Prayagraj, Amrit Vichar: Prayagraj has been the first choice of the Chinese for almost 1400 years. Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang has also mentioned this clearly in his book. China and surrounding countries have been greatly attracted by the cultural heritage of India. That is why in ancient times, China sent five of its travelers one by one to get information about the cultural importance of India. Hiuen Tsang came here and studied every corner of India for 16 years. In 644 AD he described the kingdom of the powerful king Harshvardhan as the one with the highest grain yield. Not only this, he has written in his book that Prayagraj is the area of climate, health and trees with the highest number of fruits. The people of Prayagraj and surrounding areas are polite, well-mannered and learning-loving. All the archeology and survey here also proves that Prayag did not become the pilgrimage center just like that.
In ancient times, more than 5 lakh people used to gather on the sands of Sangam.
Regarding the cultural importance of Prayagraj, Hiuen Tsang has written in his book Si-Yu-Ki that the great kings and maharajas of the country used to gather here to celebrate the festival of charity. Among these, the reign of the most glorious and powerful king Harshvardhan was the most prominent. There is an interesting description of the importance of Prayag in ancient times in Hiuen Tsang’s book. Hieun Tsang has written that in ancient times, religious festivals were celebrated on a large scale in Prayagraj, in which more than 5 lakh people would gather. Big kings and maharajas of the country used to participate in this cultural program. He has written that the expansion of this big state is up to 500 li (05 li = 01 mile). Prayag is situated in a circle of 20 li between the two holy rivers Ganga and Yamuna. The climate here is hot. Also, the environment is very favorable from health point of view.
Temple, Akshaya Vat also mentioned
The Chinese traveler has written that there is a god temple in the city (present day Patalpuri temple inside the fort) which is world famous for its decoration and unique miracles. People believe that by offering one penny here, one gets the same virtue as by donating one thousand coins. There is a huge tree (Akshay Vat) in the courtyard of the temple, whose branches and leaves spread far and wide. All sins are destroyed just by taking bath here. People coming to Prayagraj do not take food for 7 days and eat rice for one day. There is a beautiful and clean sand covered plain between two rivers. It is here at the Sangam that the richest people of the country come and leave after donating everything.
Prayagraj has been developing since the Paleolithic period
In Meja tehsil of Prayagraj, the cultural development sequence of Palaeolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic periods can be seen in the deposits of Belan and Tons rivers. Apart from this, the Department of Ancient History of Allahabad University had done survey work in Belan, Sevati area in 1962-63, in which ancient places like Hanumanganj, Lone Valley, Majhgawan came to light. Evidence of early humans has also been obtained from the survey of Belan Valley. The cultural remains and pottery fragments found here provide information about the people who lived here. The objects found here provide strong evidence of the development of Neolithic culture.
Like Emperor Harsh Vardhan, CM Yogi is the hero of the development of Prayagraj.
Anupam Parihar, editor of Saraswati Patrika, says that Chinese traveler Xuanzang is the second Chinese traveler who has written in such detail about India, especially Prayagraj. Anupam Parihar himself, in his book ‘Religious and Spiritual Heritage of Prayag’, has described Emperor Harshvardhan as the glorious king who organized the biggest event on Triveni Sangam for the development of the people. He says that like Emperor Harsh Vardhan, the current Chief Minister of the state Yogi Adityanath is also the hero of the development of Prayagraj. This time under the leadership of CM Yogi, an amount of more than Rs. 6 thousand crores is being spent to make the Mahakumbh divine and grand. It is the result of his developmental policies that the world’s biggest festival is going to be organized in Prayagraj.
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