Amrit Vichar, Mahakumbh Nagar: Sanatan culture is known as the oldest living culture of the world. Tirtharaj Prayagraj has the foremost place among the oldest cities of Sanatan culture. According to mythological belief, Prayagraj is the king of all the holy pilgrimages of Sanatan culture, Saptapuris are considered their queens.
The main reason for considering Prayagraj as the place of pilgrimage is the confluence of the holy Mother Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati rivers and the first Yagya of creation by the creator Lord Brahma himself. Because of this natural yagya, this area of Triveni Sangam is known as Prayag. According to Padmapuran, Lord Brahma himself established Shivalinga on the banks of Ganga and performed ten Ashwamedha Yagya. Since then, this ghat of Ganga ji is known as Dashashwamedh Ghat. Here, mere darshan of Brahmeshwar Mahadev in Dashashwamedh temple gives instant results. On the advice of sage Markandeya, Dharmaraja Yudhishthir also performed Dashashwamedha Yagya here.
The antiquity and greatness of Prayagraj is known from the description of the stories of Prayagraj in the Vedas and Puranas. Prayagraj is described in the oldest text of Sanatan culture, Rigveda, as the capital of Chandravanshi king Ila. The glory of Prayag area is found in Ramayana, Mahabharata, Padma Purana, Skandha Purana, Matsya Purana, Brahmavaivarta Purana and in the stories of many great rulers. According to the story of Padmapuran, after the creation of the universe, the creator Lord Brahma performed the first yagya of the universe on the banks of Ganga. Being the first sacrificial place of creation, this sacred area of Ganga was called Prayag.
Lord Brahma performed ten Ashwamedha Yagya on the banks of Ganga.
According to the legend, Lord Brahma had performed ten Ashwamedha Yagya on the banks of Ganga. For this reason, this ghat of Ganga ji is known as Dashashwamedh Ghat. Brahmaji himself had established Brahmeshwar Shivalinga on this shore. According to the story of Padma Purana, after the creation of the universe, Lord Brahma, in the form of Ritvija, performed ten Ashwamedha Yagyas with Vedic mantras on the banks of Ganga. Lord Vishnu himself was the host in this Yagya and the sacrificial offering of the Yagya was being offered to Lord Shiva. To protect the Yagya, twelve Madhavs were born from the Madhav form of Lord Vishnu. Which are established around the entire Yagya area in the form of Dwadashmadhav. It is because of this first, natural yagya of creation that this area came to be known as Prayag. Prayagraj was called Tirtharaj because it was the first pilgrimage site of Sanatan faith.
Brahmeshwar Mahadev is established by Lord Brahma.
On this very bank of Ganga, Lord Brahma had established and worshiped Brahmeshwar Shivalinga. According to mythological belief, seeing and worshiping this Shivalinga gives immediate results. This Shivling is still installed in the Dashashwamedh temple in Darganj, Prayagraj. Vimal Giri, the priest of the Dashashwamedh temple, said that this is the only Shiva temple in the country where two Shivlingas are worshiped together. He told that Mughal invader Aurangzeb had tried to destroy this temple. According to folklore, due to the blow of his sword, a stream of milk and blood started flowing from the Shivalinga simultaneously. Seeing this he was shocked and returned without causing any damage to the temple. Due to the breakage of Shivalinga, Dashashwevar Shivalinga was also established in the temple. But due to the belief that it was established by Lord Brahma himself and the miraculous power of Brahmeshwar Shivalinga, it was not removed from the temple. Since then, two Shivalingas are worshiped together in the Dasashwamedh temple.
Worship has special significance in the month of Shravan
Temple priest Vimal Giri said that worshiping Shivalinga in the month of Shravan has special significance. The Kanvaniyas who perform Jalabhishek to Kashi Vishwanath in the month of Shravan take Ganga water from Dashashwamedh Ghat to Kashi Kanwar only after worshiping Brahmeshwar Shiva. According to mythological belief, worshiping Brahmeshwar Shivling gives immediate results. Being the first place of Yagya in the universe, Yagya and penance performed here also bear fruit quickly. He told that according to the story of Mahabharata, on the advice of Markandeya sage, Dharmaraja Yudhishthir also performed ten Ashwamedha Yagya here and achieved victory in Mahabharata.
Attainment of Brahmalok by worshiping Brahmeshwar Shivalinga
According to the local people, in ancient times there was a Brahma Kund at Dashashwamedh Ghat, which has become extinct with time. It is believed that this pond was also built by Lord Brahma and by anointing Lord Shiva with its water, a person would be freed from the triple heat. In Prayag area, shaving and donating hair is considered fruitful. It is believed that by worshiping Brahmeshwar Shivling after bathing in Ganga in Prayag, one attains Brahmalok after death.
Rejuvenation of Dashashwamedh temple and ghat
In accordance with the sentiments of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath towards mythological belief, importance and eternal faith, special renovation and beautification work of Dashashwamedh Temple and Ghat of Prayagraj is being done in Mahakumbh 2025. The Tourism Department has not only done the restoration work of the temple and ghat with red sand stone. Besides, the temple has also been beautified through carving, painting and lighting. Devotees coming to Prayagraj for Mahakumbh will be able to have easy darshan and worship at Dashashwamedh temple for fulfillment of their wishes. Local people say that before CM Yogi, no government had taken any care of renovating the temple. At present the Dashashwamedh temple and ghat have regained their ancient glory.
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