During the mela, Duty Magistrates and Nodal Officers are appointed to look after the devotees and smooth conduct of the mela. On the 7th and 8th day of Navratras, the temples of Shrine Complex are closed only for two hours during the night for cleaning maintenance of the temples. For the rest of Navratras, the temples remain open for darshan from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m
Temple management
The temple complex and its environment are presently looked after by Shri Mata Mansa Devi Shrine Board (SMMDSB) Panchkula. In view of the popularity of the temple for its mythological and historical significance and also for fulfilling the wishes of the lakhs of devotees thronging to the complex, Haryana Government by an enactment (Haryana Act No. 14 of 1991) christened as Shri Mata Mansa Devi Shrine Act 1991 took over the control of this temple to provide for better infrastructure development, management, administration and governance of Shri Mata Mansa Devi Shrine and its endowments including lands and buildings attached to the Shrine. A Shrine Board with Chief Minister of Haryana as Chairman was constituted for running of the Temple and preserving the heritage of the region.Transport
Located at a distance of about 10 km from the Chandigarh bus terminus and 4 km from the Panchkula bus terminus, the Mansa Devi temple can be reached by local buses or autorickshaws. Chandigarh Transport Undertaking and Haryana Roadways supply special buses during the Navratra fair. There are daily flights operated by Indian Airlines & private airlines to Chandigarh. Since it's a popular travel circuit, bookings ought to be made well in advance. Chandigarh is the ideal place to start off if you intend to visit the temple. If you are traveling by train, Chandigarh is the nearest railhead for those heading to Mata Mansa Devi. It is situated on the Chandigarh-Kalka rail line
Nearest rail head:Chandigarh
Nearest air port: Chandigarh
Sthaneshwar Mahadev Temple
Legend
Legend has it that the waters of the tank adjoining the temple are holy. A few drops of water cured the King Ban of leprosy. No pilgrimage of Kurukshetra is believed to be complete without a visit to this ancient, holy temple. The tank and temple lie a short distance from the Thanesar town, which gets its name from this temple. It is also believed that Lord Shiva was first worshipped here in the form of a lingam. The ancestor of the Mahabharata heroes, Kuru, performed penance on the banks of the Yamuna and Parshuram, the great warrior sage killed many Kshatriyas here.About the deity
The temple of Sthaneshwar is the abode of Lord Shiva and this town served as the capital of Emperor Harshavardhana. The temple with a dome-shaped roof follows a regional type of architecture. The facade of the roof is shaped like an 'amla' along with a tall pinnacle. The Lingam is ancient and still venerated by the local people.
Thanesar
Thanesar is an old and historic town on the banks of the Sarsawati Ghaggar river
in the state of Haryana
in northern
India.
It is located in Kurukshetra District, approximately 160 km
northwest of Delhi.
Prabhakaravardhana, father of Harshavardhana,
was the ruler of Thanesar and the first king of the Vardhana dynasty with his
capital at Sthanishvara (present day Thanesar).
Origin of name
The name Thanesar is derived from its name in Sanskrit, Sthanishvara which means Place/Abode of the Lord. (Sthana-Place/region, Ishvara-Lord)History
Introduction
Thanesar was an obscure village until the 1950s. After the partition of India, a large refugee camp was set up here, which became the nucleus of a bustling commercial city. It grew so much that in 23rd January, 1973, a new district named Kurukshetra district was created, of which Thanesar was the main town. Now Thanesar is a Municipal Council. People now tend, erroneously, to refer to Thanesar town as "Kurukshetra".Mythological importance
The new district was named Kurukshetra in order to capitalize on the purported mythological significance of the area. According to the epic Mahabharata, Krishna along with his family came from Dwaraka to participate in the fair of solar eclipse at Kurukshetra. It is believed that the Mughal Emperor Akbar, accompanied by his court historian Abul Fazl, too visited Kurukshetra during the Solar Eclipse in 1567. Abul Fazl’s Akbarnama refers to the eclipse in Kurukshetra and the Pilgrims bathing in the Brahma Sarovar. The French traveler François Bernier of the Mughal Emperor Shahjehan’s era also mentions the sacred baths at the Indus, Ganges and the sacred tanks of Thaneshwar (Kurukshetra) on the occasion of the Solar Eclipse.[1]Historians are also investigating this city's link with the Indus Civilisation. They are also looking into the possibility that the Ghaggar river is actually the famous Saraswati river of the Vedas.
Religious and historical importance
Thanesar derives its name from the words "Sthaneshwar" which means "Place of God". The Sthaneshwar Mahadev Temple, whose presiding deity is Lord Shiva, is believed to be the oldest temple in the vicinity. Kaleshwar Mahadev Temple & Dukha Bhanjan Mahadev Temples are also the oldest temples of Thanesar. Other religious sites include the Brahma Sarovar, the Sannihit Sarovar, Gurdwara 6th Patashahi and the Devi Bhadrakali temple, which is counted among the 51 Shakti Peethas. The bathing-fair held here on the occurrence of a solar eclipse is said to be attended by half a million pilgrims.Sack of Sthaneshwar by Mahmud of Gazni
Thanesar was sacked and many of its temples were destroyed by Mahmud of Ghazni.“The city of Taneshar is highly venerated by Hindus. The idol of that place is called Cakrasvamin, i.e. the owner of the cakra, a weapon which we have already described. It is of bronze, and is nearly the size of a man. It is now lying in the hippodrome in Ghazna, together with the Lord of Somnath, which is a representation of the penis of the Mahadeva, called Linga."
In the year A.H. 402 (A.D. 1011) Mehmood Gazini resolved on the conquest of Thanesur
|
In the year A.H. 402
(A.D. 1011) Mehmood Gazini resolved on the conquest of Thanesur
|
”
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The Raja's brother, with two thousand horse was also sent to meet the army, and to deliver the following message:
"My brother is the subject and tributary of the King of Gazni, but he begs permission to acquaint his Majesty, that Thanesur is the principal place of worship of the inhabitants of the country: that if it is required by the religion of Mahmood to subvert the religion of others, he has already acquitted himself of that duty, in the destruction of the temple of Nagrakote. But if he should be pleased to alter his resolution regarding Thanesur, Anandpal Tuar promises that the amount of the revenues of that country shall be annually paid to Mahmood, that a sum shall also be paid to reimburse him for the expense of his expedition, besides which, on his own part, he will present him with fifty elephants, and jewels to a considerable amount."
Mahmood replied, "The religion of the faithful inculcates the following tenet: ‘That in proportion as the tenets of the Prophet are diffused, and his followers exert themselves in the subversion of idolatry, so shall be their reward in heaven;’ that, therefore, it behooved him, with the assistance of God, to root out the "worship of idols" from the face of all India. “How then should he spare Tahnesur? "
This answer was communicated to Raja Anandpal Tuar of Delhi, who, resolving to oppose Sultan Mahmood, sent messengers throughout Hindoostan to acquaint the other rajas that Mahmood, without provocation, was marching with a vast army to destroy Thanesur, now under his immediate protection. He observed, that if a barrier was not expeditiously raised against this roaring torrent, the country of Hindoostan would be soon overwhelmed, and that it behooved them to unite their forces at Thanesur, to avert the impending calamity.
Mahmood, having reached Tahnesur before the Hindus, had time to take measures for its defence; the city was plundered, the idols broken, and the idol Jugsoma was sent to Ghazni to be trodden under foot. According to Hajy Mahommed Kandahary, a ruby was found in one of the temples weighing 450 miskals, and it was allowed by every one who saw it to be a wonder that had never be¬fore been heard of.
Mahmood, after the capture of Thanesur, was desirous of proceeding to Delhi. But his nobles told him, that it would be impossible to keep possession of it, till he had rendered Multan a province of his own government, and secured himself from all apprehension of Anundpal, the Hindushahi Raja of Lahore. The King resolved, therefore, for the present, to proceed no further, till he had accomplished these objects. Anundpal Shahi, however, conducted himself with so much policy and hospitality towards Mahmood, that he returned peaceably to Ghazni. On this occasion, the Mahmood's army brought to Ghazni 200,000 captives, and much wealth, so that the capital appeared like an Indian city, no soldier of the camp being without wealth, or without many slaves
Brahma Sarovar
Brahma Sarovar is a water tank sacred to the Dharmic religions in Thanesar, in the state of Haryana in North India. Dharmic religions lay emphasis on taking bath for internal and external purity. Most religious sites have water tanks or sarovar in or near the temple/gurdwara
History
According to stories of myths, Lord Brahma created the universe from the land of Kurukshetra after a huge yajna. The Brahma Sarovar here is believed to be the cradle of civilization. The sarovar is also mentioned in the eleventh century AD memoirs of Al Beruni, called ‘Kitab-ul-Hind’.A sacred shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva stands within the sarovar, accessible by a small bridge. According to scriptures, bathing in this sarovar increases the sanctity of performing the ‘ashvamedh yajna’. The tank offers a breath-taking sight during the Gita Jayanti celebrations held in the last week of November and early December every year when there will be ‘deep daan’ and ‘aarti’. This also happens to be the time when migratory birds from distant places wing it to the sarovar. The Birla Gita Mandir and Baba Nath’s haveli and temple are the neighbouring attractions
At Present
Today Brahma Sarovar has been renovated. It is 1800 feet long and 1400 feet broad. The tanks are especially crowded during solar eclipse because it is believed that a dip there during the solar eclipse absolves one of all sins. One of the most delightful occasions is the Gita Jyanti celebrations held in the last week of November or the first week of December. The tank presents breath-taking spectacle of Deep daan (ceremony of floating lamps in water) and Aarti organized on this occasion. All around the world participates at this occasion. We can see a big crowd at these occasions.Kurukshetra
Kurukshetra
pronunciation (help·info) (Hindi: कुरुक्षेत्र) is a land of
historical and religious importance. Historically the land belonged to Punjab,
but now it is a district in Haryana state of India.
It is a holy place and is also known as Dharmakshetra ("Holy
City"). According to the Puranas, Kurukshetra is named after King
Kuru, the ancestor of Kauravas and Pandavas, as depicted in epic Mahabharata.
The importance of the place is attributed to the fact that the Kurukshetra War
of the Mahabharata
was fought on this land and the Bhagavad Gita
was preached on this land during the war when Lord Krishna found Arjuna in a
terrible dilemma.[1]Thanesar or Sthaneswar is a historical town located adjacent to what is now the newly created Kurukshetra city. Thanesar derives its name from the word "Sthaneshwar", which means "Place of God". The Sthaneshwar Mahadev Temple, whose presiding deity is Lord Shiva, is believed to be the oldest temple in the vicinity. Local hearsay identifies the legendary "Kurukshetra" with a nearby place known as Thanesar. A few kilometers from Kurukshetra is the village known as Amin, where there are remnants of a fort which is believed to be Abhimanyu's fort.
In some ancient Hindu texts, the boundaries of Kurukshetra correspond roughly to the state of Haryana. Thus according to the Taittiriya Aranyaka 5.1.1., the Kurukshetra region is south of Turghna (Srughna/Sugh in Sirhind, Punjab), north of Khandava (Delhi and Mewat region), east of Maru (desert) and west of Parin.
History of Kurukshetra
It is written in Puranas that Kurukshetra is named after King Kuru of the Bharata Dynasty, ancestor of Pandavas and Kauravas.The Vamana Purana tells how King Kuru came to settle on this land. He chose this land at the banks of Sarasvati River(since dried up before 1900BCE[3]) for embedding spirituality with 8 virtues: austerity (tapas), truth (satya), forgiveness (kshama), kindness (daya), purity (sucha[ , charity (dana), yagya and brahmacharya. Lord Vishnu was impressed with the act of King Kuru and blessed him. God gave him two boons, one that this land forever will be known as a Holy Land after his name as Kurukshetra (the land of Kuru) and the other that anyone dying on this land will be going to heaven. The land of Kurukshetra was situated between two rivers — the Sarasvati and the Drishadvat
This land has been known as Uttravedi, Brahmavedi, Dharamkshetra and Kurukshetra at different periods. When King Kuru came on this land it was called Uttarvedi. Over the period this land has been ruled by many empires. The Bharata Dynasty came and settled on this land.
Later the Battle of Mahabharata(3102 BCE) was fought on this land, during which Lord Krishna preached Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna.
It reached the zenith of its progress during the reign of King Harsha, during which Chinese scholar Hieun Tsang visited this land at Thanesar. By the archaeological grounds it has been proved that Ashoka the Great made Kurukshetra a centre of learning for people from all over the world.
Places of interest
- Brahma Sarovar: Every year lakhs of people come to take a holy bath at Brahma Sarovar on the occasion of "Somavati Amavasya" (Sacred No-Moon Day that happens on a Monday) and on solar eclipse believing that a bath in holy sarovar frees all sins and cycle of birth-death.
- Sannihit Sarovar: This sarovar is believed to be the meeting point of seven sacred Saraswatis. The sarovar, according to popular belief, contains sacred water. Bathing in the waters of the tank on the day of Amavasya (night of complete darkness) or on the day of an eclipse bestows blessings equivalent to performing the ashvamedh yajna.
Jyotisar:
The famous site where Bhagavad Gita was delivered to Arjuna
Krishna Museum has some
historical artifacts and paintings depicting the Mahabharata war.
Kurukshetra Panorama and
Science Centre: A world-class panorama depicting the Mahabharata war with
scientific explanations justifying every episode in the war. There are also
several scientific exhibits designed to kindle a curiosity for science.
Kalpana Chawla
Planetarium
Kessel Mall: A shopping
mall cum multiplex at sector 17 for food, shopping and entertainment.
Light and Sound Show: A
newly built tourist attraction which highlights some aspects of Geeta Saar
through lights and sound.balle balle
Dharohar: A must visit to
know the tradition and culture of Haryana; located in Kurukshetra University.
Bhishma Kund at
Naraktari: The place where Arjuna shot an arrow towards the earth to quench
Bhisma Pitamah's thirst.
Saraswati Forest Reserve:
It is a large reserved forest area with rich flora and fauna in Kurukshetra
district.
Sheikh Chehli ka makbara
(tomb): This monument is maintained by the Archeological Survey of India. It was
built during the Mughal era in remembrance of Sufi Saint Sheikh Chehli,
believed to be the spiritual teacher of Mughal Prince Dara Shikoh.
However, this is an erroneous belief, since the Prince's main 'Murshid' or
'Sheikh' (Spiritual Guide) is historically known to have been Hazrat Sheikh Mian Mir
Sahib, of Lahore,[4]
although Sheikh Chehli might have been an additional/minor guide. There is
another theory that the site of the supposed 'makbara' or tomb was one of the
meditative 'Chillas' or sites of Hazrat Mian Mir Sahib, who might have visited
the area during his wanderings.[5]
It is possible that a later caretaker, some disciple of the Hazrat/Sheikh lies
buried here, at the place sanctified by his 'Chilla'.
Kamal Nabhi
Valmiki Ashram
Birla Mandir
Pehowa
Ban Ganga in village: A
temple that is one of the 52 Shakti Peethas.
As per the story in Hindu mythology, the goddess Sati killed herself by
entering the Yagna of Raja Daksha as a protest against the insult of Lord
Shiva. Remorseful Lord Shiva wandered across the whole universe with the corpse
of his beloved Sati on his shoulder. To bring him back to the original mood, it
was necessary to destroy the corpse of Sati. Lord Vishnu hence cut the corpse
in 52 pieces with his Sudarshana Chakra. The parts fell at different
places where the temples of the goddess were later built by the devotees.
Collectively, these are known as the 52 Shakti Peethas. One of them is in
Kurukhsetra, where the ankle of the goddess fell.
There is state famous Didar nagar and Shanti
nagar.These are most religious places in kurukshetraClimate
Climate - Climate of the district is very hot in summer (up to 47°C) and cold in winter (down to 1°C) with rains in July and August.
How to Reach
Access - Kurukshetra is well connected with NH1 and has much access by Road, Rail and Air. The journey is comfortable with various facilities provided en route.
By Road: Buses of Haryana Roadways and other State Corporations ply through Kurukshetra and connect it to Delhi, Chandigarh and other important places.
By Air: The Airports close to Kurukshetra are at Delhi and Chandigarh, which are well connected by road and rail. Taxi service is also available.
By Rail: Kurukshetra is a railway junction, well connected with all important towns and cities of the country. The Shatabadi Express halts here.
Rashtrakavi Ramdhari Singh 'Dinkar' has written an epic poem by the title of Kurukshetra. It is a narrative poem based on the Santi Parva of the Mahabharata.[6] It was written at a time when the memories of the Second World War were fresh on the mind of the poet.
Om Tat Sat
(Continued...)
(My
humble salutations to the great devotees
, wikisources and Pilgrimage tourist guide for the
collection )
1 comments:
Thank you for the nice post with beautiful pictures of Haryana. Dudha is a village panchayat located in the Rewari district and click here for Dudha photo.
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