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Hastinapur

Hastinapuris a city in theMeerut districtin the IndianstateofUttar Pradesh.Hastinapura,described inHindu textssuch as theMahabharataand thePuranasas the capital of theKuru Kingdom,is also mentioned in ancientJain texts.Hastinapur is located on the right bank of theGangariver.

Hastinapur
Town
Hastinapur City
Kailash Parvat Rachna
Hastinapura
Hastinapura
Hastinapur
Location in Uttar Pradesh, India
Hastinapura
Hastinapura
Hastinapur
Hastinapur (India)
Coordinates:29°10′N78°01′E/ 29.17°N 78.02°E/29.17; 78.02
CountryIndia
StateUttar Pradesh
DistrictMeerut
Elevation
212 m (696 ft)
Population
(2011)
• Total58,452
Languages
• OfficialHindiandEnglish
Time zoneUTC+5:30(IST)
PIN
250404
Vehicle registrationUP-15

Etymology

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InSanskrit,Hastinapuratranslates to 'the City of Elephants' fromHastina(elephant) andpura(city). Its history dates back to the period ofMahabharata.[1]It is said that the city was named after King Hasti.[2]

It is also mentioned in theRamayana,the 13th and 14th verses of which say (translated):

"Having crossed Ganga River at Hastinapura, they proceeded towards the west and, reaching Panchala kingdom through Kuru Jangala and observing well-filled lakes and rivers with clear water, the messengers mentioned above went briskly, due to the pressing nature of their mission."

— Valmiki,Ramayana

History

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The early archaeological remains of the region belong toOchre Coloured Pottery culturewhich was aBronze Ageculture of Ganga Yamuna doab. Around c.1200 BCE the region transformed to anIron Ageculture. The region was occupied by thePainted Grey Ware culturewhich corresponds to theVedic Period.[3]

In theMahabharata,Hastinapur is portrayed as the capital of theKuru Kingdomof theKauravas.Many incidents in theMahabharatawere set in the city of Hastinapur. According to theMahabharata,the 100 Kaurava brothers were born in this city to their mother, QueenGandhari,the wife of KingDhritarashtra.On the bank of the Budhi Ganga, two places near Hastinapur (Draupadi Ghat[4]andKarna Ghat) referenceMahabharatapersonages.

Balaramapulling Hastinapur toward the Ganges, shown on a page from a "Bhagavata Dasamskanda" series

The first reference to Hastinapur in thePuranaspresents the city as the capital ofEmperor Bharata'skingdom.

A 2nd century stone relief of 170 JainTirthankarsin lotus position excavated in Hastinapur

Excavations at Hastinapur were carried out in the early 1950s byB. B. Lal,Director General of theArchaeological Survey of India.Although the main aim of this excavation, according to Lal himself, was to determine the stratigraphic position ofPainted Grey Wareconcerning other known ceramic industries of the early historical period, Lal found correlations between the text of theMahabharataand the material remains that he unearthed at Hastinapur. This led him to historicize some of the traditions mentioned in theMahabharataas well as link the appearance of the Painted Grey Ware withAryansin the upperGangesbasin areas.[5]

Hastinapur is listed in theAin-i-Akbarias aparganaunder Delhisarkar,producing a revenue of 4,466,904damsfor the imperial treasury and supplying a force of 300 infantry and 10 cavalry. The authorAbu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarakdescribes it "an ancient Hindu settlement" lying on the Ganges.[6]

During British India, Hastinapur was ruled byRaja Nain SinghNagar, who built manyHindu templesin and around Hastinapura.[7]

Geography and climate

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Present-day Hastinapur is a town in theDoabregion ofUttar PradeshinIndia,about 37 kilometres (23 mi) fromMeerutand nearly 96 km (60 mi) north-east ofDelhionNational Highway 34.[8]It is a small township re-established byJawaharlal Nehruon February 6, 1949, located at29°10′N78°01′E/ 29.17°N 78.02°E/29.17; 78.02.[9]With an average elevation of 218 metres (715 ft), Hastinapur experiences temperatures ranging from 5 to 40 °C (41 to 104 °F). Summer season is from March to May, during which the temperatures range from 32 to 40 °C (90 to 104 °F). The monsoon season is from July to September, during which the temperature is relatively low. Winter lasts from December to February, with December usually being the coldest month of the year. During this time, temperatures can drop to around 5 °C (41 °F) and don't usually go above 14 °C (57 °F).[10]

Demographics

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According to the2011 Census of India,Hastinapur Nagar Panchayat had a population of 26,452, of which 14,010 are males while 12,442 are females. The literacy rate of the town was 74.5% slightly higher than the national average of 74%. Around 14% of the population was under 6 years of age.[11][12]

Places of interest

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Located on the banks of an old ravine of the Ganges, Hastinapur is considered one of the holiest places for bothHindusandJainsalike. It is believed to be the birthplace of three JainTirthankaras.There are many ancient Hindu temples including Pandeshwar Temple and Karna Temple, as well as Jain temples such asShri Digamber,Jain Mandir,Jambudweep,Kailash Parvat,and Shwetambar Jain Temple.[13][14]

Temples and monuments

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Digamber Jain Bada Mandir Hastinapur

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Digamber Jain Bada Mandir Hastinapur
Main article:Digamber Jain Bada Mandir Hastinapur

Digamber Jain Bada Mandir Hastinapuris one of the oldest Jain temples in Hastinapur. The main temple is believed to have been built in 1801 under the aegis ofRaja Harsukh Rai,who was the imperial treasurer of EmperorShah Alam II.[15][16][17]The temple has many other facilities, including,police station,Digamber Jain Gurukul,and aUdaseen Ashram.Several tourist attractions including Jal Mandir, Jain Library, Acharya Vidyanand Museum, 24 Tonks, and the ancient Nishiyajis are situated few kilometres from the main temple.[18]

Shri Shwetambar Jain Ashtapad Teerth

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Ashtapad

Shri Ashtapad Teerth was built under the aegis ofShri Hastinapur Jain Shwetambar Teerth Trust.It is a 46-metre-high (151 ft) structure dedicated to first tirthankaraRishabhnath.[19]

Kailash Parvat Rachna

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Kailash Parvat is a 40-metre-high (131 ft) structure, constructed under the aegis of Shri Digamber Jain Mandir, Hastinapur. The Kailash Parvat premises are home to several Jain temples, including Yatri Niwas and Bhojanshala. Kailash Parvat also has an auditorium and ahelipadon the premises.[20][21]

Jambudweep Jain Tirth

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Jambudweep
Main article:Jambudweep

Jambudweep,depicting a model ofJain cosmology,was designed here under the supervision of ShriGyanmati Matajiin 1985.[22]

Pandeshwar Temple

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Situated in the historic location of the ancient city of Hastinapur, the Pandeshwar temple is dedicated toShiva.This temple is believed to be the place whereKauravasandPandavasreceived their education inVedasandPuranas.[citation needed]A temple of the Hindu goddessKaliand many Hinduashramasare also present on a hillock between the ruins. Legend has it that in the Mahabharata period, Pandu's eldest son Yudhishthira had established the shivalinga at the Pandeshwar Mahadev temple before the war of Mahabharata and prayed to Shiva for a blessing of winning the war.[23]

Karna Temple

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Karneshwar Mandir

The Karna Temple is located near the Pandeshwar temple on an old ravine along the bank of theGanges.TheShivlinginside the Karna Temple is believed to be established byKarna,one of the prominent figures in theMahabharata.[24]

Bhai Dharam Singh Gurdwara

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This is a smallGurdwaralocated in the village of Saifpur, around 2.5 km (1.6 mi) from Hastinapur.[25][26]

Hastinapur Sanctuary

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Migratory birds atHastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary

Hastinapur Sanctuary,established in 1986, is one of the prominent wildlife projects in India. The sanctuary extends over a wide area, encompassing the districts ofMeerut,Ghaziabad,Gautam Budh Nagar,Bijnor,Hapur,andJyotiba Phule NagarinUttar Pradesh.It is a sprawling forest, occupying an area of nearly 2,073 square kilometres (800 sq mi).[27][28]

Festivals and fairs

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Various cultural events and religious celebrations are held in Hastinapur annually, includingAkshaya Tritiya,Das Lakshana,Kartik Mela,Holi Mela,andDurga Puja.These festivals, among others, are organized by non-government organizations (NGOs) and theState Tourism Department.

See also

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References

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  1. ^"Uttar Pradesh - History".Encyclopedia Britannica.Retrieved16 December2019.
  2. ^J.P. Mittal (2006).History Of Ancient India (a New Version): From 7300 Bb To 4250 Bc.Vol. 1. New Delhi: Atlantic Publishers & Distributors. p. 308.ISBN978-81-269-0615-4.Retrieved21 March2018.
  3. ^Singh, Upinder (2008).A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India From the Stone Age to the 12th Century.Pearson Education India.ISBN9788131711200.
  4. ^"Excavation Sites in Uttar Pradesh - Archaeological Survey of India".asi.nic.in.
  5. ^"Excavation Sites in Uttar Pradesh - Archaeological Survey of India".asi.nic.in.Retrieved25 August2015.
  6. ^The Ain-i-Akbari,Calcutta: Asiatic Society of Bengal, 1891, p. 288,retrieved21 January2021
  7. ^Habib, Irfan (1997). "Unreason and Archaeology: The 'Painted Grey-Ware' and Beyond".Social Scientist.25(1/2): 16–24.doi:10.2307/3517758.JSTOR3517758.
  8. ^"Distance Hastināpur, Uttar-Pradesh, IND > New-Seema-Puri, New-Delhi, North-East, Delhi, IND - Air line, driving route, midpoint".www.distance.to.
  9. ^"Maps, Weather, and Airports for Hastinapur, India".fallingrain.com.Retrieved25 August2015.
  10. ^"Hastinapur Weather Forecast".WorldWeatherOnline.com.
  11. ^"Hastinapur Nagar Panchayat City Population Census 2011-2023 | Uttar Pradesh".www.census2011.co.in.Retrieved1 April2023.
  12. ^"Hastinapur (Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map, Location, Weather and Web Information".www.citypopulation.de.Retrieved1 April2023.
  13. ^"महाभारत सर्किट: जितनी ऊपर, उससे कहीं ज्यादा जमीन के नीचे है हस्तिनापुर की वैभवशाली गौरवगाथा".Amar Ujala(in Hindi).
  14. ^"Hastinapur | Meerut | UP Tourism".uttarpradesh.gov.in.Archived fromthe originalon 2 March 2020.Retrieved15 April2020.
  15. ^"Major Attractions | Meerut Development Authority".Archived fromthe originalon 5 October 2019.Retrieved7 May2016.
  16. ^"Digambar Jain temple Shri Hastinapur".Archived fromthe originalon 18 October 2015.Retrieved19 April2016.
  17. ^Evans, Christopher (2014).A Review of World Antiquarianism: Comparative Perspectives.Vol. 24. Getty Publications. p. 431.doi:10.5334/bha.2418.ISBN978-1606061480.{{cite book}}:|journal=ignored (help)
  18. ^"Welcome to UP Tourism-Official Website of Department of Tourism, Government of Uttar Pradesh, India | Hastinapur".www.uptourism.gov.in.Archived fromthe originalon 5 August 2020.Retrieved15 April2020.
  19. ^"HereNow4U.net:: Article Archive - The 151-Foot High Ashtapad Teerth in Hastinapur".HereNow4u: Portal on Jainism and next level consciousness.Retrieved25 August2015.
  20. ^"Home".bhaktibharat.com.Retrieved25 August2015.
  21. ^"WWW.JAINHERITAGECENTRES.COM > Jainism In India > Uttar Pradesh > Hastinapur > Kailash parvat Mandir".jainheritagecentres.com.January 2012.Retrieved25 August2015.
  22. ^"Home".jambudweep.org.Retrieved25 August2015.
  23. ^"Yudhishthira had established the shivalinga".timesofindia.
  24. ^"Work on Mahabharat Circuit to start soon".The Hindu.25 January 2006. Archived fromthe originalon 23 March 2006.Retrieved25 August2015.
  25. ^"Bhai Dharam Sing Gurdwara - Hastinapur - Bhai Dharam Sing Gurdwara Photos, Sightseeing - Native Planet".nativeplanet.com.Retrieved25 August2015.
  26. ^"Official Website Of Uttar Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation Ltd".upstdc.co.in.Retrieved16 March2020.
  27. ^"Hastinapur sanctuary".The Hindu.9 December 2006. Archived fromthe originalon 3 November 2012.Retrieved25 August2015.
  28. ^"Hastinapur Sanctuary".indiatravelfaq.com.Archived fromthe originalon 4 March 2016.Retrieved25 August2015.

Further reading

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