Some Cities of the Mahabharata Era Still Exist Today
This material details significant locations mentioned in the epic Mahabharata. A cornerstone literary work for Hindus, associated with the Smriti genre, it's considered a unique religious, mythological, historical, and philosophical text in India. Regarded as a primary literary work of Hinduism, it remains a valuable resource for every Indian. Many kingdoms and cities described in this epic still exist. Let's explore these cities mentioned in the Mahabharata.
Kurukshetra, Haryana
The Kurukshetra War took place in Kurukshetra, now a district in the state of Haryana. It's said that the land turned red due to the immense bloodshed during the battle. Some archaeologists believe the Mahabharata events actually occurred, citing the discovery of iron arrows and spears buried in Kurukshetra's soil, believed to date back to approximately 2800 BCE.
Gandhara
Gandhara, once known as Kandahar, encompassed a region stretching from Rawalpindi in Pakistan to far-off Afghanistan. Gandhara was the birthplace of Gandhari, Dhritarashtra's wife and Shakuni's sister (Shakuni being Duryodhana's maternal uncle).
Taxila
Taxila was the capital of the Gandhara region and is now known as Rawalpindi. It was also renowned as a city of knowledge and learning.
Kekaya Region
The northern part of Jammu and Kashmir is referred to as the Kekaya region in the Mahabharata. King Jayasen, the ruler of the Kekaya kingdom, married Vasudev's sister, Radhadevi. Their son, Vind, was a friend of Duryodhana and fought alongside the Kauravas in the Kurukshetra War.
Madra Kingdom
Adjacent to the Kekaya region was the Madra kingdom. According to the Aitareya Brahmana, it was also called Uttar Kuru due to its proximity to the Himalayas. King Shalya ruled the Madra kingdom during the Mahabharata era. His sister, Madri, married King Pandu. Nakula and Sahadeva were Madri's sons.
Ujjain
Present-day Nainital is mentioned as Ujjain in the Mahabharata. Guru Dronacharya taught warfare to both the Pandavas and Kauravas here. At Guru Dronacharya's behest, Bhima, Kunti's son, established a Shiva linga here. This place is also known as Bhimasankar and houses a Shiva Jyotirlinga temple.
Shivi Kingdom
The southern part of Punjab was known as the Shivi kingdom during the Mahabharata era. The Mahabharata mentions Maharaja Ushinar, whose grandson was Shibi. Shibi was a great archer and supported the Pandavas in the Kurukshetra War.
Vrindavan
This location is situated approximately 10 kilometers from Mathura. The Banke Bihari temple here is famous.
Gokul
This place is located about 8 kilometers from Mathura on the banks of the Yamuna River. To save Krishna from Kansa, his father Vasudev left him in Gokul at the home of his friend Nand Rai.
Gonda, Uttar Pradesh
Karna, Kunti's eldest son, was the king of Anga, a kingdom gifted to him by Duryodhana. This district is still known as Gonda district in Uttar Pradesh. Similarly, Jarasandha also ceded some of his territory, now known as Munger and Bhagalpur districts in Bihar.
Muchkund Tirth
This place is located in Dholpur, Rajasthan. After defeating Mathura, Kaleyavana chased Lord Krishna, who hid in a cave. Muchkund was sleeping in that cave and, upon waking, was mistaken for Krishna by Kaleyavana. As Muchkund opened his eyes, Kaleyavana was reduced to ashes.
Barnawa, Bagpat, UP
The Lakshagriha holds a significant connection to the Mahabharata. This is where the plot to burn the Pandavas alive was hatched, but the Pandavas escaped through a tunnel. This place, called Varanavat or Barnawa, still exists.
Dwarka, Gujarat
Dwarka, Krishna's capital, later submerged in the sea. The Archaeological Survey of India has found evidence of an ancient city submerged underwater, believed to be the Dwarka mentioned in the Mahabharata.
Vidarbha
Vidarbha, during the Mahabharata era, was the kingdom of King Bhismaka, a friend of Bhishma. Rukmini was the daughter of King Bhismaka. Lord Krishna eloped with and married Rukmini.
Manipura
Surrounded by Nagaland, Assam, Mizoram, and Burma, Manipura predates the Mahabharata era. King Chitravahan of Manipura had a daughter, Chitrangada, who married Arjuna. Their son, Babhruvahana, became the king of Manipura after the death of King Chitravahan.
Sindhu Kingdom
The Sindhu Kingdom refers to the ancient Indus Valley Civilization. This place was not only famous for its art and literature but also a leader in commerce and trade. King Jayadratha, from this kingdom, married Dusshala, the daughter of Dhritarashtra.
Matsya Kingdom
The northern part of Rajasthan is mentioned as the Matsya Kingdom in the Mahabharata. Its capital was Viratnagar. During their exile, the Pandavas disguised themselves as servants of Virat. King Virat's commander-in-chief and brother-in-law, Keechaka, harbored ill intentions towards Draupadi. Bhima later killed him. Abhimanyu married Uttara, the daughter of King Virat.
These are some of the significant locations mentioned in the Mahabharata that still exist today.
