Kurukshetra

 

Haryana is one of the states in Northern India and it is bordered by Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to the North, Rajasthan to the West and South and River Yamuna bordering it to the East with Uttar Pradesh. Haryana also forms the Western, Northern and Southern borders of Delhi and is included in the NCR region. The capital of Haryana is Chandigarh and the main languages spoken here are Hindi, Punjabi and Haryanvi.

The name ‘Haryana’ is said to be derived from the words ‘Hari’ (a name for Lord Vishnu) and ‘Ayana’ (home) thus implying ‘the abode of Vishnu’. Some scholars attribute the origin of the name to meaning Hari (green) and Aranya (forest) implying ‘greenlands’. The battle of Kurukshetra from the epic Mahabharata including the exposition of Bhagavad Gita by Krishna is said to have taken place in the state. The three great battles of Panipat also took place in Haryana with the first battle marking the beginning of Mughal rule in India, the second paving the way for Akbar’s reign and the third marking the end of the Maratha rule in India. Many settlements dating back to the Indus Valley Civilization have been found here. The bank of the Saraswati River, where the hymns of the Rig Veda was said to have been composed is here. Haryana is mentioned in the Mahabharata as ‘Bahudhanyaka’ or ‘land of plentiful grains’. Most of the modern cities of Haryana correspond to several places mentioned in the Mahabharata.

Haryana is one of the most important destinations for pilgrimages. It is a sacred land of temples, gurudwaras and mosques as its legendary history has shown a conglomeration of various religions. It is famous among pilgrims as it has roots in the Mahabharata and the Bhagavad Gita. There are more than 360 places of great religious significance in Haryana.

The famous Kurukshetra

The holy land of Kurukshetra is said to be associated with the Vedas and Vedic culture. It is the land where Manu wrote the ‘Manusmriti’, where the Rig and the Sama Veda were compiled by great Rishis and the land related to the growth of Aryan Civilization along the sacred river Saraswati. The battle of Mahabharata was fought here and it was here that Lord Krishna expounded the Bhagavad Gita. It has a large number of temples, sacred tanks and holy places associated with religious events that have taken place in the history of Ancient India.

Jyotisar

This is a town in Kurukshetra where Lord Krishna is said to have expounded the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna and it is said that the offshoot of the original Vat (banyan tree) under which the sermon was delivered still stands here. Since it was the place where the Lord displayed his ‘Virat Swarupa’ (Universal form), great care has been taken by the Government to maintain the sanctity and protection of the place by building enclosures and parapets.

Brahma Sarovar

This is an ancient water tank in Thanesar which is a temple town in Kurukshetra. It is believed to be the cradle of civilization and has also been mentioned in the memoirs of Al Beruni called ‘Kitab-Ul-Hind’ written in the 11^th century AD. Lord Brahma is said to have created the universe from this place after a huge yagna. The scriptures state that bathing in the Sarovar, especially during Solar eclipse, removes all sins and hence millions of people congregate on this holy day. Gita Jayanti celebrations are held here in the month of Nov/Dec and Aarthi with Deep Daan (ceremony of floating lamps in water) organised on this occasion offers a spectacular view to all the pilgrims.

Bhadrakali Temple

This temple is situated at Thanesar and is considered as one of the 51 Shakti Pithas, as an ankle of Sati is said to have fallen here. The tonsuring or Mundan ceremony of Lord Krishna and his brother Balaram is said to have been performed in this temple. The Pandavas are believed to have worshipped here after their victory in the Kurukshetra war and offered horses to the Goddess. This practice is continued to this day by the devotees who offer terracotta and metal horses to the deity on the fulfilment of their desires.

Sthaneshwar Mahadev temple

This temple situated at Thanesar is dedicated to Lord Shiva who was first worshipped here in the form of a Linga. The Pandavas along with Lord Krishna are said to have offered prayers here to Lord Shiva and received his blessings from emerging victorious in the battle between the Pandavas and Kauravas in the epic Mahabharata. The waters adjoining the tank are considered holy and said to have healing powers.

Bhishma Kund

This holy place in Narkatari, Thanesar is believed to be the place where Bhishma the grandsire of the Pandavas and Kauravas, lay on his bed of arrows awaiting the holy hour of his death. Arjuna shot an arrow to the ground to quench his thirst and this place then became the Banganga or Bhishma Kund. A temple has been built on its banks and pilgrims come to take a holy dip in its waters.