Kurukshetra, Part Eight

BY: SUN STAFF - 27.12 2018

Kurukshetra Battlefield Scene

The last, from "A Tour in the Punjab", a report by Alexander Cunningham, published in Calcutta (1882) for the Archaeological Survey of India.

Pulwal, 3 miles to the south-east of Thanesar, on the Aughvati River, Chatwaran Devakhat Tirath.

Pundari, 6 miles to south of Pharal, Pundarika, and Nagahrada Tiraths.

Punpun, in Jhind, Panah Deva, Munjhat, and Girahi Yaksha Tiraths.

Pushkar bedi. — Pushkara Tirath.

Ramray, near the south-west corner of the holy chakra, and 5 miles to the south-west of Jhind Sanahitya Tirath. There is another place of the same name near Thanesar. At Ramray there is also a Surya Kund and a Yakshini-hrada.

Rasdlo. — Brahma Tirath.

Rasina, 7 miles to east of Pundari Riumochan Tirath, a pool in which the bather is "freed from debt."

Ratgal, at the north-east corner of the holy chakra close to Piplikanti Tirath, and Gangahrada. This place is named after Yaksha Ratna, who is the guardian of the north-east corner.

Sach. — Suchi Tirath.

Sadhan. — Sankhani Devi Tirath.

Saga. — Vimala-Sara.

Sainyahat or Sainhat. — This place I believe to be represented by Sanwat, 9 miles to the south of Thanesar and 4 miles to the east of Nagdu.

Sajaman. — Surya Kund.

Sakra. — Sakaravarta and Papalopaka Tiraths.

Salon or Salavana, the "Sa1 tree forest." — Hansa Tirath and Dasaswamedha Tirath.

Sankasa. — Sankasarika Tirath.

Saphidan. — Sarpadarpa and Nigadamon Tiraths.

Sataura. — Ansananas and Kipal-Mochan Tiraths; the former dedicated to Sukra or Venus, and the latter to Siva.

Shergarh. — Sarak, Kanti-kupa, and Iraspad Tiraths. The original name of the place was most probably Saraka, since changed to the better known name of Shergarh.

Silakhera. — Brahmasroda and Supta Rishi Tiraths.

Sinkh, at the south-east corner of the chakra of Kurukshetra. The full name is said to be Singhana, which is that of a place near Saphidan Yaksha Kund and Sani Yaksha Tirath. These are the guardian yakshas of the south-east corner.

Sitala-math. — Vedavati T.

Sivan.— Somati Dandaka, Swanlopata, Dasaswamedha, and Sahasramedha Tiraths.

Sohna. — Su-Tirath.

Thanesar or Sthanu-Iswara, so called from these two names of Siva, the Sthanu Tirath being one of the principal places of pilgrimage at Thanesar. I have given a description of the antiquities of this famous place of pilgrimage in one of my early reports. [1] The fort, which is still 60 feet high above the fields, was stormed by Mahmud of Ghazni in A.D. 1011; but in A.D. 1043 it was retaken by the Raja of Delhi, in whose hands it would seem to have remained until the time of Muhammad Ghori. I can find no notice of Thanesar during his campaigns, although Hansi and Sarsuti are often mentioned. I presume therefore that it must have been deserted by the Hindus when the Muhammadans occupied Hansi in force under Aibek. As the holy places about Thanesar are very numerous, I have arranged their names alphabetically for the convenience of easy reference.

Apagad Tirath is on the Apaga or Aughvati River, a few miles to the south of Thanesar.

Agni-prachin, where Agni performed tapasya.

Aditya Markanda Tirath.

Brahma-kupa.— Pool of Brahma.

Brahma-yoni.

Chatur-mukh, a temple dedicated to Brahma, on the high road to the north of the town.

Chakra Tirath. — Here Krishna (i.e., Vishnu) took up His chakra to kill Brikham. The shrine which was called Chakra Swami was destroyed by Mahmud of Ghazni.

Durga-kupa, in honour of the goddess Durgi.

Durga Tirath, ditto.

Ekoratri, here Krishna rested for "one night".

Ganga-hrada,— On the Saraswati, where Ganga bathed.

Hriday Janyan.

Indra Tirath, where Indra performed tapasya.

Kuru-dwaj Tirath. — This is a holy temple at the west end of the Narbida Til and close to the south side of the old fort. Here Kuru planted his flag (dhwaja) when he began his tapasya.

Kaustki Tirath, in honour of Kausiki River.

Konti Tirath, in honour of Kunti, the mother of the Pandavas.

Kuvcra Tirath, where Kuvera performed tapasya.

Kula-prachin. — Here Ganga bathed and got rid of the load of sins which had accumulated from others in her own stream.

Kshiri-ka-vasa. — Here water was changed to milk (Kshiri) for the benefit of the Pandavas.

Lakshmi-kund or Lakshya Tirath.

Lakori Tirath.

Narakatari or Atiaraka.— l have mislaid my note about this place. It referred, however, to the escape of someone from Naraka or Hell. The place is on the bank of the Saraswati, 2 miles to the west of Thanesar.

Padmanabha kupa.

Parasurama. — On this site the hero Parasurama laid down his axe after having slain the Kshatriyas twenty-one times.

Pavana or Pavati.

Rama Tirath, where the hero performed tapasya.

Rudra Linga.

Rudra kupa.

Rudrapatni kupa.

Sarasut. — Here Saraswati herself performed tapasya.

Sarvna Tirath.

Sarvnahandi Tirath.

Soma-prachin. — Here the moon performed tapasya.

Sthanu Tirath, half a mile to the north of the town on the side • of the high road leading to Ambala. Sthanu is one of the names of Siva under the form of the lingam.

Sukra Tirath, where Sukra or Venus performed tapasya.

Swarga-dwari, or "Heaven's door." — By bathing here an entrance is obtained into paradise.

Vasishta-prachi. — Here the sage performed tapasya.

Vriddhi-kanyd, the "Old Maid." — Here an ancient virgin having propitiated a Rishi, bore a child. The place is therefore much frequented by barren women.

Thana. — Brahma-sthan Tirath.

Upaldna, 5 miles to the south-west of Dachor, Upapalo, and Pavana Tirath.

Urnayacha. — Renuka Tirath.

Vyas kheri. — Salihotar Tirath.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] See Archaeological Survey of India, Vol. II, p. 212.

Sannihit Sarovar, Kurukshetra