Braj
Braj | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Country |  India |
| Region | Northern India |
| Proposed capitals | Mathura, Agra |
| Proposed Districts | |
| Language | Braj Bhasha dialect of Hindi |
Braj, also known as Brij or Brijbhoomi, is a region in India on both sides of the Yamuna river with its center at Mathura-Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh state encompassing the area which also includes Hodal in Haryana state and Bharatpur district in Rajasthan state.[1] Within Uttar Pradesh it is very well demarcated culturally in the area which stretches from the core Mathura to Aligarh, Hathras, Etah, Firozabad, Mainpuri, Farrukhabad, Agra, Etawah and Auraiya.[2] This region is associated with the Krishna,[3] who was born in Mathura and since Vrindavan was his playground it is now the main centre of Krishna circuit of Hindu pilgrimage.[1]
It is located 150 km south of Delhi and 50 km northwest of Agra.[1]
Etymology[edit]
The term Braj is derived from the Sanskrit word vraja (व्रज).[3][4] Vraja was first mentioned in Rigveda, and in Sanskrit it means a pasture, shelter or resort for cattle from Sanskrit term "vraj" which means "go" in english.
Braj pilgrimage circuits[edit]
Since this is a site associated with the vedic era Lord Krishna and mahabharata, it is an important place of pilgrimage for Hindus. It is one of 3 main pilgrimage sites related to "Krishna" circuit, namely "48 kos parikrama of Kurukshetra" in Haryana state, "Braj parikarma" in Mathura in Uttar Pradesh state and "Dwarka parkarma" (Dwarkadish yatra) at Dwarkadhish Temple in Gujarat state.
Braj Yatra' circuit of pilgrimage was formally established by the 16th century sadhus of vaishnava sampradaya with fixed routes, itinerary and rituals. The circuit covers is spread across 2500 sqkm area with 84 kos or 300 km long periphery extending 10 km to east and 50 km to north and west. Braj has two main types of pilgrimage circuits, the traditional longer "Baj Yatra" encompassing the whole circuit, and the other shorter significantly modified contemporary point-to-point pilgrimage to visit the main sites at Mathura, Vrindavan, Gokul, Govardhan. The former, longer traditional pilgrimage route, also includes additional sacred sites Nandgaon and Barsana with travel on foot.[1]
See also[edit]
- Regional
- Braj language
- Vṛji, the ancient region of the Vṛji janapada that Bajjika evolved from
- Religious
- Vedic era
- General
Further reading[edit]
- Rupert Snell, The Hindi Classical Tradition: A Braj Bhasa Reader. Includes grammar, readings and translations, and a good glossary.
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d Janet Cochrane, 2008, Asian Tourism: Growth and Change, page 249.
- ^ Lucia Michelutti (2002). "Sons of Krishna: the politics of Yadav community formation in a North Indian town" (PDF). PhD Thesis Social Anthropology. London School of Economics and Political Science University of London. p. 49. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
- ^ a b Lucia Michelutti (2002). "Sons of Krishna: the politics of Yadav community formation in a North Indian town" (PDF). PhD Thesis Social Anthropology. London School of Economics and Political Science University of London. p. 46. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
- ^ Prasad, Dev (2015). Krishna: A Journey through the Lands & Legends of Krishna. Jaico Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-8495-170-7.
