Kaithal

This article is about the municipality in India. For its namesake district, see Kaithal district.

Kaithal
—  city  —
Kaithal Location of Kaithal in Haryana and India
Coordinates	29°48′N 76°23′E
Country	India
State	Haryana
District(s)	Kaithal
Population	1,072,861 (2011)
Sex ratio	880 ♂/♀
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
Area • Elevation	• 220 metres (720 ft)
Codes • Pincode • 136027 • Telephone • +01746 • Vehicle • HR-08,HR-64(for commercial vehicles)
Website	kaithal.nic.in/

Kaithal (Punjabi: ਕੈਥਲ) (Hindi: कैथल) is a city and a municipal council in Kaithal district in the Indian state of Haryana. Kaithal was previously a part of Karnal District and later, Kurukshetra District until 1 November 1989, when it became the headquarters of the Kaithal District of Haryana. Kaithal shares common boundary with Patiala (Punjab), Kurukshetra, Jind and Karnal.

Geography

Kaithal is located at 29.8°N 76.38°E / 29.8; 76.38. It has an average elevation of 220 metres (721 feet).

This city is situated on National Highway NH 65, connecting the state capital Chandigarh to Hissar, and has a rail connection to Kurukshetra and Narwana which further goes to Jind (local trains only).

History

Historically, it was known as Kapisthal, meaning "Abode of Kapi", another name of Lord Hanuman, and it is said to have been founded by the Pandava Emperor, Yudhisthira of Mahabharata. It is traditionally connected with Hanuman, and has a temple dedicated to Anjani, the mother of Hanuman. Timur stopped here in 1398, before attacking Delhi. Later, the city became a Muslim cultural centre, under the rule of Delhi Sultanate. Tombs of several Sufi saints dating from the 13th century can be found in the city today; most important among them is that of Sheikh Sala -ud-din of Bhalkh (1246 CE). The town was renovated and a fort was built during the rule of the Mughal Emperor, Akbar, and as per Ain-i-Akbari, it was a pargana, under the sarkar of Sirhind, and had developed into an agricultural centre

In 1767, it fell into the hands of the Sikh chieftain, Bhai Desu Singh, whose descendants, the bhais of Kaithal, ranked among the most powerful Cis-Sutlej states. Their territories lapsed to the British in 1843 and became a municipality in 1867. In 1901, the town had a population of 14,408 and was the tehsil in the district of Karnal. The fort of the Bhais is still extant, and their title Bhai became common with the primary Sikh rulers.

Razia Sultana, the first woman ruler of India, reigned as the Sultana of Delhi Sultanate from 1236 to 1240. She fled Delhi with Malik Altúniya after they were defeated on the 24th of Rabí'u-l awwal A.H. 638 (Oct. 1240), and reached Kaithal the next day, where their remaining forces abandoned them, and they both fell into the hands of the Hindus and were killed. This aspect is still not well known outside Kaithal, but residents know about the mazaar of Razia Begum even generations later. The kaithal has many gates made by British rulers and used to control the entry of trade goods and other items. It is also said that it is the birth place of Lord Hanumana and there is a temple constructed at that place known as "Anjani Tila" among the residents of Kaithal.

Demographics

As of the India census, Kaithal had a population of 117,226. Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%. Kaithal has an average literacy rate of 65%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 70%, and female literacy is 58%. In Kaithal, 14% of the population is under 6 years of age. There is substantial Sikh population in Kaithal because Kaithal adjoins Punjab. Other major communities of Kaithal are Saini Sikhs, Saini Hindus, Jatt Sikhs, Jaats, Gujars, Rors etc.

Landmarks

Ruins of Kaithal fortress, Haryana.

• Vidkyar Teerth(Vriddh Kedaar)& Anjani Teela:

Vaman Purana says  :
"Kapisthaleti vikhyatam sarvapatakanashanam yasmina sthitaha swayam devovridha kedara samgjijitaha" (2)
(Translation: The destroyer of all devilish deeds, the famous Kapisthala sanctum is here because Lord Vridhakedara himself resides in it.) The Vridhakedara sanctum changed to "Vidkyara" as a result of the philological principle of "mukhasukha", or ease of speaking.

• Gurudwara Neem Sahib - This Gurudwara is located at the Dogra gate, near Sivan Gate on the Cheeka Pehowa Road, Kaithal.

This Gurudwara is dedicated to the Ninth Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji. He stopped here on his way from Anandpur Sahib to Delhi. Guruji stayed at the site of Gurudwara Manji Sahib. Early in the morning, Guruji came to this place. After taking a bath at the Thandar Tirth (also referred to as the Dandhar Tirth), Guru Sahib sat in meditation under a neem tree at this place. A large congregation of people who had heard of the Guru's arrival gathered there. One amongst them suffered from high fever. Guruji gave him the leaves of the neem tree and he was cured. This place then came to be known as Neem Sahib. All gurpurabs are celebrated here. A langar is organized every month on Sangrand (the first day of the month in the lunar calendar). A local committee appointed by the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandhak Committee looks after the management of the Gurudwara.

• Gurudwara Topiyon Wala - Situated in the middle of the city, this is the only Gurudwara/Temple where Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji & Ramaayan are recited together—a unique combination of Sikhism & Hinduism.

• Gurudwara Manji Sahib - Gurdwara Manji Sahib is situated in Sethan Mohalla, near Hind Cinema. It is very near to the Gita Bhavan.

This Gurudwara is dedicated to the Ninth Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji. Guru Tegh Bahadur, after emancipating the sangat of the Malwa region, arrived here from Baher Sahib. The Guru told a carpenter from Bahir, named Malla, that he wanted to go to Kaithal and asked if there was any Sikh devotee there. Malla replied that there were two houses belonging to Banias and one to a Sikh there. On reaching Kaithal, Malla asked Guru ji whose house he would like to go to first. Guru Sahib replied the one that is nearest. Malla took Guru ji to the house of a fellow carpenter, also named Malla, who served the Guru with great devotion. Pleased with his devotion, the Guru told him to light a lamp for 40 days in honor of the Guru's darbar and he would be blessed with a son. The carpenter was blessed with a son in due course and he donated this place to the Gurudwara. On the request of the banias, Guru ji visited their house for lunch. He blessed the spot by saying that kirtan (singing of devotional songs) would be the norm here. This is the site of the Gurudwaras Manji Sahib. Guru ji spent three days preaching the tenets of Sikhism here and then left for village Barne. The birth anniversaries of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Guru Gobind Singh Ji are celebrated with great fervour here.

• Gurudwara Shri Patshahi Chevin Ate Nauvin Sahib - This Gurudwara is situated in the Village Cheeka, Kaithal. Cheeka is situated on the Patiala Kaithal Road. Guru Har Gobind ji and Guru Tegh Bahadur came here. Guru Tegh Bahadur came here while going to Gurudwara Nanak Mata Sahib, When Guru ji was in Darolli Bhai, He received message from Baba Gurditta ji,s Disciple Baba Almast that Sadhus had captured Gurudwara Nanakmata and renamed it as Gorakh Mata. So going towards Gurudwara Nanakmata sahib via Kurukshetra Guru Sahib came here.

Guru Tegh Bahadur came here while he was going to Delhi. When Kashmiri Pandits came to Guru ji in Anandpur Sahib and requested to save them from Aurangzeb. Accepting there request Guru ji to sacrifice his life to save them Guru ji while going to Delhi Via Patiala, GURU SAHIB came here to Bhai Galora ji Masand. He was Jathedar of Hansi to Hisar. There were follower along with Guru ji. Who wanted to come along with Guru ji to Delhi but Guru ji stopped them and asked them to go back. Followers requested that they will not be able to live without them. Then Guru Tegh Bahadur told them visiting this place will give them result of having darshan of Guru Tegh Bahadur. Who so ever will visit this place with devotions his/ her wishes will be fullfilled.

• Gurudwara Sahib - This Gurudwara is situated in Nand Singh Wala village, Kaithal. This village is located at Punjab border.

• Hanumaan Mandir: Situated in heart of the city at Jattan Moh.

• Geeta Bhawan Mandir

• Dera Baba Shital Puri Ji.

• Tomb of Razia Sultana: Situated in the north-western suburbs of the city. A jail has been erected nearby by the present administration.

• Kutti Shiv mandir and Deva Ji Ka mandir (Guffa Walla mandir) at Mata gate, Kaithal.

• Tomb of Hazrat Shah Kamal Qadri and Hazrat Shah Sikandar Qadri

• Pehowa Chowk which is now known as "NAV-GRAHA" chowkis situated in mid of the city in front of it there isAggarsain Shakti Peeth which has its own history .

• The city also has the tomb of Baba Shah Kamal Lal Dayal, known as Peer Baba to visitors, situated near Gol Market.

• There is also Hanuman Vatika, a big park, located near New Bus Stand, which has large Hanuman statue and a beautiful temple.

• Saini Dharamsala, Ashok Cinema road, Kaithal

• Railway Flyover. Started in 2011. Inaugurated by Chief Minister of Haryana, Bhupinder Singh Hooda

Education

• O.S.D.A.V. Public School
• Swami Dayanand Vadic Middle School
• Govt. Girls Senior Secondary School
• Darshan Academy
• Blue Mount International Academy
• R.K.S.D. SR.SEC.Public School
• RKSD College of Pharmacy
• Haryana Institute Of Engineering & Technology
• Om Prabha Jain Senior Secondary School
• Indira Gandhi College for Women
• Indira Gandhi Public School
• Tagore Public School, Dhand Road, Kaithal
• Radha Krishan Sanatan Dharam (P.G.) College
• Radha Krishan Sanatan Dharam college of Education (B.Ed).
• Haryana College of Technology and Management
• Rural College of Education (Jat College)
• Heritage International School
• Little Flower Convent School, Dhand Road, Kaithal
• Jai Ram Das Agarwal Girls High School, Kaithal
• Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Govt. College Jagdisch Pura
• Saini High School
• Akhil Bhartiya Public School
• Silver Oak Public School
• KIDZEE School
• S.S.Bal Sadan Sr. Sec. School
• Saini Middle School, Ambala Road, Kaithal
• Canal Colony school, Kaithal
• Indus Public School, Kaithal

Government and Politics

Constituency: Kurukshetra

Member of Parliament: Navin Jindal - Indian National Congress

Member of the Legislative Assembly: Randeep Surjewala- Indian National Congress

Country's highest Flag of India

Country highest flag is hosted in Kaithal. The 22-metre-wide, 14.6-metre-high national flag is hoisted 63 metres above the ground in Hanuman Vatika in Haryana’s Kaithal town, about 200 km from the national capital.

Kaithal's ancient show-case

Vedas are one of the most ancient scriptures still known, although the precise date of the Rigvedas' creation and writing are still somewhat in doubt. These treasure-troves of knowledge are the oldest source available for information on the culture of that location at that time.

(2) Generally it can be said that the writing period of Rigveda is not that old as western scholars think. Rrock edicts and engravings indicate that the pre-Harappan and Saraswata civilisations originated more than ten thousand years ago. Kaithal was an important town along the Saraswati river, and thus may be presumed to have begun ten thousand years ago or more. In this context, it must be kept in mind that the "Apaya" river, a sub-river of Saraswati has been referred in the third Mandala of Rigveda 3/23/4.

1. Page 87 2. Vedic Saraswati Nadi Shodha Abhiyana-Page 8.

As per the verse this rainy-seasonal river is one mile east of Manusa sanctum, which is close to Maheshwara Deva in Asthipura. The "Apaya" river, one mile from Manusa sanctum, near Kaithal is very true because near west of Kaithal, the location of Apaya and Apaga and Manusa Tirtha has been recognised by `Mahabharata' and `Vamana Purana' both respectively.

(1) In Ist Mandala also reference of `Apana' and `Manusha' comes. (2) Drisadvatyama manusha apayayama saraswatyam sevadagne didiha.

In this part of the hymn, a Vedic saint establishes "Agni" (Fire) in `Manusa' sanctum situated on the bank of `Apaya', so `Kapisthala' writing place of Kathasamhita, Kaithal or its nearest area, exists here only. The "Samkhya Darshana" (Philosophical Samkhya thought) propounded by Saint Kapila was written here.

1.Mahabharata-Chapter 83, Vanaparva. 2.Rigveda-1/23/4.

There is some indication that the Taittiriya Samhita and Taittiriya Upanishads were also written in Titram village near Kaithal. Scholars say that this Samhita was written 4000–6000 years B.C., while the Taittiriya Akanyaka and Taittiriya Upanishad were compiled 2000 years B.C. The Puranas mention the Kathaka people as Madhyadeshiya or Madhyama, indicating that they were residing at Madhyadesha, although other scholars express the possibility that the Kathaka people moved into the Anavristi or Brahmavasta area of Kaithal-Pehowa-Kurukshetra, which is today Kithana or Kathayana. In the Puranas, we find references to of "Shri Tirtha" situated on the tributary of Saraswati near the village Kasan in Kaithal. The residences of Brahaman community belonging to Katha gotra can be found in the adjacent areas. According to grammarian Patanjali, the Kathasamhita teaching was prevalent in every village. "Grame Grame kathakam Kalapakam cha prochyate" - Mahabhasaya 4/3/101 Panini says that its writing was done by the Brahmans of Kapisthala gotra. Durgacharya in his Nirukta Commentary contemplates that the authors of this Samhita are Kapisthala Vashistha-Aham cha Kapisthalo Vasisthaha-Nirukta tika 4/4. Several scholars are of the view that this name refers to a specific place. This samhita was edited by Dr. Keith. His theory is that Kapisthala village represents modern Kaithal village, situated in Kurukshetra, close to the Saraswati river. Kashika and Varahmihira also refer to this village in Brihata Samhita 14/4. Apparently, the Taittiriya Brahmana and Katha Samhita was produced in Kaithal.

1. Dr. Baldev Upadhyaya - Vedic Sahitya and Samskriti - pages 132-133. The time honoured and influential works, Taittiriya Katha and Kapisthala Katha Samhitas, were written in Kaithal, which was also the place where the Katha Samhita, Taittiriya upanisada and Kathopanisada, propounding the principles of Samkhya philosophy.

Picture gallery

• Baba Shah Kamal.jpg

  Baba Shah Kamal Dargah

• 

  Ruins of Kaithal fortress

References

•  Chisholm, Hugh, ed (1911). "Kaithal". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. 
• Razia Sultan Tomb
• History of Kaithal

External links

• Kaithal district, official website
• Kaithal City Website