The Battle of Kurukshetra began on the day known as Moksada Ekadasi. On
that day, Krishna enlightened Arjuna with the knowledge of Bhagavad-gita
liberating him. Each year this day is celebrated as Gita Jayanti.
The first verse of the Gita refers to Kurukshetra as dharma-kshetra, or
the field of dharma, indicating that it was already known as a holy
place.Today one can find many ancient temples and sacred lakes at
Kurukshetra, an area of about one hundred square miles between the
sacred rivers Saraswati and Drshadvati in Haryana state.
Kurukshetra was formerly known as Brahmaksetra, Brghuksetra, Aryavarta
and Samanta Pancaka. It became known as Kuruksetra because of the work
of King Kuru. He went there on a golden chariot and used the chariot's
gold to make a plow. He then borrowed Lord Siva's bull and Yamaraj's
buffalo and started ploughing. When Indra arrived and asked what he was
doing, he replied that he was preparing the land to grow the eight
religious virtues : truth, yoga, kindness, purity, charity,forgiveness,
austerity and celibacy.
Indra granted King Kuru a boon that anyone who died there while fighting
or doing penance would be admitted to heaven.
It is at Jyotisar ( five miles from the town of Kuruksetra ) where Lord
Krishna spoke the Gita. The exact spot is marked by a marble chariot
under a banyan tree that is said to to be over five thousand years old.
It is at Kuruksetra that Lord Krishna was reunited with the residents of
Vrindavan after a long period of separation.The loving exchange between
Krishna and the gopis at Kuruksetra is the esoteric meaning behind the
festival known as the Rathayatra. So whenever Hare Krishna devotees put
on rathayatras in cities around the world, they are celebrating the
glories of Kuruksetra.
KURUKSETRA'S HOLY SITES
Brahma Sarovar:
Lord Brahma is said to have created the earth here.During solar
eclipses, pilgrims come to take a dip in the Brahma Sarovar, the largest
lake here, observing an ancient tradition.
Samanta Pancaka :
Kuruksetra is known as Samanta Pancaka ( five lakes ) because Lord
Parasurama made five lakes from the blood of the ksatriyas He killed.
Baan Ganga or Bhishma Kunda :
This is where Arjuna shot an arrow into the earth and produced Ganges
water that gushed out like a fountain to quench the thirst of Bhishmadev
as he lay dying on the bed of arrows. This place is three miles from
Kuruksetra.
There is a second Baan Ganga where Arjuna shot an arrow and produced
drinking water for his chariot horses during his single combat with
Jayadratha.
Karnavadha :
A long trench where the wheels of Karna's chariot were stuck before
Arjuna killed him.
Chakravyuha :
It is here that Dronacarya arranged his army in the form of a cakra or
discus. Abhimanyu, son of Arjuna and Subhadra got into this formation
but couldnot get out and was subsequently killed.
SRILA PRABHUPAD AT KURUKSETRA
Sumati Morarjee who in 1965 gave Srila Prabhupada a free passage on her
steamship the Jaladuta remembers meeting him here for the first time in
the 1950s. Srila Prabhupad was sitting under a tree in Kuruksetra,
chanting on his beads. Sensing that he was a distinguished sadhu, she
approached him.She was impressed with his humility and devotion and she
mentioned this to him when he went to her for help to get to America.
In 1970, he passed through Kuruksetra on the way to Amritsar. In 1975 he
went to Kuruksetra with several disciples.He visited Jyotisar and
inspected the place carefully.
In 1996, Prabhupad's Centennial year, devotees purchased a parcel of
land in Jyotisar.At present ISKCON runs a small temple in Thaneswar, a
couple of miles from Brahma Sarovar. Devotees are planning, designing,
and raising funds for the complex Srila Prabhupad wanted in Jyotisar.
In 1996 itself, a prominent square in the town of Kuruksetra was named
after him : Bhaktivedanta Swami Chowk.
HOW TO GET THERE, WHERE TO STAY
Kuruksetra is a four hour train ride from Delhi.There are also direct
trains from Mumbai, Agra, Baroda,Chandigarh and Simla.
There are several inexpensive dharamsalas there. The best hotel in town
is the Neelkanthi Krishna Dham Yatri Niwas. In Jyotisar you can try the
secluded Canal Guest House.
( Material for this article was taken from BTG, March 2004 , Indian
edition.)
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