Pehowa is a town and a municipal committee in Kurukshetra district in the Indian state of Haryana. It is an important sacred Hindu pilgrimage site, related to Krishna and Mahabharata, within the 48 Kos Parikrama of Kurukshetra. The Hindu genealogy registers at Peohwa, Haryana are kept here at the Pruthudak Tirath on the banks of Sarasvati river.
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Pehowa
Prithudak | |
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Town | |
Pehowa Location in Haryana, India Show map of HaryanaPehowa Pehowa (India) Show map of India | |
Coordinates: 29.98°N 76.58°E / 29.98; 76.58 | |
Country | India |
State | Haryana |
District | Kurukshetra |
Government | |
• Type | democratic |
• Body | Municipal committee |
• Member of Legislative Assembly | Sandeep Singh (Bhartiya Janata Party) |
• Mayor | Ashish Sharma Chakrapani |
Elevation | 224 m (735 ft) |
Population (2011)[1] | |
• Total | 38,853 |
Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
ISO 3166 code | IN-HR |
Vehicle registration | HR 41 |
Website | haryana |
Pehowa is an ancient city and its religious significance is mentioned in several puranas, such as Skanda Purana (1st to 5th century CE), Markandeya Purana (4th to 6th century CE) and Vamana Purana (5th to 11th century CE).[2]
Two inscriptions dated ninth Century CE found at Pehowa mention that the place was controlled by Mahendrapala, of Kanauj and a Vishnu temple was constructed at this place by Tomara family, but such historic temple is not found in present day Pehowa.[3] The earliest extant historical reference to the Tomara dynasty occurs in the Pehowa inscription issued during the reign of the Pratihara king Mahendrapala I (r. c. 885-910 CE) [Tomars of Delhi were vassals of Partiharas of Kannauj].[4] This undated inscription states that Jaula of the Tomara family became prosperous by serving an unnamed king. His descendants included Vajrata, Jajjuka, and Gogga. The inscription suggests that Gogga was a vassal of Mahendrapala I. It records the construction of three Vishnu temples by Gogga and his step-brothers Purna-raja and Deva-raja. The temples were located at Prithudaka (IAST: Pṛthūdaka; Pehowa), on the banks of the river Sarasvati.[5] No information is available about the immediate successors of Gogga.[6] The Pehowa inscription suggests that this particular Tomara family was settled around the Karnal area. However, F. Kielhorn suggested that this Tomara family actually resided in Delhi: they may have visited Pehowa on pilgrimage, and built a temple there.[7]
Pehowa is located at 29.98°N 76.58°E / 29.98; 76.58.[8] It has an average elevation of 224 metres (734 feet). The Tehsil Pehowa was created on 1 November 1979 and is situated at a distance of 27 km in west from Kurukshetra.[9] and 26 km North-west from Pundri
As of 2011[update] India census,[10] Pehowa had a population of 38,853. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Pehowa has a literacy rate of 82.12%, higher than the Haryana average of 75.55%, with male literacy at 87%, and female literacy it 77%. In Pehowa, 11.72% of the population is under 6 years of age. Punjabi and Haryanvi dialects are spoken in the countryside, while Hindi is the most commonly spoken language.
Pehowa is considered a religious place of high importance and to highlight the sanctity of the place, Haryana State Government has banned sale, possession, consumption and purchase of non-vegetarian food in the town limits.[11] Slaughtering of animals is also banned in the town through the court orders.[11] During Mahabharta, soldiers who laid down their lives in the battle of Kurukshetra were cremated at Pehowa. Pehowa is considered a sacred place of pilgrimage for all Hindus as well as Sikhs too.[12]
Prithudak is one of the important tirtha in the 48 kos parikrama of Kurukshetra.
Pehowa is a very ancient town, believed to pre-date the Mahabharat War by many centuries as it flourished on the banks of now dried up Saraswati River in those days. By the time of the Mahabharata war, the river had long dried up, yet was still a very holy place where people offered "Pinda Pradhan" to their ancestors. It is still called as "Pitrudhak Teerth" and was the holiest place for these oblations to be done much before Prayag or Gaya as the local legend goes. Lord Krishna is believed to have taken the Pandavas to this place before the war started and made them take the blessings of Sarasawati Mata and of their ancestors.[12] The river, which in 2006 did not have any inflows nor outflows and was stagnant.[12] was made perennial under Sarasvatio Revival Project.
Saraswati Sarovar is located in this town, where people perform pooja and religious rituals.[12] The Pillars on the entrance to the Saraswati Temple date many centuries.[citation needed]
In 2021, Haryana Sarasvati Heritage Development Board initiated projects to develop 5 river fronts on the rejuvenated Sarasvati river at Pipli, Pehowa, Bilaspur, Dosarka (on Panchkula-Yamunanagar NH-344 near Sirsgarh) and the Theh Polar (near Sarasvati-Sindhu Civilisation archaeological site on Kaithal-Guhla SH-11). Pipli riverfront will be on the pattern Sabarmati Riverfront.[13]
Hindu genealogy registers at Pehowa are the genealogy registers of pilgrims maintained here by pandas.[14][15][16]
Pehowa is known to be an important place and pilgrimage on the banks of mythical and revered Sarasvati River. There is an ancient temple dedicated to Goddess/River Saraswati.[9] This is another temple of this city forming a part of 48 kos parikrama of Kurukshetra.
Kartikeya Temple, Pehowa is a 5th century temple.[9]
Arunai Shiva Temple at Arunai is part of 48 kos Parikrama.[17] In 2021, the Centre of Excellence for Research on the Saraswati River (CERSR) of Kurukshetra University excavated an ancient ghat next to Arunai temple on the paleochannel of Sarasvati River. The ghat has 12 stairs, the depth of archaeological trench and stairs is ~4 metre. According to Prof AR Chaudhri, Director of CERSR, "This bathing ghat falls on the Saraswati River paleochannel identified by CERSR and represents a unique case where the details mentioned in holy scriptures and the scientific investigations match."[18]
Pehowa is a place of significant commercial importance and continues to sustain a lot of diverse industries.[24]
Until about the mid-20th century, the Pehowa area was covered with dhak trees (Butea frondosa). With the introduction of irrigation, it has become one of the state’s granaries for wheat and rice.[25]
The city has many brick kilns and is considered as a hub of brick production. Main brick kilns of the city include Mahabir Bhatta Company situated at Arnaicha Pehowa.[26]
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48 kos parikrama of Kurukshetra Part of a series on Hindu temples in Haryana | |
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Context | |
Kurukshetra | 1. Arunai 2. Prachi 3. Saraswati 4. Brahmayoni 5. Prithudak, Pehowa 6. Shalihotra, Sarsa 7. Bhisma Kund, Narkatari 8. Ban Ganga, Dyalpur 9. Kulotaran 10. Brahma Sarovar 11. Sannihit Sarovar 12. Bhadrakali 13. Aditi Tirtha and Abhimanyu ka Tila, Amin 14. Jyotisar 15. Som Tirtha, Sainsa 16. Shukra Tirtha, Sataura 17. Galav 18. Saptasarsvta 19. Brahma Sthan 20. Som Tirtha, Gumthala gadu 21. Manipurak 22. Bhurishrava 23. Lomash 24. Kamyak 25. Aapga 26. Karan ka Tila 27. Nabhikamal, Thanesar 28. Rantuk Yaksha, Bid Pipli 29. Sthaneshwar Mahadev Temple 30. Ojas 31. Renuka |
Jind | 32. Bhuteshwar 33. Ekhamsa 34. Ramhrad 35. Sannehit, Ramrai 36. Pushkar, Pohkarkheri 37. Som tirtha, Pindara 38. Varahakalan 39. Ashwinikumar 40. Jamdagni 41. Yayati 42. Panchnanda(Hatkeshwar) 43. Sarpadadhi 44. Sarpadaman 45. Kayashodan 46. Vamsamulam 47. Khageshwar 48. Ramsar 49. Lohrishi/Lokodwar |
Panipat | 50. Tarntauk Yaksha |
Kaithal | 51. Pawanhrad 52. Falgu, Faral 53. Pawaneshwar 54. Kapil Muni, Kalayat 55. Pundrik, Pundri 56. Trivishtap 57. Kotikut 58. Banteshwar 59. Namish 60. Vedvati 61. Vridkedar, Kaithal 62. Sarak 63. Manush 64. Navadurga 65. Gyaraharudri, Kaithal 66. Aapga 67. Juhomi 68. Vishnupada 69. Yajnasanjna 70. Kapilmuni, Kaul 71. Kulotaran 72. Garhratheshwar 73. Matri 74. Suryakunda 75. Havya 76. Chakramani 77. Rasamangal 78. Mukteshwar 79. Sri tirtha 80. Srikunja 81. Ekshumati 82. Sutirtha 83. Brahmavarta 84. Arantuk Yaksha 85. Sringi Rishi 86. Gobhwan 87. Suryakunda, Sajuma 88. Seetvan 89. Brombhodumber 90. Anyajanma 91. Devi tirtha, Kalsi 92. Dhruvakunda 93. Kukrityanashan 94. Kavya 95. Lavakusha 96. Vamana 97. Rinmochan 98. Alepak 99. Devi tirtha, Mohna 100. Gandharva |
Karnal | 101. Vedvati 102. Mishrak, Nisang 103. Aahan 104. Trigunananda 105. Pawan tirtha, Uplana 106. Jambunand 107. Dasshswamedha 108. Dhankshetra, Assandh 109. Jarasandha ka kila, Assandh 110. Vimalsar 111. Dasaratha/Raghvendra 112. Prithavi 113. Parashar 114. Daksheshwar 115. Vyasa Sthali 116. Goutam rishi/ Gavendra 117. Brahma tirtha, Sawant 118. Akshyavata 119. Falgu, Fafdana 120. Jyesthashrama 121. Koti 122. Surya tirtha, Borshyam 123. Vishnuhrad (Vishnupad) 124. Brahma tirtha, Rasalwa 125. Anjani 126. Jamdagni, Jalmana 127. Sudin and Narvada 128. Tripurari 129. Som tirtha, Samana Bahu 130. Chuchukaranva 131. Koti tirtha, Kurnal 132. Panchdeva 133. Prokshini 134. Kaushiki |
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