An ancient, mythological, religious, and holy city of India.
Ancient Brahma Sarover
It is believed that Kashi, Kurukshetra, and Jerusalem are the oldest holy religious places in the world.
Since ancient times, Kurukshetra has been a major Hindu pilgrimage site and there is a constant flow of pilgrims here, currently, Kurukshetra is also a tourist destination.
Hotels and boarding houses of every level and many Dharamshalas ( Rest houses for spiritual pilgrimage) are available for accommodation. For transportation, it is connected to Delhi-Chandigarh and other major cities by expressway and railways. The Nearest air services are available from Chandigarh and Delhi.
Short mythological history
Kurukshetra is a major city located in North India and named after King Kuru( The Kuru Kingdom was the first recorded state-level society in the Indian subcontinent). First of all this area was known as Brahmavedi then Samantapanchak and later Kurukshetra.
The mythological Kurukshetra is a group of many ancient pilgrimage sites, ancient temples, and sacred lacks spread over a wide area over 48 Kos. (“Kos” is an ancient Indian subcontinental standard unit of measurement of distance also spelled coss koss and crosha etc. This term of measurement is derived from the renowned ancient Indian language Sanskrit. Crossa means the distance that a person can hear another person call. This unit is in use before the 4th century BC. According to The “Arthashastra” written by Vishnugupta Kautilya ” Chanakya” the One Kos is about 3000 meters.)
Composition of ancient Vedic text
Since the Vedic period, it has been an important, great place of Hindu culture, history, and devotion. Its existence as a religious center is believed to be before the arrival of Aryans in India. In ancient times, this area was under the influence of Pre-Harappa civilization. The four Vedas and related Vedic texts were written in the Sanskrit language. In the holy scripture of Hindus Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta, this place has been called dharmakshetra Kurukshetra. It is believed that Rigveda and Samaveda were complied at this place and Manusmriti was also composed in this area.
Kurukshetra is a very important mythological area whose mythological boundary is considered to be 48-kos. Not only it has been described in detail in the book Mahabharat written by Maharshi Ved Beas. This area is also described in many Puranas, Smritis, Rigveda, and Atharvaveda. The mythological river Saraswati mentioned in the Vedas is also related to this area. Today’s Kaithal, Karnal, Panipat, and Jind come under the limits of the mythological Kurukshetra.
Group of ancient religious places
Today’s Dharmakshetra Kurukshetra is a group of the following religious places-
Brahma Sarovar:
Sarovar means the lake and Brahma is the first Hindu god who is responsible for the creation of the world and all the creatures. Brahma Sarovar is dedicated to Lord Brahma.
According to the glorious mythological history of India, the sacred Brahma Sarovar is the birthplace of human civilization, at this place Lord Brahma created the universe by performing a yagya. ( Yagya is a Hindu ritual performed in front of a sacred fire with mantras. It is a process of bringing the individual into harmony with the stream of evolution, which enjoys the favor of all the forces of nature.)
Sannihit Sarovar:
It is a mythological belief that there is a confluence of seven Saraswati rivers in Kurukshetra, the place where these Saraswati rivers meet is a contiguous lake. this place is described in detail in Mahabharat and Vaman Puran.
This place is considered to be the permanent residence of the Hindu God Lord Vishnu, it is believed that the entire series of pilgrimages gather here on the day of Amavasya (The dark moon date), which is why this place is called Sannihit Teerth. If Shraddha is performed at the time of Surya Grahan (Solar eclipse) and a bath is taken in this holy lake, then one thousand Ashwamegh Yagya is beneficial.
Bhadrakali shaktipeeth
This Shaktipeeth is also known as Shri Devikoop Bhadrakali Mandir. The Purans describe four sacred wells in Kurukshetra-Chandan Koop, Vishnu Koop, Rudra Koop, and Devi Koop. The mythological history of Devi Koop Bhadrakali Shaktipeeth starts from Daksha Kumari Sati.
According to Shiv Purana, Sati’s father Daksha Prajapati organized a yagya and on this occasion, all the gods, goddesses, and sages were respectfully invited but Shive and Sati were not invited on this occasion. Due to this, Sati became angry and she reached her father Daksha Prajapati with her attendants, but Sati’s father Daksha did not show any respect to Sati and in anger even insulted Shiva by making inappropriate speeches and condemned him.
Sati could not bear this grave insult of her husband Lord Shiva and ended her life by immolating herself in the same Yagya Kund.
Jyotisar:
Jyotisar literary means lake of light. According to mythological belief, Jyotisar is the holy place where Lord Shri Krishna appeared to Arjun in his great form-“Virat Roop.” And at this very place there is an ancient “Akshay Butt” tree(Inexhaustible banian tree), Lord Krishna had given a sermon to Arjun. The completion of the teachings given to Arjun is the holy knowledge “Gita” i.e. this Jyotisar of Kurukshetra is the origin place of the holy “Geeta.”
Pihowa:
Pihowa is a holy place of Kurukshetra, a pilgrimage site, whose ancient name is Prithudak. According to the Mahabharata and Puranas, this pilgrimage was created by Lord Brahma himself at the beginning of creation along with earth, water, and sky. Padmpuran believes that the person who sacrifices his life while chanting in Prithudak will be blessed.
Shri Sthaneshwar Mahadev:
It is a mythological belief that Lord Shiva’s Shivalinga was first worshiped at this place. this is the holy Shiv temple where Lord Krishna and Arjuna worshiped Lord Shiva and received the blessing of Lord Shiva. it is believed that this temple was built by the Pandavas.
Pundari:
Pundari Tirtha is situated in Kurukshetra, the land is spread over an area of approximately 35 acres. There are seven late medieval temples adjacent to the ghats of the lake. Bathing, chanting, shraddha, and Yagya performed in this pilgrimage on the Dashami of Shukla Paksha provide results and salvation. Pundari Tirth Sevan on Dashmi of Shukla Paksha of Chaitra month has special significance. Presently it is a town in the Kaithal district of Haryana State of India, which is 15 kilometers away from Kaithal city.
Apart from many Hindu religious places, There is Krishna Museum, Kurukshetra Panorama and Science Centre, Kalpana Chawala Memorial, Planetarium, Shekh Chilli’s Tomb, Laxmi Narayan Temple, Dharohar Museum, Raja Harsha Ka Mound, Phalgu Tirath, Rantuka Yaksha Tirath, Peepli zoo, Crocodile Farm, are worth seeing places.