Hastinapur
| Hastinapur | |
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| — city — | |
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 Hastinapur
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| Coordinates: 29°10′N 78°01′E / 29.17°N 78.02°ECoordinates: 29°10′N 78°01′E / 29.17°N 78.02°E | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Uttar Pradesh |
| District | Meerut |
| Elevation | 202 m (663 ft) |
| Population (2001) | |
| • Total | 21,248 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Hindi |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| PIN | 250404 |
Hastinapur (Hindi: हस्तिनापुर, Sanskrit: हस्तिनापुरम् Hastināpuram) is a town and a nagar panchayat in Meerut district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.
History [edit]
Hastinapur was the capital of the Kuru dynasty of kings. All incidents in the epic Mahabharata were believed to have taken place in the city of Hastinapur. The first reference to Hastinapur in Puranas comes as the capital of Emperor Bharata. Samrat Samprati, the grandson of the emperor Asoka, built many temples here during his empire. The ancient temple and stupas are not present today. Excavation at Hastinapur was carried out in the early 1950s by B.B. Lal, Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India. Although the main aim of this excavation, mentioned by Lal himself, was to find out the stratigraphic position of Painted Grey Ware with reference to other known ceramic industries of the early historical period, Lal could not resist attempting a correlation between the text of the Mahabharata and the material remains that he uncovered at Hastinapur. This exercise led him to historicize some of the traditions mentioned in the text, as well as link the appearance of the Painted Grey Ware with the arrival of the Aryans in upper Ganges basin areas. Though Pre history of Hastinapur is not clear as full scale excavation could not be undertaken in inhibited area. In the medieval era, Hastinapur was attacked by Mughal ruler Babur when invading Hindustan, and temples and stupas were damaged by cannonfire. During British India Hastinapur was ruled by the Gujjar Raja Nain Singh Nagar. He built many temples in and around Hastinapur.
Present-day location [edit]
In the present-day Hastinapur is a town in the Doab region of Uttar Pradesh, called Hastinapur, around 37 km from Meerut and 100 km from Delhi. It is situated at 29 degree 09'31.50 degree north & 77 degree 59'19.46" east. Hastinapur is 106 km north-east of Delhi on Delhi-Meerut-Pauri (Garhwal) national highway no. 119. It is a small township re-established by Jawaharlal Nehru on February 6, 1949.
Etymology [edit]
Hastinapuram(Sanskrit) Hastin (elephant) + puram (city) is a city named after the elephants. History of this place begins from the period of Mahabharata. It is also described as Gajpur, Nagpur, Asandivat, Brahmasthal, Shanti Nagar and Kunjarpur in ancient texts.
Geography [edit]
Hastinapur is located at 29°10′N 78°01′E / 29.17°N 78.02°E.[1] It has an average elevation of 202 metres (662 feet).
Demographics [edit]
As of 2001[update] India census,[2] Hastinapur had a population of 21,248. Males constitute 53% of the population and females 47%. Hastinapur has an average literacy rate of 68%, above than the national average of 59.5%. In Hastinapur, 15% of the population is under 10 years of age.
Places of interest [edit]
Hastinapur is considered one of the most holiest pilgrimage sites for Jains in India. It is believed to be the birthplace of 3 Jain Tirthankaras. There are many marvelous Jain temples in Hastinapur. Shri Digambar Jain Mandir, Jambudweep, Kailash Parvat, Shwetambar Jain Temple are the main and famous temples in Hastinapur. Besides from Jain Temples Old Pandeshwar Temple, Historical Gurudwara and Hastinapur Sanctuary are worth being seen.
Shri Digamber Jain Mandir Hastinapur [edit]
Shri Digamber Jain Mandir Hastinapur is the oldest Jain Temple in Hastinapur. The main temple is constructed on a four feet high platform. The temple is very magnificent and have an artistic & huge spire. Inside the temple there is one altar with three divisions. In the altar white colored idol of principal deity Bhagwan Shantinath in Padmasana posture, 1½ foot in height is installed. In the both sides of principal deity idol of Lord Kunthunath in left and Arahnath in the right are installed. Also an antique piece of art on a flat stone is worth being seen, on which idols of ‘Panch Bal Yati' (Celibate) are carved in an artistic manner. It is supposed that this piece of art was created in 10-11th century.
History of its construction [edit]
Due to so many political and natural reasons, Hastinapur remained ignored for centuries. As a result, many temples, stoopas and shrines were destroyed, but at that time too this remained a pilgrimage center, devotees from various parts of nation continued their traveling for pilgrimage here. During 18th –19th century condition of Hastinapur was very pitiable. Devotees were thinking that being a sacred place, a temple must be built here.
Facilties [edit]
Digamber Jain Mandir has excellent lodging facility for the pilgrims. Pure vegetarian food is also available for Jain pilgrims. It has many other facilities in its huge premises like ATM, Post Office, Police Sub-station, Gurukul, Old age home, restaurants and other recreational facilities. There are many sites of tourist attraction as well, like Jal Mandir, Jain library, Acharya Vidyanand Museum, Tonks, and ancient Nashiyaji, situated few kilometers from the main temple.
Kailash Parvat Rachna [edit]
Kailash Parvat is a 131 foot high structure. It is located in front of Shri Digamber Jain Mandir. In Jainism, Mt. Kailash is the site where the first Jain Tirthankara, Rishabhadeva, attained Nirvana. The Consecrating ceremony (Panch Kalyanak Pratishtha Mahotsava) was accomplished in April 2006. Its height and location on the banks of the ravine of the once flowing Ganges River makes its presence felt from afar, and has ornamental detail spreading over the minutely carved ceilings, doorways, pillars, and panels. Its premises has various other Jain Temples, Yatri Niwas, Auditorium, Guest House and many other tourist attractions.
Jambudweep [edit]
The marvellous Jain sculpture showing the structure of Jain Geography has been designed here under the supervision of Supreme Jain Sadhvi Shri Gyanmati Mataji. The premises has various Jain Mandir which includes Sumeru Parvat, Lotus Temple, Teen Murti Mandir, Meditation Temple, Teen Lok Rachna and many other tourist attractions.
Shri Shwetambar Jain Temple [edit]
The Shwetambar temple is renovated recently and the re-establishment took place on Margshirsh Shukla 10 of VS 2021. Ashtapad built under the aegis of Shri Shwetambar Jain Temple is 151 feet high structure. The stunning architecture of this monument is worth being seen. Prathishta (reverence) took place on 2 December 2009 under nishra of Gachhadipati Acharya Nityanand Surishwerji. Jain Sthanak is also situated near to Shwetambar Jain Temple.
Hastinapur Sanctuary [edit]
Hastinapur Sanctuary is one of the prominent wildlife projects in India. It was constituted in the year 1986. The sanctuary extends over a wide area of Meerut, Bijnore, Ghaziabad and Jyotiba Phule Nagar in Uttar Pradesh. The Hastinapur Sanctuary is a sprawling forest occupying the area of 2073 km2. Vijaypal Baghel, an environmental activist is fighting against destruction of Sanctuary since 2001.
Pandeshwer Temple [edit]
It is an old temple of Lord Shiva, situated in the ruins of old Hastinapur. A statue of "Kali Mata" Goddess Kali is situated on hillock of ruins. Karan Temple situated nearby lies on the bank of old ravine of Ganges. Shivlinga inside it is said to be established by Karna, one of the main characters in the epic of Mahabharata.
Historical Bhai Dharam Singh Gurudwara [edit]
It is a beautiful and huge Gurudwara located in a village: Saifpur, some 2.5 km (1.6 mi) away from Hastinapur. The Panj Piare (Punjabi: ਪੰਜ ਪਿਆਰੇ), name given to the five Sikhs, Bhai Daya Singh, Bhai Dharam Singh, Bhai Himmat Singh, Bhai Mohkam Singh and Bhai Sahib Singh, who were so designated by Guru Gobind Singh at the historic divan at Anandpur Sahib on 30 March 1699 and who formed the nucleus of the Khalsa as the first batch to receive at his hands khanda di Pahul, i.e. rites of the two-edged sword.
Festivals and fairs [edit]
Various cultural and religious fairs are held here round the year, like Akshay Tritiya, Dus Lakshan Mahaparv, Kaarthik Poornima fair, Ashtanika Mahaparv, Holi fair etc. Maa Durga Pooja and some other programs are organised by NGOs and the tourism department time-to-time. Maha-yagya is held in March of every year.
See also [edit]
References [edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Hastinapur |
- ^ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Hastinapur
- ^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
