Ministry of Tourism Organizes Conference on Mahabharat Circuit

  • January 13, 2024
  • Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
  • Category: DPN Topics
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Ministry of Tourism Organizes Conference on Mahabharat Circuit

Subject :History

Section: Art and Culture

Context:

  • The Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India (Northern Region Office) organized a Conference on Mahabharat Circuit.
  • This was followed by a Familiarisation Trip to Kurukshetra, Jyotisar and Thanesar on 10th January, 2024.

More on news:

  • This  Conference was  aimed at  exploring, promoting and highlighting Kurukshetra and the Places of Significance related to Mahabharat as a preferred tourist destination amongst the Domestic Tourists and overseas visitors.

Important Places Related To Great Epic Mahabharata:

Kurukshetra:

  • According to the Puranas, Kurukshetra is a region named after King Kuru, the ancestor of Kauravas and Pandavas in the Kuru kingdom, as depicted in epic Mahabharata.
  • The Kurukshetra War of the Mahabharata is believed to have taken place here.
  • Thaneswar whose urban area is merged with Kurukshetra is a pilgrimage site with many locations attributed to Mahabharata.

Jyotisar:

  • Jyotisar is the place where the sacred Jyotisar, the birthplace of Gita, is the most venerated tirtha of Kurukshetra.
  • It is believed that the Mahabharata battle started from Jyotisar, where on the eve of the battle deluded Arjuna received the eternal message of Gita from its propounder Lord Krishna.
  • It is said that Adi Sankaracharya has identified the place during his sojourn to Himalaya in the 9th centenary of Christian era.
  • Jyotisar is located on the banks of Jyotisar Sarovar wetland, is a Hindu pilgrimage site in the city of Kurukshetra in Haryana state of India.

Thanesar:

  • Thanesar (also known as Sthanishvara) is a historic city and Hindu pilgrimage center in the Kurukshetra district of Haryana, India.
  • It is located approximately 160 km northwest of Delhi.
  • The city Kurukshetra’s area merges with Thanesar.

HASTINAPUR:

  • The Sites Related To Mahabharata in Hastinapur are Vidur Tila, Pandaveswar Temple, Baradari, Draupadeshvar Temple, Karna Temple, Draupadi Ghat, Karna Ghat And Draupadeshwar Mahadev Temple Etc.
  • Hastinapur is Also a Sacred Place For Jain Devotees. 
  • Few of them are:
    • Shwetambar Jain Temple
    • Prachin Digambar Jain Temple
    • Ashtapad Jain Temple
    • Shri Kailash Parvat Jain Temple, Having Sumeru Parvat And Kamal Temple In Jambudweep Jain Temple

About Mahabharata Circuit of Uttrakhand:

  • The Mahabharata Circuit covers all the places associated with the epic in the state of Uttarakhand. 
  • Around 250-300 km long, this circuit spans from Mana, the last village of India towards the international border, all the way to scenic Dodital.
  • Various places of Uttarakhand Mahabharata Circuit are:

BADRINATH

  • It is in this holy destination, it is said, that the sage-author of the epic had resided.
  • Close to the Badrinath temple stands the Vyas Gufa, a cave where it is believed the sage had sat and composed the epic with the help of Lord Ganesha.

MANA

  • The last village of India, along the Indo-China border, Mana is around 5 km from Badrinath.
  • Mana is believed to have been the site from where the Pandavas had started on their mahaprasthan(last journey), and their wife Draupadi was the first to fall, after crossing the Saraswati river.

PANDUKESHWAR TEMPLE

  • The Pandukeshwar Temple lies on the way to Badrinath.
  • Here  Pandu who was the father of the Pandavas, worshiped Lord Shiva.

LAKHAMANDAL

  • Lakhamandal Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, who is represented in the form of a graphite lingam that shines when water is poured on it.
  • A very interesting tale says that Lakhamandal or the palace of lac was a beautiful structure built by the Kauravas for their cousins, the Pandavas.

HANOL-THADIYAR

  • Hanol, near Chakrata, is a scenic destination with several tales from the Mahabharata attached to it.
  • It is said that when Lord Krishna disappeared at the end of the Dwapara yuga, the Pandavas followed him and crossed the Tons river.

NETWAR

  • Netwar is the most popular location in Tons valley. 
  • This is where the temple of Karna is located. Karna is said to be the firstborn of Kunti, the mother of the Pandavas.

DEORA

  • Deora is home to another temple of Karna. 
  • The temple has a compound on the right where six miniature temples stand, representing Karna and the Pandavas.

DODITAL

  • Legend has it that the Pandavas came to be beautiful Dodital on their way to heaven after winning the war of Mahabharata.