| Brahma
Sarovar
Legend has it that Lord Brahma created the universe from the land
of Kurukshetra, after
a huge yajna. The Brahma Sarovar here is believed to be the cradle of civilisation.
The sarovar or water tank is mentioned in the memoirs of Al Beruni, called 'Kitab-ul-Hind'.
The major highlight of the tank is the sacred shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva,
which stands within the sarovar, accessible by a small bridge. According to scriptures,
a dip in this sarovar packs the sanctity of performing the 'Ashvamedh Yajna'.
The tank offers a breath-taking sight on the occasion of 'Deep daan' and 'Aarti',
during the Gita Jayanti celebrations held in the last week of November and early
December every year. This also happens to be the time when migratory birds from
distant places wing it to the sarovar. The Birla Gita Mandir and Baba Nath's haveli
and temple are the neighbouring attractions.
Sannihit
Sarovar
Another sacred tank in Kurukshetra is Sannihit Sarovar
which is believed to be the meeting point of seven sacred Saraswatis. According
to a popular belief attached to the site, bathing in the waters of the tank on
the days of Amavasyas (nights of complete darkness) or on the days of eclipse,
brings one the punya (rewards/blessings) equivalent to performing the 'ashvamedh
yajna'. Sannihit is also the site where wandering or unhapy souls find moksha
or release from worldly ties. Prayers and pind daan for unnatural deaths is recommended
here. By the side of the sarovar lie clusters of small shrines dedicated to Lord
Vishnu, Dhruv Narayan, Laxmi Narayan, Dhruv Bhagat, Hanuman and Goddess Durga.
Sannihit tank is believed to be the abode of Lord Vishnu.
Shri
Krishna Museum
The exhibits in the museum depict varied facets of Lord
Krishna's life and times. Patta Chitra, Kangra, Madhubani and Pichhvai paintings,
bronze collections dating to the Pallava, Chola and Nayaka periods are some of
the highlights of the museum. This is the only centre of its kind in all of India.
Gurudwaras
Gurudwara Sidhbati is the
famous site where Guru Nanak stayed during his sojourn at Kurukshetra. Among the
many gurudwaras dotting the region are a gurudwara dedicated to Guru Hargobindji,
located near the Sannihit tank and Gurudwara Rajghat built in the memory of Guru
Gobind Singh's visit to Kurukshetra.
Gita Jayanti
celebrations
Each year the birth of Srimad Bhagwad Gita is celebrated
as Gita Jayanti. The event celebrates the divine moment wherein Lord Krishna playing
charioteer to Arjun delivers the Gita Updesh - advocating the path of selfless
'karma', 'gyana' and steadfast devotion to the Almighty. The Gita Jayanti presents
Bhagwad Gita recitals, 'aarti' and 'deep daan' at Brahma Sarovar, shloka recitals,
shobha yatras and seminars on the significance of the Gita today. Free medical
camps, book exhibitions and bhajan recitals are also part of the celebrations.
Sheikh Chehli Mausoleum
Towards the
north of Thanesar and overlooking the sarai built by Sher Shah Suri stands the
marble tomb of Sheikh Chehli. Sheikh Chehli was an Iranian Sufi saint, who came
to Thanesar to meet Hazrat Qutub Jalaludin in the 16th century. The tomb is at
present a protected monument.
Sthanesvara Mahadev
Temple
The ancient Sthanesvara Mahadev temple, dedicated to Lord
Shiva or Mahadev, lies in Thanesar. It was here that the Pandavas prayed to Lord
Shiva and received His blessings for victory in the great battle of Mahabharata.
According to legend, the waters of the tank next to the shrine are holy, a few
drops of which cured King Ban of leprosy. Thaneswar town derives its name from
the temple. The shiv linga here is ancient and much revered by the devout.
Adjacent to Thanesar lies the temple of Kamal Nabhi. According to Hindu mythology,
Lord Brahma the Creator, was born out of a lotus that grew from the navel of Lord
Vishnu. The temple houses the images of Lord Vishnu and Brahma. Around one and
a half miles from Thanesar on Kurukshetra-Pehowa Road lies the Narkatari tank.
It is here that, Bhishma Pitamah of legendary Mahabharata fame lay on a bed of
arrows.
Jyotisara
One of the most
sacred sites of Kurukshetra is Jyotisara, the birthplace of the holy Bhagwad Gita.
A 'Vat' or banyan tree stands nobly on a raised plinth. It was under this tree
that Lord Krishna delivered the doctrine of Karma to a reluctant Arjun. This is
the spot where He also showed his 'virat roop' - the awesome image of Himself
as the Creator, the Preserver and the Destroyer. Jyotisara lies 5 kms from the
Kurukshetra Railway Station. The spot is marked by a marble chariot depicting
Lord Krishna delivering the 'Shrimad Bhagwad Gita' to Arjun.
Pehowa
27 kms west of Thanesar lies Pehowa. The town has been
mentioned in the Vaman Puran and the epic Mahabharata. In ancient India the town
was known as 'Prithudaka' after King Prithu. Legend has it that King Rashtangu,
father of King Prithu lay dying. As a last wish, he summoned his son to his bedside
and asked him to take him the site so that he could die peacefully on the banks
of the holy river Saraswati. On his father's demise, King Prithu, extremely anguished,
sat for days on the river-bank offering shradha. Thus came about the tradition
of offering shradha of fathers at this site.
The spot where the King
Prithu prayed for the salvation of his father's soul came to be known as 'Prithudaka
tirtha'. Ghats and temples were built here.
Falgu
Falgu or 'Furl'as the local populace calls it, lies 53 km from Kurukshetra. Legend
has it that on the request of Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu himself appeared here.
A dip in the waters of the tank here is said to bring one wealth and prosperity.
Kalayat
Kalayat lies 70 km from Kurukshetra on
the Kaithal-Narwana road. The town has been named after Kapil Muni, the tenth
son of Kardam Rishi, the son of Brahma.To Kapil Muni goes the credit of penning
the 'Shankhya Shastra'. Kalyat also boasts a sacred tank, where a great number
of devotees gather on the occasion of Karthika Purnima. A shrine near the water
tank is dedicated to Katyayani Devi. |
Winter: October to March.