The significance of the holy ground where the great battle of Mahabharat was fought in Hinduism
Bronze chariot with Krishna and Arjuna in Kurukshetra (Haryana); Image Source: Shekhar Tagra
LOCATION
Kurukshetra is a site of rich mythological and historical significance located in Thanear, a city in the Indian state of Haryana. It is also identified as the Dharamkshetra, meaning the place of dharam or righteousness, code of conduct or law and order. It is essentially a huge ground which has served as a battlefield.
MYTHOLOGY
Kurukshetra is the sacred ground on which one of the biggest battles of Hindu mythology were fought. The great Indian epic of Mahabharat and the Bhagvad Gita is narrated keeping Kurukshetra as the epicentre. The latter is the teachings of Krishna, reincarnation of Vishnu to Arjun, which took place on the battlefield of Kurukshetra itself. Various other scholars have penned down multiple religious texts such as Manussmriti here. The war itself has numerous branches to it, right from the lineage which fought the war, the causes, the consequences, the results.
Named after a king Kuru, Kurukshetra was destined to be the venue for such a major blood war. This was the reason why the entire land was blessed such that anyone who dies on its soil, would get a direct gateway to heaven, regardless of their Karma. All the Kaurava brothers went to paradise as they were killed in Kurukshetra. After the war, the land remained a total blood bath.
SIGNIFICANCE
The holy ground has witnessed some of the greatest and gravest deaths in Hindu mythology. It stood as an audience to manipulative tactics, fear, pride, ego, greed and various other negative, harmful emotions. It has seen brave heroes crumple with fear, it has seen meek men rise up valiantly to fight, it has seen good men turn evil and evil ones beyond the definition of malicious. Kurukshetra is one of the rare battlegrounds to observe the fight between the same bloodline, killing of cousins, uncles, grandfathers, sons, teachers and friends. Unlike wars which are waged against enemies, this was a strange one where the victors were disheartened at the death of their opponents, they mourned for their enemies as they did for their own army men. The extreme measures which men can take for vengeance were displayed on this land, the hard decisions to kill their own family members with deceit, manipulation, the fatal mistakes made out of arrogance. The heroes of the battle, Yuddhishtir, Arjun, Bhim and many more became the mightiest warriors on this very land.
ARCHITECTURE
It is now considered as a city but majorly Kurukshetra was recognised as a plain ground like any other. It is situated between two rivers Saraswati and Drishadvati.
THE PLACE DURING DIFFERENT PERIODS OF TIME
The site has been in existence not just since centuries but even epochs of time or Treta Yug. It has been conquered by various emperors during different periods in history. Around the 4th century, it was under the Mauryan empire, making it a Hindu and Buddhist place of worship with the same cultural influence and significance. The jurisdiction then passed around various kingdoms. The Kushans were next in line and were followed by the Gupta dynasty. Tomara empire, Mahmud Gazni, Delhi Sultanate, Lodhi dynasty, Mughal empire and Maratha empire were the ones who have all fought one another to rule over the holy land.
DEMOGRAPHY
This prominent land in the history of Hinduism is declared as a meat free area keeping in compliance with the religious guidelines. It is also established as a holy ground by the city municipality.
Through the stories of Pandavas, Arjun, Bhim, Yuddishtir, their cousins Kauravas, Karna, Krishna, you can understand the events and actions that led to the battle which elevated the status of Kurukshetra in history.
