Located in the state of Haryana in India, Kuruskshetra is a famous pilgrimage site. It is also
the land of the Bhagvad Gita. Kurukshetra is situated around 170 km north of Delhi and is
also known by many names like Brahmakshetra (Land of Brahma), Uttaradevi, Brahmadevi and Dharamkshetra (Holy City). The place is known for the battle between the Kauravas and
Pandavas in the Hindu epic Mahabharata. It is believed that this is the place where Krishna
recited Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna. Gita Jayanti, which falls during the months of November
and December, commemorates this event of preaching Gita to Arjuna. Sadhus and pilgrims
from across the country and many foreigners visit Kurukshetra for Gita Jayanti. Based on the excavations carried out in many parts of Kurukshetra it can be said that this
place existed before the Harappan civilization. According to ancient records, Kurukshetra
was the center of learning and Vedic civilization. It is said that the Hindu composition,
philosophies and doctrine of the Rig Veda was created inKurukshetra. Francois Bernier, the
French traveler, during the reign of Shahjahan had mentioned Kurukshetra's sacred tanks.
Abul Fazal, Akbar's court historian, also mentioned about the tanksof Kurukshetra in
Akbarnama.Kurukshetra was earlier called Thanesar or Sthaneswar. The name Thanesar was
derived from the Sanskrit 'Sthaneshwar', which can be translated to 'place of god'. Kurukshetra is a place of religious importance and is among the oldest cities of the country. According to another legend, Kurukshetra was named after the King Kuru, who was from the
Bahrata Dynasty and was the ancestor of Pandavas and Kauravas in Mahabharata. According
to Vamana Purana, Thanesar or Kurukshetra was selected by King Kuru for incorporating
eight virtues, which are brahmacharya, yajna, charity, purity, kindness, forgiveness, truth and
austerity. Impressed by the work of King Kuru, Vishnu gave him two boons. One of the
boons was that the land will be named after him as Kurukshetra and it forever will be called
Holy Land. The second boon was that those who die here will go to heaven. Kurukshetra was
also the land, which had two Vedic rivers, Drishadvati and Saraswati. The land had many rulers from any dynasties and empires. This place was called Uttarvedi
when King Kuru settled here. The place has also been called Dharamkshetra, Brahmavedi
and Kurukshetra during different eras. According to another legend, this is the place where
the universe was created by Brahma. According to the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata, the 18-day
long battle of Mahabharat was held in Kurukshetra and during this battle, Krishna recited
Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna.The place was at the height of its progress when King Harsha was
the ruler. During this time Thanesar was visited by Hieun Tsang, the Chinese scholar.
According to archaeological findings, Kurukshetra was made a learning center for people
across the world by the Great King Ashoka.