Kurukshetra – Jyotisar

Dharmakshetra Kurukshetra, where at Jyotisar, beneath a banyan tree, Shri Krishna spoke the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna.

The very first verse of the Bhagavad Gita opens with the words "dharmakshetre kurukshetre". According to the Mahabharata, this is the land where the great war between the Kauravas and the Pandavas was fought. Before the battle began, when Arjuna was overcome by confusion and grief, Shri Krishna, who had become his charioteer, gave him the immortal teaching of action, knowledge and devotion and revealed his universal form. According to tradition this teaching was given at Jyotisar, near the town of Kurukshetra.

At Jyotisar stands an ancient banyan tree which devotees revere as the witness of the Gita teaching. Near it are a tableau of Krishna instructing Arjuna on the chariot, a sacred tank and temples, and the atmosphere is peaceful for reading the Gita. In the town itself, the vast Brahma Sarovar is Kurukshetra's best-known tirtha; bathing here during a solar eclipse is considered especially meritorious. Sannihit Sarovar, Bhishma Kund and the Shri Krishna Museum are also worth visiting, and many other places linked with the Mahabharata are spread across the Kurukshetra region.

The eleventh day of the bright fortnight of Margashirsha, known as Mokshada Ekadashi, is celebrated as Gita Jayanti. Around this time the International Gita Mahotsav is held here, with lamp offerings at Brahma Sarovar, Gita recitation, cultural programmes and a large fair.

Practical note: Kurukshetra is in Haryana on the Delhi–Ambala railway line, and Kurukshetra Junction is the local station. Jyotisar is a short distance from the town and easily reached by road. For lovers of the Gita, sitting here and reading its verses is an unforgettable experience.

State

Haryana

Nearest City

Kurukshetra (Thanesar)

Main Temples

Jyotisar, Brahma Sarovar, Sannihit Sarovar, Bhishma Kund, Shri Krishna Museum

Associated Leela

Speaking of the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna