Volume 15 : May 2008

Kurukshetra

This is a special edition on Swamiji’s recent trip to India, where he had the good fortune to visit 6 pilgrimages.

Each Yatra will be narrated in a monthly reader, starting with this edition portraying Swamiji’s visit to the holy place of Kurukshetra.

Legend

We all have heard about epic Mahabharata and the battle between the Pandavas and Kauravas which was fought on the plains of Kurukshetra. This is the land, where Lord Krishna Preached to Arjuna the “Bhagwat Gita”. The Land of Kurukshetra is also called "Dharmkshetra" means "Land of Dharma”.

Kurukshetra can rightly be called the cradle of ancient Indian culture. In the hoary past, the Vedas and Upanishads were recited by seers, saints and scholars on the banks of the holy Sarasvati. Our ancient texts, including Matsya, Vaman, Padma and Agni Puranas, Ramayana and Mahabharata are connected to this land. This is the most ancient place of pilgrimage. It was here that the vedic Aryans, after the compilation of Vedas, performed the first-ever yajna and spread the teachings propounded in the Vedas throughout India. It is said that Manu wrote his Manu-smriti here, and that the Rig and Sama Vedas were compiled in this place. Buddha also visited Kurukshetra.

Although the origin of Kurukshetra is lost in the mist of time, the Puranas disclose that Kurukshetra was named after valiant and adventurous King Kuru of Bharat dynasty, who was the ancestor of the Kauravas and Pandavas. The fascinating details narrated in Vaman Purana describe how this meritorious and virtuous King came to settle on this land. King Kuru, after making global conquests, felt the need to leave behind him glorious monuments. In search of an appropriate place for the monuments, he reached the banks of the Sarasvati. He found that the whole area, where the mighty river flowed, had been sanctified by various yajnas and sacrifices which were performed by numerous sages and therefore this land was called the Uttar Vedi (the northern sacrificial altar). He also learnt that the divine Parshu Ram had crushed to death the tyrannical rulers who were exploiting their subjects. After destroying them, he filled five tanks with their blood and proclaimed that the rulers who usurp the wealth of their subjects would meet a similar fate.

King Kuru selected the area for sowing the seeds of spiritual culture, which involved eight virtues — austerity (tapas), truth (satya), forgiveness (kshama), kindness (daya), purity (sucha), charity (dana), yagya and brahmacharya. Lord Vishnu granted him a boon that the land will not only be known by the name of Kurukshetra (the land of Kuru) but also as the land of dharma and the entire humanity shall follow in the footsteps of saints residing there. Those wandering souls who hunt in search of divine bliss shall find solace on visiting his land of dharma. The opening shloka of Shrimad Bhagavadgita also asserts that the land of Kuru is the land of righteousness and justice.

The land of Kurukshetra was demarcated between two rivers — the Sarasvati and the Drishadvati. The Sarasvati was considered to be the mightiest and holiest of all the rivers known to Vedic seers. They prayed to the Lord that no calamity should befall the area, compelling them to leave this land of plenty (bahu dhanyak pradesh). The Bharat dynasty also settled in Kurukshetra, and later on the whole country came under its sway and was named after the clan.

The political importance of Kurukshetra reached its zenith during the time of Mahabharata. It was in this land that the great philosophy of Gita was pronounced by Lord Krishna.

During the reign of Harshvardhana, Kurukshetra once again reached the pinnacle of glory, a description of which has been given by Bana Bhatt in Harshcharita. According to his account, the people of this land were dutiful, broadminded and healthy in body and mind.

Since time immemorial, Kurukshetra has attracted pilgrims from all over the country for the occasion of solar eclipse. The Puranas proclaim that when the glory of sun is shadowed by demon Rahu, it gives bliss and merit to all those who take bath in the holy tanks at Kurukshetra. This tradition still continues. The last solar eclipse occurred on August 22, 1998. The next one will occur on August 11 next year.  

Swamiji visited the below 2 places namely:-

Brahm Sarovar:

         

This is one of the holiest bathing ghats in India. It is said that by bathing in this tank, pilgrims receive the benefit of performing an Ashvamedha-yajna. It is said that those who take bath in this tank during a solar eclipse are absolved from all sins. Brahm Sarovar is believed to have been excavated by king Kuru long before the epic battle of Mahabharata. About 1,318.6 metres in length and 640 metres in breadth, Brahm Sarovar has been divided by a road into two parts. It is said that Lord Brahma created the universe from this place. Krishna, Balarama, and Subhadra came here to bathe during a solar eclipse. Since ancient times, millions of people have bathed during eclipses.

There is a well on the large island in the middle of the tank called Chandra Kupa, and it is one of the four sacred wells in Kurukshetra. There is a Siva temple also known as Sarveshwar Mahadev temple near this well. The Shiva linga in this temple is said to be erected by Lord Brahma before the battle of Kurukshetra began. the Pandavasa worshipped the Shiva Linga before the battle commence. After the battle of Kurukshetra, Yudhisthira the eldest Pandava is said to have erected a victory pillar here. The pilgrims take a holy dip in the sarovar on the occasion of solar and lunar eclipses and amavasya as well as other festivals.


Jyotisar:

When Swamiji first visited this holy place he was expecting a big temple with a lot of people, excitement etc. Instead he was pleasantly surprised with the simple, serene and clean atmosphere and he felt it to be very conducive for meditation on the activities that transpired there. There are surprisingly no puja or Prasad given, hence no pundits. A banyan marks the spot where the Gita was spoken and where Lord Krishna revealed his universal form. It is believed that it was under this holy Banyan that Lord Krishna delivered the doctrine of Karma a wavering Arjun. He showed too, His Virat Roop the image of Himself as the Creator, the Preserver, the Destroyer-under whose will every leaf, every bud, every event, every man moved as automation. A marble chariot depicting Lord Krishna delivering to Arjun marks the site the Shrimad Bhagwad Gita. In one secluded section of this center an ancient Shiv temple can also be seen which has witnessed foreign invasion.

 

The following also are significant areas of religious interest:-

Sannihit Tank:         

         

It is 457 metres in length and 137 metres in breadth. It is regarded as one of the holiest places of Kurukshetra. It is believed that if a man performs shradha during a solar eclipse, and takes bath in this tank, the rewards are equivalent to 1000 Ashvamedha sacrifices. It is a resort of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. It was here that sage Dadhichi gave up his life for the sake of Indra.

Sthaneshwar Mahadev Mandir:

Situated on the north side of Thanesar, the temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It was constructed by Raja Pushyamurty, an ancestor of emperor Harshvardhana.

 

Shri Devi Koop (Bhadrakali)Mandir:

This temple is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas of India. It is believed that the right ankle of Bhadrakali (Sati) fell into a well located here.
 
Shri Krishna Museum:

 

This museum, situated on the Pipli-Pehowa road, depicts the life of the Krishna and the Mahabharata episodes. Also, archaeological artifacts which Krishna and the battalions used during the war also displayed.

Ban Ganga:

This is a place where, according to a local legend, Arjuna pierced the earth with his arrow, to quench the thirst of Bhishma who was lying on the bed of arrows. This place is about 4.8 km south of the Brahm Sarovar.

Kamal Nabhi:

Adjacent the town of Thanesar lies the temple of Kamal Nabhi. The Nabhi Kamal is a sacred tank. Mythology has it that the tank houses a sacred lotus that happens to play abode to Lord Brahma (one of the Trinity Gods). The Lord is believed to have manifested from the navel of the lotus. The temple here has the images of Lord Vishnu and Brahma

Bhisham Kund Narkatari:

About one and half miles from Thanesar on Kurukshetra-Pehowa road lies a tank named Narkatari. It is here say legends that Bhishma Pitamah of Mahabharata epic lay on a bed of arrows.

Paarthaaya Pratibodhitaam Bhagavataa Naaraayaneyna Swayam
Vyaasena Grathitaam Puraana Muninaa Madhyemahaabhaaratam
Advaitaamritavarshineem Bhagavateem Ashtaadashaadhyaayaneem
Amba Tvaamanishandadhaami Bhagavadgeetey Bhavadveyshineem"

The above is one of the Dhyana Shlokas (prayers) to be recited before one commences with the recitation of the Bhagavad Gita. The Dhyana Shlokas are as important as the Gita itself, as it a humble prayer to the great souls who gave us this precious, divine work

JAI HANUMAN !!