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Location
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Kurukshetra, Haryana
Religious Belief : Lord Brahma Conceived Earth Here
Main Rituals : Ritual Bath, 'Deep Daan'
Nearby Attraction : Geeta Mandir
Amongst
the holiest of water tanks of the revered land of Kurukshetra, is
the Brahma Sarovar. It is the cradle of civilization. It is believed
that Lord Brahma, the Creator of the Universe conceived the Earth
here. The sanctity of this water tank finds mention in the memoirs
of Al Beruni named 'Kitab-ul-Hind', wherein he wrote of the tank
as "the tank resembles an ocean". This scholar was describing
the country in the 11th century AD.
Today,
the Brahma Sarovar has been renovated. It is 3600x1500 feet in size.
Its crowning feature is the holy seat of Lord Mahadev, which is
a small but sacred temple built to stand within the lake and is
linked to the outer periphery by a small bridge. With the outer
walls of the tank having been rebuilt, the lake is lined by bathing
steps. There are arched enclosures for pilgrims. Hermits sit here
for prayers, quite undisturbed by the crowds.
Common
Rituals
According to the holy scriptures, a dip in this Sarovar bears the
sanctity of performing the 'Ashvamedha Yajna'. To bathe here on
the days of the solar eclipse is believed to absolve one of all
sins.
One
of the most delightful occasions when this holy tank is breath-taking
is on the event of 'Deep Daan' and 'Aarti'- a ceremony specially
held as part of the Gita Jayanti celebrations in the last week of
November and early December, every year.
Other
Attractions
Migratory birds from far off lands visit the farthest end of this
holy tank, during the winter. Adjacent to Brahma Sarovar lies Birla
Gita Mandir, a traditional structure built here. Along side, one
can also see Baba Nath's haveli and temple.
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