Braj

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Braj
Radha Krishna 20.jpg
Mathura Temple-Mathura-India0002.JPG
Chhatris of Barsana 03.jpg
A Hindu temple Prem Mandir Love temple sights culture India.jpg
Kusuma Sarovar Ghat.jpg
CountryFlag of India.svg  India
Region Northern India
Proposed capitals Noida, Agra
Proposed Districts
Language Braj Bhasha dialect of Hindi

Braj, also known as Vraj, Vraja, Brij or Brijbhumi, is a region in India on both sides of the Yamuna river with its centre at Mathura-Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh state encompassing the area which also includes Palwal, Ballabhgarh and Nuh in Haryana state, Deeg, Bharatpur, Karauli, and Dholpur in Rajasthan state and Morena District in Madhya Pradesh. [1] Within Uttar Pradesh, it is very well demarcated culturally, the area stretches from the Mathura, Aligarh, Agra, Hathras and districts up to the Farrukhabad, Mainpuri and Etah districts. [2] Braj region is associated with Radha and Krishna who according to scriptures were born in Barsana and Mathura respectively. [3] [4] It is the main centre of Krishna circuit of Hindu pilgrimage. [1]

Contents

It is located 150 km south of Delhi and 50 km northwest of Agra. [1]

Etymology

The term Braj is derived from the Sanskrit word vraja (व्रज). [4] [5] Vraja was first mentioned in Rigveda, and in Sanskrit it means a pasture, shelter or resort for cattle from the Sanskrit term "vraj" which means "go" in English.

Braj pilgrimage circuits

The Braj Yatra circuit of pilgrimage was formally established by the 16th-century sadhus of the vaishnava sampradaya with fixed routes, itinerary and rituals. The area the circuit covers is spread across 2500 km2 with 84 kos or 300 km long periphery extending 10 km to the east and 50 km to the north and west. Braj has two main types of pilgrimage circuits, the traditional longer Braj Yatra encompassing the whole circuit, and the other shorter significantly modified contemporary point-to-point pilgrimage to visit the main sites at Mathura, Vrindavan, Gokul, Govardhan. The former, longer traditional pilgrimage route, also includes additional sacred sites Nandgaon and Barsana with travel on foot. [1]

Notable Pilgrimage Sites [6]

See also

Regional
Religious
Vedic era
General

Related Research Articles

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Mathura is a city and the administrative headquarters of Mathura district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is located 57.6 kilometres (35.8 mi) north of Agra, and 146 kilometres (91 mi) south-east of Delhi; about 14.5 kilometres (9.0 mi) from the town of Vrindavan, and 22 kilometres (14 mi) from Govardhan. In ancient times, Mathura was an economic hub, located at the junction of important caravan routes. The 2011 Census of India estimated the population of Mathura at 441,894.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vrindavan</span> City in Uttar Pradesh, India

Vrindavan, also spelt Vrindaban and Brindaban, is a historical city in the Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is located in the Braj Bhoomi region and holds religious importance for Hindus who believe that Krishna, one of the main deities in Hinduism, spent most of his childhood in this city. Vrindavan has about 5,500 temples dedicated to the worship of Krishna and his chief consort Radha.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Braj Bhasha</span> Western Hindi language of India

The Braj language, Braj Bhasha, also known as Vraj Bhasha or Brij Bhasha or Braj Boli, is a Western Hindi language. Along with Awadhi, it was one of the two predominant literary languages of North-Central India before the switch to Hindustani in the 19th century.

Govardhan also called Giriraj, is a key pilgrimage centre in India and a municipal town; a nagar panchayat; seat of an MLA of Uttar Pradesh; a Tehsil, in Mathura district in India in the state of Uttar Pradesh. About 23 kilometres from Mathura, the town is on the road link between Mathura and Deeg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mathura district</span> District of Uttar Pradesh in India

Mathura district situated along the banks of the river Yamuna is a district of Uttar Pradesh state of north-central India. The historic city of Mathura is the district headquarters. Mathura district is home to many important sites associated with goddess Radha and Lord Krishna, who was born in Mathura and grew up in the nearby town of Vrindavan. Both cities are some of the most sacred sites in the Vaishnava tradition, making Mathura district an important Hindu pilgrimage centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Govardhan Hill</span> Sacred Hindu site in Uttar Pradesh, India

Govardhana Hill, also called Mount Govardhana and Giriraj, is a sacred Hindu site in the Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, India on an 8 km long hill located in the area of Govardhan and Radha Kund, which is about 21 kilometres (13 mi) from Vrindavan. It is the sacred centre of Braj and is identified as a natural form of Krishna, the Govardhana Shila.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gokul</span> Town in Uttar Pradesh, India

Gokul is a town in the Mathura district of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is located 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) south-east of Mathura. In pre-sixteenth century texts Mahaban and Gokul are identical, but starting in the late sixteenth century the two places became distinct. Gokul is a historic center of the Pushtimarg. The town was expanded by Viṭṭhalanātha, son of Vallabha, who received imperial firmans that granted him rights over lands in the town. Gokul was formerly the home of Navanitpriya and the seven Pushtimarg svarups.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barsana</span> Town in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India

Barsana is a historical town and nagar panchayat in the Mathura district of the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. The town holds cultural and religious significance as the birthplace of Hindu goddess Radha, the chief consort of Krishna. Barsana is situated in the Braj region. The main attraction of the town is the historical Radha Rani Temple which attracts huge number of devotees throughout the year.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jyotisar</span> Hindu pilgrimage site in India

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<i>Radhe Radhe</i> Greeting associated with Goddess Radha, often used in the Braj region of India

Radhe Radhe,, also spelled Radhey Radhey, is a Hindi expression used as a greeting and salutation in the Braj region of India. The greeting is associated with the Hindu goddess Radha, who is the consort of Krishna. She is worshiped as the queen of the Braj region, which includes Vrindavan, Barsana, Gokul, Nandgaon, Mathura, Govardhan and Bhandirvan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hindu pilgrimage sites in India</span>

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Vraja Mandal Parikrama, also called VrajaYatra, is a Nimbarka Sampradaya Hindu pilgrimage related to Krishna with the circumambulation At present Vraja Parikrama Pradhan Mahant Sri Sri 108 Swami Rasbiharidas Kathiababaji Maharajji of 84 kos Vraja region (Braja) which takes 1 to 2 months depending on the route and speed of travel on foot. The Nimbarka Sampradaya tradition Vaishnava Nagaji Maharaj only performed 84 crore Vraja Parikrama 530 years ago. Since this is a site associated with the vedic era Lord Krishna and mahabharata, it is an important place of pilgrimage for Hindus. It is one of 3 main pilgrimage sites related to "Krishna" circuit, namely "48 kos parikrama of Kurukshetra" in Haryana state, "Braj parikarma" in Mathura in Uttar Pradesh state and "Dwarka parkarma" at Dwarkadhish Temple in Gujarat state

<i>Yatra</i> Pilgrimage in Indian religions

Yātrā, in Indian-origin religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism, generally means a pilgrimage to holy places such as confluences of sacred rivers, sacred mountains, places associated with Hindu epics such as the Mahabharata and Ramayana, and other sacred pilgrimage sites. Visiting a sacred place is believed by the pilgrim to purify the self and bring one closer to the divine. The journey itself is as important as the destination, and the hardships of travel serve as an act of devotion in themselves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Govardhana Shila</span> Sacred rock of Govardhan Hill

The Govardhana Shila is a rock from the Govardhana Hill in Braj, Uttar Pradesh, India. Govardhan Hill holds a unique position in Hindu scriptures related to Krishna, the land called Braj where He was born. Known as Govardhan or Giriraj and being the sacred centre of Braj, it is identified as a natural form of Krishna. Indian art overwhelmingly prefers the iconic image, but some aniconism does occur in folk worship, early Buddhism, Shiva's Banalinga, and Vishnu's Shaligrama). They have solar significance, and their use in worship predates the Hindu period in India. The stone is usually brown in colour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">48 kos parikrama</span> Hindu Pilgrimage

The 48 kos parikrama is a parikrama of various Mahabharata-related and other Vedic-era tirthas around the holy city of Kurukshetra in the state of Haryana, India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kusum Sarovar</span> Historic and sacred site in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh

Kusum Sarovar is a sacred water reservoir with a historic sand monument in its backdrop. It is situated on the holy Govardhan Hill between Manasi Ganga and Radha Kund in Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, India. Kusum Sarovar is considered one of the sacred spots that witnessed the pastimes of Hindu deities Radha and Krishna. It is also the place of Jat ruler Maharaja Suraj Mal's memorial chhatri. Kusum Sarovar has Narada Kund, where Bhakti Sutra verses were written by Narada and the Shri Radha Vana Bihari Temple in the vicinity.

Kotwan is a village in the Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is the site where according to Hinduism, Krishna spent his childhood and is one of the main places in the Braj Bhoomi region. The Village is about 100 km away from Agra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Radha Rani Temple</span> Hindu temple dedicated to Radha Krishna in Barsana

Shri Radha Rani Temple, is a historical Hindu temple, located in Barsana in Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh, India. The temple is dedicated to the goddess Radha. The main deities of the temple are Radha Krishna who are worshipped together in the form of Shri Laadli Lal which means beloved daughter and son of the town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Radha Krishna Vivah Sthali, Bhandirvan</span> The place of Radha Krishnas marriage

Radha Krishna Vivah Sthali is a Hindu temple dedicated to Radha and Krishna. The temple site is present in the Bhandirvan forest of Mant constituency in Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh, India. The site holds cultural importance as according to Sanskrit scriptures - Braham Vaivarta Purana and Garga Samhita, Radha and Krishna were married in Bhandirvan forest in the presence of Brahma, the creator, who also became the priest and solemnized their wedding ceremony. Annually, this divine wedding is celebrated on the occasion of Phulera Dooj which usually falls in the month of February - March.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Janet Cochrane, 2008, Asian Tourism: Growth and Change, page 249.
  2. Lucia Michelutti (2002). "Sons of Krishna: the politics of Yadav community formation in a North Indian town" (PDF). PhD Thesis Social Anthropology. London School of Economics and Political Science University of London. p. 49. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  3. Lynch, Owen M. (31 December 1990), "ONE. The Social Construction of Emotion in India", Divine Passions, University of California Press, pp. 3–34, doi:10.1525/9780520309753-002, ISBN   978-0-520-30975-3
  4. 1 2 Lucia Michelutti (2002). "Sons of Krishna: the politics of Yadav community formation in a North Indian town" (PDF). PhD Thesis Social Anthropology. London School of Economics and Political Science University of London. p. 46. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  5. Prasad, Dev (2015). Krishna: A Journey through the Lands & Legends of Krishna. Jaico Publishing House. ISBN   978-81-8495-170-7.
  6. Entwistle, Alan William (1987). "The Pilgrimage Itinerary". Braj: A Center of Krishna Pilgrimage. Egbert Forsten. pp. 309–429.

Further reading