New Delhi: Janmashtami, also known as Krishnashtami, is one of the important festivals celebrated in India. Hindus celebrate Lord Krishna’s birthday with great zeal and enthusiasm. Devotees fast until midnight and worship Lord Krishna’s idol. This occasion is celebrated very highly in many places. Several cities in India have strong connections with Lord Krishna, and each has beautiful temples dedicated to him. Let us explore some of the places in India that are connected to Lord Krishna.
Places associated with Lord Krishna
Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krishna
Mathura, the cherished home of Lord Krishna, is a unique blend of history, archaeology, and religious significance. This city, also known as Brij Bhoomi, is where Lord Krishna spent his childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. It is a place of pilgrimage, dotted with numerous Hindu temples, and situated on the banks of the Yamuna River. Mathura, a city where flutes fill the air, offers a unique cultural experience. The city resonates with an incredible sense of love and devotion. Holi and Krishna Janmashtami are must-experience festivals that draw millions worldwide.
Kusum Sarovar 450 feet long tank at Govardhan, Mathura (Photo credit: Prasoon Rana/Moment/Getty Images)
Gokul
According to legend, Lord Krishna was born in a Mathura prison and later taken to Gokul by his father, Vasudeva. Lord Krishna spent his childhood here, killing many demons sent by his maternal uncle Kansa, which is why the place is so closely associated with him. Gokul has many important temples dedicated to Lord Krishna, and Janmashtami is celebrated grandly.
Vrindavan
Vrindavan is another beautiful religious site with a strong connection to Lord Krishna. He spent his adolescence here, and the famous Raas Lila between Radha and Krishna began here. The small but beautiful religious site has many temples dedicated to Radha-Krishna, and Janmashtami is widely celebrated.
Barsana
This town has a special connection to Lord Krishna. Barsana is 45 kilometres from Mathura and is surrounded by hills on all four sides. It is the birthplace of Radha. According to the legends, Krishna spent some of his childhood in Barsana with Radha, and there are temples dedicated to Radha Krishna in Barsana.
Radha-Krishna (Photo credit: Philippe Lissac/Stone/Getty Images)
Ujjain
Lord Krishna and his elder brother Balaram attended Sage Sandipani’s Ashram for their education. Lord Krishna met Sudama, a poor Brahmin boy, who eventually became one of his closest friends. This location is in present-day Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh.
Lord Krishna with his brother Balaram (Photo credit: Philippe Lissac/Godong/Stone/Getty Images)
Dwarka
Dwarka is a popular city in Gujarat and is associated with the Dwarka Kingdom—the kingdom of Lord Krishna. It is believed that Vishwakarma constructed the holy place in two days on the orders of Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna spent a lot of time at this place. He shifted from Mathura to Dwarka after defeating the devil king Kansa. The festival of Janmashtami is celebrated with great eagerness and dedication.
Hastinapur/Indraprastha
Hastinapur is a city in modern-day Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut district, whereas Indraprastha is in Delhi. These places are mentioned in the Mahabharata, and Shri Krishna went to Indraprastha to attend Yudhishthira’s coronation ceremony, then met King Dhritarashtra in Hastinapur with a peace proposal to avoid the Battle of Kurukshetra.
Kurukshetra
Kurukshetra, located in Haryana, is where the Mahabharata battle happened, and Lord Krishna preached the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna. The place is known to hold great significance in Lord Krishna’s life. The city is named after King Kuru, an ancestor of the Pandavas and Kauravas. It is also known as Dharmkshetra, and numerous sites in this area depict its relationship with Lord Krishna.
The Gita Updesha Chariot depicts Krishna and Arjun from Mahabharat in Kurukshetra (Photo credit: Rubina A Khan/Getty Images)
Bhalka Tirtha
Lord Vishnu’s eighth avatar, Lord Krishna, spent his final years in western India. According to some legends, the hunter Jara shot Shri Krishna with an arrow, as he thought the Lord’s feet were those of a deer. The precise location of the occurrence is now called Bhalka Tirtha and is 250 miles from Dwarka. Then, an injured Krishna sought sanctuary in a cave near the banks of the Hiranya River. At the meeting point of the Saraswati, Kapila, and Hiranya rivers, he departed from his earthly body and entered Nija Dhaam. Dehotsarg is the location of the supposed final rituals performed by Krishna.
This year, Janmashtami, or Krishna Janmashtami, is celebrated on August 26. Many places are associated with Lord Krishna; let us explore these places. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
