Kurukshetra Mela

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Kurukshetra Mela
Kurukshetra the holy pilgrimage covers an area of 48
kosas, in which 360 places of pilgrimage related to the
Mahabharata can be seen. Kurukshetra is situated in the
north-west of Delhi and is watered by Saraswati. The area
covers Pehowa, Kalayat, Amin, Phalgu, Thanesar, J yotisara
and Kurukshetra town. It is also called the land of a Kuru
(progenitor of Pandavas and the Kauravas).
The very first legend of this land talks of a sage King,
named Kuru. He was the son of Samvarna and Tapati,
ancestors of Kauravas and Pandavas. He founded a
domain where righteousness and goodwill would render all who lived here holy.
For this, the king laid down the eight-fold ethical conduct (astangamahadharma) of austerity
(tapas), truth (satya), forgiveness (kshama), kindness (daya), purity (saucha), charity (dana), yoga
and continence (bramacharya). He selected a site near Sarasvati. With the bull of Shiva and the
buffalo of Yama tied to his plough, the king began to till the land. On seeing this, Indra- the
king of `devatas` came to enquire the purpose of this action. King Kuru replied that he was
preparing the land to sow the seeds of austerity. On hearing this, King Indra laughed and went
away.
But, Kuru continued with his labour. Lord Vishnu appeared there and asked Kuru to give him the
seeds of austerity that he desired to sow on the land. At this, King Kuru chopped off his limbs
and finally his head to be sown into the soil.
On seeing this supreme sacrifice, Lord Vishnu was pleased. He asked the King to ask for two
boons. Kuru prayed that the land may be known by his name, and anyone who died here,
irrespective of his sins and virtues, may be granted place in Heaven. And so the land continues
to bear the name of this righteous king.
With the passage of time, Kurukshetra came to be visited by Lord Sri Krishna whose very
presence and then the discourse on Gita made it holy. King Prithu`s prayers, Lord Buddha`s visit,
halt of Sikh gurus, Sheikh Chehli ka Maqbara and the Gardens of Harsha Vardhan have, through
the ages, marked the importance and sanctity of this town.
The epic battle between Kauravas and Pandavas was fought here. Prithviraj Chauhan was
defeated by Muhammad Ghori (A.D. 1192) at Kurukshetra. Even in 1398, Sultan of Delhi was
defeated by Timur, Babur was defeated Ibrahim Lodi (A.D. 1526) and Ahmad Shah Durrani
defeated the Marathas on this land of King Kuru. The `Ban Ganga` of Arjun and the now
subterranean `Saraswati` once flowed on this land, bringing peace to both who lived here and to
those who died in action, in pain, in sorrow and in remorse.
Kurukshetra is the land where Manu wrote `Manusmriti`,
Kurukshetra Mela
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where learned `rishis` or Indian sages and scholars
compiled the holy Rig Veda and Sama Veda.The festival
in Kurushetra, Haryana coincides with the Gita J ayanti,
signifying the birth of the Srimad Bhagavad Gita.
Fairs are held during the solar and lunar eclipses at
Kurukshetra. There are several shrines on the extensive
plains of Kurukshetra, but the holiest place for meritorious
bathing is a pool, near the town of Thaneshvar, filled from
sacred river Saraswati. Bathing here is considered
particularly efficacious in purifying the soul. Another sacred tank in Kurukshetra is Sannihit Sarovar
which is believed to be the meeting point of seven sacred Saraswatis.
A dip in the pond during an eclipse is considered auspicious by the Hindus. A large number of
pilgrims visit these fairs. Amidst chanting of Vedic mantras, the pilgrims take a dip in the Sarovar
when the eclipse starts.
Many people come here for salvation on such occasions. Kurukshetra has been the germinating
ground of the essence of Hinduism. The call to duty is the supreme religion. The dictate to
action without the thought, the hope, the wish, or reward is a philosophy that has guided the
Indian psyche for thousands of years. It is one of the holy towns that have borne the imprint of
Lord Krishna`s footsteps.
More...
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Kartikai Festival Kurukshetra Mela Magha Mela
Pushkar Mela
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