|
|
PLACES OF INTEREST The region
comprising the Jind district formed boundary of the holy region of
Kurukshetra and as such many holy places connected with tradition or referred
to in religious literature are located in the district. Many of these places
are mentioned in the Mahabharta, the Vamana,the Narda and the Padma Purans. Jind The town, headquarter of the
district of the same name is situated on the Ferozpur-Delhi section of the
Northern Railway, 123 kilometers away from Delhi and 57 Kilometers from
Rohtak. It is also connected by road with Delhi, Patiala, Chandigarh and
other important towns of the state.
Raja Gajpat Singh in 1755 seized a
large tract of country including the present districts of Jind from the
Afghan and made Jind the capital of the state in 1776. He made a fort here in
1775. Later, Sangrur was chosen as capital of Jind State by Raja Sangat Singh
(1822 A.D to 1834 A.D) Jind
is noted for its numerous temples
sacred to the worship of Shiva. Raghbir Singh, ruler of Jind, built a temple
known as Bhuteshvara temple, with a large tank around it, locally known as
Rani Talab.
The town developed fast after the formation of Haryana and is a well provided town of the state. The town has a Arjun stadium, milk plant, cattle feed plant, Bulbul restaurant and a large grain market. There are facilities for the stay at PWD rest house, canal rest house and market committee rest house. The town is well provided with schools, colleges, hospitals and other basic amenities. Top of the DocumentPindara (Tahsil Jind)
According to a legend, the Pandavas
offered here pinds to their forefathers and hence the popular name of the
village is Pandu Pindara. A fair is held on Somavati Amavas. Ramrai (Tahsil Jind)
Ramrai is located
on Jind-Hansi road, 8 Kilometers west of Jind. Ramrai or Ramahrada is a traditional
south-west Yaksha of the Kurukshetra region. It is connected with the
mythological story of Parsurama who after the annihilation of Kshatriyas,
filled five pools with their blood and propitiated his forefathers
there. It is believed that a bath at
Ramahrada tirtha and Sanet tirtha is very holy. There is an old temple of
Parsuram where he is worshipped. Dhamtan Sahib (Tehsil Narwana)
It is situated about 10 KM East of Narwana on
Narwana-Tohana road. Dhamtan is the corrupted name of
Dharamsthan (religious place). It is said to be the ashram of Rishi Valmiki
and venue of Asvamedha yagya of Lord Rama. Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Sikh
guru stayed here on his way to Delhi and a fort like gurudwara was built in
his memory. There is also another gurudwara know as Manji Sahib. HANSDEHAR (TAHSIL NARWANA) Tradition connects the place
with Rishi Kardam who practiced penance (tapasys) here for many years. His
son Kapilamuni took birth and composed Sankhya Shastra here. Its name is said
to have been derived from the tradition that Brahma came here to attend the
marriage of Kardam Rishi on the back of a hans (goose). The sacred Saraswati
is said to have flowed by the place and Pandavas come here and offered pinds
to their forefathers. A Shiva temple and Bindusar tirtha
is located here. The people worship Shiva and come in great number on
Somavati Amavas to take holy bath in the tank. Narwana
Narwana is said to be the corrupted
name of the word Nirvan which means salvation. There is a tomb of Sufi Saint
Hazrat Gaibi Sahib who is said to have miraculously disappeared in ground.
There is a tank around the tomb. The town has PWD rest house, canal
rest house, schools, colleges, hospitals, bus stand and other basic
amenities. Safidon The town is the headquarters of the tahsil
of the same name. It is situated on the bank of the Hansi branch of the
Western Jumna Canal, 35 kilometers North-East of Jind. The place is possibly the site of
Sarpadevi or Sarpidadhi referred in Mahabharta and Vamna Puran. It is associated with snake sacrifice of
Janamejaya son of Parikshit. The latter lost his life in the struggle against
the Nagas of Taxile, which was later avenged by his son Janamejaya,
symbolised in the epic tradition of Sarpasastra (snake sacrifice) which
possibly took place at Sarpadevi. There are three ancient temples and tirthas
of Negesvara Mahadeva, Nagadamni Devi and Nagashetra. It
has a rest house, schools, hospital and other basic amenities. Uchana (Tahsil Narwana)
The town is situated on Jind-Patiala-Chandigarh road, it
is a railway station on Delhi-Ferojpur railway line. There is a famous Dharmarth eyes
hospital built by a Sanyasi Ganesh Nandh through public donation. The other
places of public utility include a milk-chilling centre and a big grain
market. OTHER LEGENDARY PLACES Besides the
places described in the earlier pages, there are many tirthas mentioned in
the old texts, which are located in the district. A description of more important
place along with the legends associated with them is given below: Asvini Kumara Tirtha- It lies at village Assan, 14
kilometers east of Jind and is associated with the Vedic twin deities Asvins.
Bathing here on Tuesday has sanctifying effect. It is mentioned in the
Mahabharta, Padma, Narada and Vamana Puranas. Varaha-
It
lies at village Brah 10 kilometers from Jind. According to the Vamana Purana,
this well-known tirtha was praised by Vishnu and bathing here is considered
as helpful in the attainment of final beatitude. The Padma and the Mahabharta
inform us that it was the place of Vishnu who stayed here in his boar
incarnation. A stay at this place is considered equivalent to the benefit of an
Agnistoma sacrifice. Ekahamsa- It lies at the village Ikkas, 5 Kilometers
south-west of Jind. According to a local tradition it is associated with
Krishna who concealed himself here in the guise of hans for escaping from
gopies who sought him in the same form. Munjavata- It lies at the village Nirjan, 6 Kilometers from Jind. The place according to the Vamana Purana is associated with Mahadeva. It is believed that after fasting here for a night one attains Ganapatya, the abode of Ganesa. Yakshini Tirtha It lies at village Dkhnikhera, 8 Kilometers south of Jind . According to the Vamana Purana it is located near Munjavata and is the place of Yakshini Mahagrahi. It is believed that bathing here and propitiating the Yakshini and observing fast enable a person to shed all sins. Pushkara- It lies at the village Ponkar
Kheri, 11 Kilometers south of Jind. According to the puranic tradition
Parasurama, the son of Jamadagni, founded it. The worship of gods and
ancestors here is rewarded with the merit of Asvamedha sacrifice. Other
places of religious significance here are Kapila Mahayaksha, one of the
dwarpalas and his wife Ulukhalamekhala. Kayasodhana- It lies at village Kasohan, 16 Kilometers, North of Jind, in Narwana tehsil. This tirtha according to the Vamana Purana is the purifier of the body and giver of final beatitude. Sri tirtha- It lies at Village Simla in Narwana tehsil.
This is the most exalted tirtha, the abode of Salagrama. It is believed that after
taking bath here, one is rewarded with the constant presence of the divine
Mother. Sankhini- It is a Devi tirtha at village Sanghan in Narwana
tehsil. It is considered a place of salvation. Arantuka- It lies at village Barta in Narwana tehsil.
According to Vamana Purana, the tirtha lies on the bank of the Saraswati.
Bathing and fasting here is considered sacred. Dasasvamedha tirtha- It lies at village Didwara in Safidon
tahsil, 13 Kilometers north of Safidon. Bathing here with devotion is considered
to have the merit of ten Asvamedha Sacrifices. Aruna tirtha- It lies at village Anta,
6 Kilometers south of Safidon. It finds mention in the Mahabharta. Panchanada- It lies at village Hat,
about 10 kilometers south west of Safidon. The creation of this tirtha is
attributed to Rudra. Inhabited by the gods, Panchanada tirtha is considered
the remover of all sins. Koti tirtha- It is situated near village Hat. Lord Rudra
created a crore of tirthas here, it was known as Koti tirtha. It is
associated with Siva Kotisvara and is believed that by bathing here one gets
the religious merit of performing five yajnas. Mention may also be made of Parasara
tank and a brick temple of Mahadeva at Paju Kalan (5 Kilometers north-west of
Safidon), Suraj Kund built in honour of Sun God at Kalwa (15 Kilometers
south-west of Safidon), temple of Mahadeva at Barod (5.5 Kilometers north-east of Safidon) and a
tank named after the Vedic sage Vasishtha at Budha Khera (12 Kilometers north-west
of Safidon ). Last Revised On
12/02/2001 Top of the Document |