History of Some Cities
Many of the cities'
description has been taken from Places, so one
can see the detailed description there too.
Ajamer
Bhavishya Puraan,
3/18Vayahaani (Chapahaani or Chauhaan) inhabited this city built by
Brahmaa Jee. "Aj" means Brahmaa; "m" means Lakshmee.
Lakshmee Jee built this city for Brahmaa Jee that is why it was called
Ajamer.
Badaree Naath
Badaree Naath was established by Aadi Shankaraachaarya Jee in 9th AD century.
Shankar discovered the image of Badree Naaraayan in the Alaknandaa River and
enshrined it in a cave near the Tapt Kund hot springs. In the 16th century,
the king of Garhwaal moved the Moorti to the present temple. The most important
feature of this temple is the one meter tall statue of Vishnu as Lord Badree
Naaraayan, made of black Shaal Graam stone. The statue is considered to be one
of eight Swayam Vyakt (or Swaayambhoo), or self-manifested statues of Vishnu.
Barhishmatee Nagaree (present Bithoor)
It has been mentioned at many places.
Bhaagvat Puraan,
8/3 says that "When Varaah Bhagavaan was bringing the Prithvi up from Rasaatal,
His furs fell at this place. After that the place was called Barhishmatee Nagaree. The
same fur were converted into evergreen Kush and Kaas. When Manu got this Nagaree to live,
he worshipped Shree Hari on the Aasan of this Kush and Kaas. The great king Sahstraarjun
was also the king of this place.
Bhaarat Varsh
This is not the name of the city, this is the name of our country. Our country
is known by the name of the King Bharat, son of
King Dushyant and
Shakuntalaa.
Bhuj
Bhuj is situated towards the
West side of Bhaarat Varsh. It was inhabited by Bhujvarmaa, the son of Shreepati.
Calcutta
Calcutta was founded by East India
Company after the 350 year old Kaalee Ghaat Temple in a small village that the
British decided would be the site of the new city. Kaalee was the patron deity
of the Indian Huglee cult. Members of this fraternity were assassinators and
surrenders who worshipping Kaalee in a rather Aghory way.
Dandak Van
Dandak is the name, and Van means forest.
This place was inhabited by Dand, that is why its name is Dandak Van.
Dhanushkoti
The tip of the land beyond Raameshwaram,
closest to Shree Lankaa, so called because it is shaped like a bow.
Gaandhaar Desh
According to
Agni Puraan, p 19, Bharat, Raam's brother, divided the area around Sindhu River
in two Pradesh - Gaandhaar and Madra Desh and gave them to his two sons - Taksh and
Pushkar. Dhritraashtra's wife Gaandhaaree came from this place. It is the Northwest
region of Saptsindhu, later it became a part of Afagaanistaan.
Gayaa
Gayaa is the city which Vishnu
is said to have blessed with power to absolve all temporal sins in the same way as
Vaaraanasee. This city is situated in present Bihaar state and is famous for doing
Shraaddh,
Gokarn
A holy site on Maalaabaar coast where
pilgrims go to worship Shiv Jee. It is related to Parashuraam Jee. See also
Prashuraam Kshetra
Hastinaapur
Hastinaapur was established by Hastee named
King of Chandra Vansh. Hastee was in the line of Dushyant ->Bharat ->Bhumanyu
->Suhotra ->Hastee. Its name is after the elephant. In fact Hasti means horse
as well as elephant, but its elephant version is more popular. It was the capital of
king Prateep, Shaantanu, Dhritraashta, Duryodhan etc.
Indraavatee
Present Indore in MP. Inhabited
by Agni Vanshee Indrapaal. (
Bhavishya Puraan, 3/18)
Jayapur
A major city in Raajsthaan, known
as red city also. The astronomer Prince Jaya Singh inhabited it. There is
Jantar Mantar here - an astronomical observatory.
Kaambuj Country (Cambodia)
Name of a country, later called Cambodia.
Cambodia word is derived from Sanskrit word Kambuj. Part of Cambodia was called
Funnan in the 2nd century AD. This kingdom was established by a Hindu king named
Kaundinya who along with his descendents ruled it for a 100 years. In the 4th
century AD another descendent of Kaundinya took over the country and established
Hindu culture throughout the country. Hindu ruled this country till the end of the
13th century AD.
Kaamod Pur
Near Haridwaar, built by Vishwakarmaa.
[Mentioned in Padm Puraan,
2/15]
Kaanyakubj Desh (see also Kannauj)
Present Kannauj in UP. Raashtrapaal
had two sons - Vijaya and Prajaya. Prajaya left his home and did Tap for Shaaradaa
Devee on the banks of Gangaa for 12 years. Shaaradaa Devee appeared before him. He
asked her a new city. He saw a beautiful city. In its Northern side was Gangaa, in
its South was Paanduraa, in its West was Eesh Saritaa, and in its East was Markan
bird's place. This place was a little odd shaped. Because of being built by a girl
(Kanyaa) and being a little odd shaped, it became famous by the name as Kaanyakubj.
Kannauj
Name of a city in western UP. This is
one of the oldest cities in the world. It is 4,000 or more years old. It was the
capital of Kaanyakubj where Jahnu (who drank Gangaa's water), the ancestor of king
Kushik (grandfather of Vishwaamitra) ruled.
Kaushaambee
An ancient city situated in the West of
Ilaahaabaad, some 40 kms away. According to the MBH, Kausam was founded by one of the
descendents of the Paandav who left Hastinaapur when it was destroyed by floods from
the Gangaa River. In Buddha's times it was the capital of Vats King Udayan.
Khajuraaho
The sight of 85 temples in the
Chhatarpur district in MP. These temples though of very high quality depict
the most intimate postures of sensuous love-making. Though they are called
religious but they are of pornographic nature. These were ordered to be built
by Chandelaa kings during 950-1050 AD.
Lankaa Puree
The name of the city and a country
mentioned even in Raamaayan period. It was built by Vishwakarmaa as a golden
city for three Asur - Maalee, Sumaalyy and Maalyavaan. Later it was taken over
by Kuber and then by Raavan.
Maalyavatee Nagaree
Inhabited by Maalyavaan Daitya.
(Bhavishya Puraan,
3/18]
Mathuraa
The old name of Mathuraa Nagaree
was Madhu Van. Before Dhruv went there to do Tap, it was under Madhu named Daitya
that is why it was called Madhu Van. After that it came under Lavanaasur. Later
Shatrughn killed Lavanaasur, coronated his son there as its king. He inhabited it
as Mathuraa Nagaree.
Madra Desh
According to
Agni Puraan, p 19, Bharat
divided the area around Sindhu River in two Pradesh - Gaandhaar and Madra Desh
and gave them to his two sons - Taksh and Pushkar. Paandu's wife Maadree was
from here. It was North of Magadh Desh, in the general region of Siyaalkot.
Praag Jyotish Pur
Bhaagvat,
10/u10 says - It was the capital of Kaamaroop
(later Aasaam) country. This country was also called Praag Jyotish after the
name of its capital. It is said that Kaam Dev inhabited this place,
Pratishthaan Pur
Inhabited by Sanvaran in the area of
5 Yojan or 20 Kos. According to
V-Raamaayan, 7/32/90, "Raajaa Il started ruling the kingdom by inhabiting
a city named Pratishthaan Pur".
Rahah-Kreedaavatee
Maya Daanav built it for Daitya in Kali
Yug. [Bhavishya Puraan,
3/32]
Shreepati Desh
This country was inhabited by Shreepati,
the son of Sindhudweep.
Sindhu Desh
Bhavishya Puraan,
3/19Nearby land of Sindhu River. In Shukla's descendents, Mod Sinh's son
Sindhu Varmaa ruled from here and thus this area got famous with the name of
Sindhu Desh. Jayadrath (Duryodhan's sister's husband) was the king of Sindhu
Desh.
Sinhal Dweep
Name given to Shree Lankaa by Vijaya
Sinh of Gujaraat (Laad Desh), when he established his kingdom in that island.
The word Ceylon is derived from Sinhal.
Takshshilaa
Takshshilaa.
Now in Paakistaan. It is said that it was inhabited by Raam's brother Bharat's son Taksh
(Bharat had two sons - Taksh and Pushkar).
Vaishaalee
A town founded by King Vishaal in Bihaar.
A novel is there on its name - "Vaishaalee Kee Nagar Vadhoo".
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