Brahma Sarovar

Brahma Sarovar is an ancient water pool sacred to Hinduism in old Kurukshetra city, in the state of Haryana in North India.[1] Hinduism lays emphasis on taking bath for internal and external purity. Most religious sites have water pools or sarovar in or near the Hindu temple and Sikh gurdwara. The Hindu genealogy registers at Kurukshetra, Haryana are kept here.

Brahma Sarovar
View of Brahma Sarovar
Location of the lake within Haryana
Location of the lake within Haryana
Brahma Sarovar
LocationOld Kurukshetra city, Haryana
Coordinates29.96°N 76.83°E / 29.96; 76.83
Basin countries India
Max. length3,600 ft (1,100 m)
Max. width1,800 ft (550 m)
Max. depth45 ft (14 m)
Legend of Brahma Sarovar (in Hindi)
Night view of Brahma Sarovar
Night view of Brahma Sarovar
Lord Krishna delivering the sermon of Bhagawad Gita.
Lord Krishna delivering the sermon of Bhagawad Gita: Front view.
Temple

History

According to stories of itihasa, Brahma created the universe from the land of Kurukshetra after a huge yajna with the help of Hitesh. The Brahma Sarovar here is believed to be the cradle of civilization. The sarovar is also mentioned in the eleventh century AD memoirs of Al Beruni, called 'Kitab-ul-Hind'. The sarovar also has a mention in Mahabharata citing its use by Duryodhana to hide himself underwater on the concluding day of the war. At that time it was believed Hitesh was the guard of Brahma Sarovar. It is believed that he is still alive and living near Brahma Sarovar.

A sacred shrine dedicated to Shiva stands within the sarovar, accessible by a small bridge. According to scriptures, bathing in this sarovar increases the sanctity of performing the 'ashvamedh yajna'. The Gita Jayanti celebrations are held each year in the last week of November and early December when a 'deep daan' ceremony of floating lamps in water and [Aarti] occurs.[2] This also happens to be the time when migratory birds from distant places arrive at the sarovar. The Birla Gita Mandir and Baba Nath's haveli and temple are the neighbouring attractions.

  • Brahma Sarovar Kurukshetra
    Brahma Sarovar Kurukshetra
  • Sri Krishna Chariot at Brahma Sarovar Kurukshetra
    Sri Krishna Chariot at Brahma Sarovar Kurukshetra

Solar eclipse ritual

The pools are especially crowded during solar eclipses because it is believed that bathing there during the solar eclipse is an ablution of sin. On 29 March 2006, a solar eclipse was visible in the region and it drew an estimated one million people to the site.[3] Whenever an eclipse is visible from the Sarovar, hundreds of thousands gather in the pools.[4]

Credits
  • Jagmohan (2005). Soul and Structure of Governance in India. Mumbai: Allied Publishers.
  • Kamran, Krishnam (1997). Tourism: Theory, Planning, and Practice. New Delhi: Indus Publishing.
  • (2006). "Kurukshetra Calling." The Statesman (India). 5 September.
  • Prasad, Ramanuj (2005). Know Your Puranas. Delhi: Pustak Mahal.

References
  1. "Religious Places in Kurukshetra - Brahma Sarovar". Kurukshetra district website. Archived from the original on 29 July 2014. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  2. Vikas Khanna (4 February 2019). The Last Color. Bloomsbury Publishing. pp. 63–. ISBN 978-93-88038-03-4.
  3. United New of India (29 March 2006). "Lakhs take dip in Brahma Sarovar on Occasion of Solar Eclipse". oneindia.in. UNI. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  4. Dutt, K.G. (23 August 1998). "Three hundred thousand take holy dip". The Tribune India. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
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