Kurukshetra city is part of Haryana state. Kurukshetra is a holy and religious place of Hindus.The city is also known as “Dharma-Kshetra”. The city finds its mention in the first verse of Bhagvata Gita as “Dharma-Kshetra”.
धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः ।
मामकाः पाण्डवाश्चैव किम् अकुर्वत संजय।।
Kurukshetra is mentioned in many holy scriptures, vedas and Puranas of Hindu religion.The war of Mahabharata was fought here so Kurukshetra is also known as the land of Mahabharata. The place is holy because Lord Krishna gave the holy preaching of Bhagvat Gita here for the enlightenment of the humanity.
When the war of Mahabharat was about to start then the Pandava Arjun declined to fight, then Lord Krishna gave the holy preaching of Gita to Arjuna. After getting enlightenment and all his doubts cleared, Arjuna decided to fight the war. Many other historical wars have been fought at this place apart from Mahabharata.
According to mythology, Kurukshetra is spreaded over 48 kosas. The city is surrounded with holy places, temples, religious places and many sites related to Kauravas and Pandavas. Circumvents this place means circumventing all these holy places. Kurukshetra is also known as vegetarian place. Due to religious importance, Haryana government stopped the selling and consumption of non-vegetarion food and items inside the city in year 2012.
Importance of Kurukshetra
According to Mahabharata, the King of Bharat-Vansha, King Kuru, who was the ancestors of both Kauravas and Pandavas, irrigated this land again and again, so this place is called as Kurukshetra.
According to legend, Once King Kuru was irrigating the land and then Lord Indra appeared and asked him the reason to which King Kuru expressed his desire that anybody dieing at this place would go to Heaven. Indra did not take his words seriously and moved towards Heaven. This happened many times. Indra discussed this with other dieties who suggested him to talk to Kuru. Then Indra went to Kuru and told him that any bird, animal or human if dies here either due to starvation or fighting in a war would go to the heaven. Bheeshma, Lord Krishna and others were aware of this fact, so the war of Mahabharat was fought at this place.