City-information
for Kurushetra
This is where the battle of Kurukshetra took place and where the Bhagavad-gita was spoken, as narrated in the Mahabharata. Kurukshetra is a very holy place. Kurukshetra is called Dharma-kshetra in the Bhagavad-Gita. It is believed that all the holy waters of India flow into the Kurukshetra tank at the time of an eclipse. At that time one million people come to bathe. Lord Krishna met the gopis and the residents of Vrindavana here time of a full solar eclipse. It is said that those who visit this area, reside here, take bath in the tanks here, or die in Kurukshetra go to heaven after death.
Kurukshetra is 160 km north of Delhi. The Kurukshetra area covers a 100 mile area related there are many places of pilgrimage related to Mahabharata here. The area includes Pehowa, Kalayat, Amin, phalgu, Thanesar, Jyotisara, and Kurukshetra town. Brahma, after a great yajna, created the Universe from here. It is said that Manu wrote Manu-smriti here, and the Rig and Sama Veda are said to be have compiled here. This place is named after king Kuru, who performed a great sacrifice here.
Kurukshetra is mentioned in the Mahabharata, the Rig Veda, and the Padma, Narada, Matsya and Vamana Puranas. The Mahabharata says that one who dies here attains salvation. In the Mahabharata, Kutukshetra-mahatmya, the great sage Pulastya says, "O Rajendra, please go to Kurukshetra, which fulfills all desires. By seeing that place all living entities are liberated from their sins. If the dust of Kurukshetra is raised by the wind and falls on the limbs of a sinner, that sinner will attain the highest abode."
Bhisma Kund is where Bhisma lay on a bed of arrows. Ban Ganga was created by Arjuna shooting an arrow into the earth there, and the now subterranean Saraswati once flowed there. King Prithu, son of Vena, is said to have performed sraddha here. The astronomical meridian goes through Kurukshetra, Mathura, and Ujjain.
Lord Buddha is said to have visited Kurukshetra. Srila Prabhupada came here in December, 1975.
Gita Jayanti is a major festival celebrated here in December. This is the anniversary of when the Bhagavad-gita was spoken by Lord Krishna. The university here is one of the best ones in the country.
|