Nepa or Kirata or Kinnara rulers [(stories related to Bhimasen’s son Ghatotkach (Ghatotkach’s mother is a Mongol origin woman)]; Ghatotkacha’s son Valiraja and his son Yalungpa or Yalmva/Yalamvar; and Akashabhairava and the first Kirata or Nepa ruler’s participation or presence in the Mahabharata war of circa 9th century BC have made Kathmandu Valley itself in a broad sense, an important place of Mahabharata pilgrimage site. The spiritual and philosophical connection between the Akashabhairabha and Pandava brother Bhimasena or Bhindya needs to be understood properly in order to understand the concept of the Mahabharata spiritual circuit well.
The connection of Western Nepal’s Rurukshetra (Ridhi) with the story of Rishikesha of India is an important tradition that is related to the description of the Mahabharata. An important spiritual tradition is one representing the deity Rishikesha with the statue of Krishna-Balarama as the main deity of the Temple of Rishikesha. It must be understood clearly that Rishikesha is believed to be the incarnation (awatara) of Krishna-Balarama, a dominating character of the Mahabharata.
Sacred rivers that originated in the Himalayan regions of Nepal or the Trans-Himalayan parts of the Himalayan region cannot be separated from the notion of the cultural geography of the Mahabharata. It is clear that in most cases, the River Valley civilisation system of the Kaushiki (Koshi), Gandaki and Karnali starts from the Trans-Himalayan parts of Nepal and Tibet. Nonetheless, please note that at least through the explanation of hydrological sciences, the sources of many of these river tributaries have been traced to be the glacier lakes and snowy peaks of the Himalayan region.
There is a pervasive belief that the Pandava brothers went for a trans-Himalayan pilgrimage up to the Yakshdesha, also known popularly as the Kailasha-Manasarovara region or Swarga (ultimate abode of the Kailashapati Mahadeva and other gods and goddesses).
There is a pervasive belief that The Pandava brothers went for a trans-Himalayan pilgrimage up to the Yakshdesha, also known popularly as Kailasha-Manasarovara region or Swarga(ultimate place of the Kailashapati Mahadeva and other gods and goddesses.). The question relating to the connection of Panchapandava’s
Bhediyari is the spiritual and archaeological site of the ancient palace of King Birat, where the Pandavas had the shelter in disguise commonly known as Guptavasa. Mahabharata Birata-parva has a discussion about the story of Pandavas disguised stay in the palace of King Birata as helpers and entertainers.
Arjunpokhari or Arjundhara has been turned into a common pilgrimage center for the Vedic-Sanatanis with dominating and attractive temple of Lord Shiva. However the main water pond and the waterspout of this site is the main Mahabharata spiritual center.
There are Historical and archaeological places relating to the stories of Mahabharata in the Kaushiki Valley (Koshi region) which include: Barahakshetra, Dharan/Vijayapur/Pindeshwar, Pindeshwar temple, Vijayapur, Dharan, Biratnagar and Jhapa
Siddhakalika Peeth of Sankhuwasabha, Chainpur and the story of Dashadikpala’s visit
Supported by Dr. Pabitra Khadka Pyuthan’s headquarters is 26 kilometres from Khalanga. The Swargadwari Ashram is located on a hill at a height of about 2,122 metres (6,960 ft) in West Swargadwari. Yajna has been going on here continuously for 100 years now. There is a pagoda style temple of Lord Shiva.
It is the capital of Guru Dronacharya’s Kingdom of North Panchala Janapada. It is believed that Guru Dronacharya defeated King Drupada of Panchala Mahajanapada with the help of his pupils, the five Pandava brothers Yudhisthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva. As the belief goes, Guru Dronacharya and King Drupada were friends. But over time things changed and Drupada became King and Dronacharya did not have work. During this time of need Dronacharya went to his childhood friend Drupada to request for a cow to help his son but was belittled and denied the request. Deeply hurt and angry, Guru Dronacharya finds a way forward and in time, becomes the Guru of the Princes of Kuru Kingdom.
It was known as Vyaghraprastha, which is derived from being the land of tigers. During the Mughal Era the city was named as Bhaghpat by Mughal rulers of Delhi in reference to the city’s gardens. It was listed in the book Ain-i-Akbari as a Paragana or district of Delhi (Indraprastha) rulers.
Dwarka is often identified with the Dwarka Kingdom, described in the Bhagavata Purana as the ancient kingdom of Krishna, and was the first capital of Gujarat. The main festival of Janmashtami is celebrated in Bhadrapada (August–September). The city's name literally means gateway. Dwarka has also been referred to throughout its history as "Mokshapuri", "Dwarkamati", and "Dwarkavati". It is mentioned in the ancient Itihasa of Bharat narrated in the Mahabharata. According to tradition, Krishna settled here after he defeated and killed his uncle Kansa at Mathura. This legendary account of Krishna's migration to Dwarka from Mathura is closely associated with the culture of Gujarat. Krishna is also said to have reclaimed 12 yojanas or 96 square kilometers (37 sq mi) of land from the sea to create Dwarka.
The city was named founded by king Hastin of the Paurava dynasty. He founded and expanded it as a large prosperous region of significance. In Sanskrit, Hastinapura translates to 'the City of Elephants' from Hastina (elephant) and pura (city). Its history dates back to the period of Mahabharata. Several evidences note that the city was named after King Hasti.
Indraprastha, "Plain of Indra" or "City of Indra", is mentioned in ancient Indian Itihasa as a city of the Kuru Kingdom. It was the capital of the kingdom led by the Pandavas mentioned in Mahabharata . Under the Pali form of its name, Indapatta, it is also mentioned in Buddhist texts as the capital of the Kuru mahajanapada. As per revenue record of 1877 the vast kingdom the New Delhi area of today is registered as Indraprastha paragana or Mouza Indraprastha signifying a district. Many Government Gazetteers mention the existence and location of this place. However modern historical research pin the location of Pandava palace area in the region of present-day New Delhi (Indraprastha), particularly the Old Fort (Purana Qila). The city is sometimes also known as Khandavaprastha or Khandava Forest, the name of a forest region on the banks of Yamuna river where Pandavas restored the traditional rituals of Indra namely the Yajna or fire sacrifices. The wrong interpretation about burning of the forest has created misperception that the Pandavas actually burnt the forest. In reality they cleared certain portion to establish the city infrastructure.
Kampilya was linked to the Suryavamsi kings of Ayodhya also. One example is the installation in Kampil of a Sivalingam named Rameshvara by the hand of Satrughna, brother of Sri Ramacandra. Another interesting link is of Hiranyanabha, of the Iksvaku progeny, who was the 17th ruler of Ayodhya after Sri Ramacandra. He was a great preceptor of Yogic science and had a relation of Guru-Sisya with the king of Kampilya, Krta.
In Sanskrit the word Kashi means ‘shinning’ and gives this ancient Kingdom City - State its name. Kashi is today also known as Varanasi which is derived from river Varuna and Assi Ghat- Varuna-Assi popularly Varanasi.
According to the Puranas, Kurukshetra is named after King Kuru, the ancestor of Kauravas and Pandavas, as mentioned in Mahabharata Itihasa. Shetra also denots agricultural land and since Kuru cultivated this land, it came to be known as Kurukshetra. King Kuru had performed asceticism after which the land came to be known as Kurukshetra. Until then, it was called Kuru-Jangla (Mbh 1.94). (Perhaps ’tilling the soil’ is a reference to asceticism, or Kuru tilled the land to support his asceticism).
Magadha was a region and one of the sixteen Mahajanapadas, 'Great Kingdoms' of the ancient Itihasa what is now south Bihar (before expansion) at the eastern Ganges Plain. Magahi or Magadhi is the language of Magadha which is still spoken in southern Bihar. Magadha was ruled by Brihadratha dynasty, Pradyota dynasty, Haryanka dynasty, and the Shaishunaga dynasty. Villages had their own assemblies under their local chiefs called Gramakas. Their administrations were divided into executive, judicial, and military functions.
Mathura, which lies at the centre of the cultural region of Braj has an ancient history and is the homeland and birthplace of Sri Krishna, who belonged to the Yadu dynasty. According to the Archaeological Survey of India plaque at the Mathura Museum, the city is mentioned in the oldest Indian epic, the Ramayana. In the epic, the Ikshwaku prince Shatrughna (brother of Sri Rama) slays a demon called Lavanasura and claims the land. Afterwards, the place came to be known as Madhuvan as it was thickly wooded, then Madhupura and later Mathura. The most important pilgrimage site in Mathura was Katra ('market place'), now referred to as Krishna Janmasthan ('the birthplace of Krishna'). Excavations at the few site have revealed painted grey ware (PGW) linked to time of Itihasa of Mahabharata. Also revealed terracotta, the remains of a large Buddhist complex, including a monastery called Yasha Vihara of the Gupta period, as well as Jain sculptures of the same era.
Drupada the king of Panchala fought for the Pandavas as he was their Father in law and also wanted to revenge his daughter's insult. Bhishma ranked him a Mighty Maharathi, his son Dhrishtadyumna as an Atirathi and Shikhandi, his son as a Rathi. He provided 3 Akshauhinis armies to the Pandavas.
Shukrataal means sacred pond, where in taal is the reference to the large water bodies. This being the auspicious place where Rishi Sukhadev descendent of Maharishi Vyasa preached sacred knowledge to Parikshit, it acquires the name of propitious water bodies, Shukrataal.
