Kartikeyar: refined section for accuracy

2025-10-04T23:21:30Z

refined section for accuracy

58.182.176.169: /* Genealogy registers */ cleanup

2021-08-23T19:42:33Z

Genealogy registers: cleanup

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{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2017}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Pehowa
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| other_name = Prithudak
| nickname =
| settlement_type = Town
| image_skyline = Sarawati River and Temple - Pitrudhak Teerth - Pehowa.jpg
| image_alt = Sarasvati River and temple, Pehowa
| image_caption = Sarasvati River and temple, Pehowa
| pushpin_map = India Haryana#India3
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Haryana, India
| coordinates = {{coord|29.98|N|76.58|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Haryana]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Kurukshetra district|Kurukshetra]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| named_for =
| government_type = democratic
| Founded by =
| governing_body =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 224
| population_total = 38,853
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes = <ref name="2011 census data">{{cite web|title=Census of India Search details |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/pca/SearchDetails.aspx?Id=61905|publisher=censusindia.gov.in|accessdate=10 May 2015}}</ref>
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[punjabi language|Hindi]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = 
| postal_code =
| registration_plate = HR 41
| website = {{URL|haryana.gov.in}}
| iso_code = [[ISO 3166-2:IN|IN-HR]]
| footnotes =
}}

'''Pehowa''' is a town and a [[municipal committee]] in [[Kurukshetra district]] in the [[India]]n [[States and territories of India|state]] of [[Haryana]]. It is an important sacred [[Hindu]] [[yatra|pilgrimage]] site, related to [[Krishna]] and [[Mahabharata]], within the [[48 Kos Parikrama of Kurukshetra]]. The [[Hindu genealogy registers at Peohwa, Haryana]] are kept here at the ''Pruthudak Tirath'' on the banks of [[Sarasvati river]].

==History==

Pehowa is an ancient city and its religious significance is mentioned in several [[puranas]], such as [[Skanda Purana]] (1st to 5th century CE), [[Markandeya Purana]] (4th to 6th century CE) and [[Vamana Purana]] (5th to 11th century CE).<ref>[https://www.jagran.com/haryana/kurukshetra-kurukshetra-development-board-can-get-the-responsibility-of-saraswati-tirtha-18917222.html Kurukshetra Development Board can get the responsibility of Saraswati Tirtha], Dainik Jagran, 4 Feb 2019.</ref>

Two inscriptions dated ninth Century CE found at Pehowa mention that the place was controlled by [[Mahendrapala I|Mahendrapala]], of Kanauj and a Vishnu temple was constructed at this place by [[Tomara dynasty|Tomara]] family, but such historic temple is not found in present day Pehowa.<ref name=sharma>{{cite book|last1=Sharma|first1=S.K.|title=Haryana : Past & Present|date=2005|publisher=Mittal Publications|location=New Delhi, India|isbn=9788183240468|page=128|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VE71IqAC0YYC&q=Pehowa&pg=PA124|accessdate=25 October 2014}}</ref> The earliest extant historical reference to the Tomara dynasty occurs in the Pehowa inscription issued during the reign of the [[Gurjara-Pratihara|Pratihara]] king [[Mahendrapala I]] (r. c. 885-910 CE) [Tomars of Delhi were vassals of Partiharas of Kannauj].{{sfn|Sailendra Nath Sen|1999|p=339}} This undated inscription states that Jaula of the Tomara family became prosperous by serving an unnamed king. His descendants included Vajrata, Jajjuka, and Gogga. The inscription suggests that Gogga was a vassal of Mahendrapala I. It records the construction of three [[Vishnu]] temples by Gogga and his step-brothers Purna-raja and Deva-raja. The temples were located at Prithudaka ([[IAST]]: Pṛthūdaka; Pehowa), on the banks of the river Sarasvati.{{sfn|Dilip Kumar Ganguly|1984|pp=116-117}} No information is available about the immediate successors of Gogga.{{sfn|D. C. Ganguly|1981|p=705}} The Pehowa inscription suggests that this particular Tomara family was settled around the [[Karnal district|Karnal area]]. However, [[Lorenz Franz Kielhorn|F. Kielhorn]] suggested that this Tomara family actually resided in Delhi: they may have visited Pehowa on pilgrimage, and built a temple there.{{sfn|Dilip Kumar Ganguly|1984|p=117}}

==Geography==

Pehowa is located at {{Coord|29.98|N|76.58|E|}}.<ref>[http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/10/Pehowa.html Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Pehowa]</ref> It has an average elevation of 224 metres (734 feet). The Tehsil Pehowa was created on 1 November 1979 and is situated at a distance of 27 km in west from [[Kurukshetra]].<ref name=nic>{{cite web|title=Sub-Division Pehowa|url=http://www.kurukshetra.nic.in/AtAGlance/basicstatPehowa.htm|website=National Information Centre NIC|publisher=NIC Govt owned.|accessdate=24 October 2014}}</ref> and 26 km North-west from [[Pundri]]

==Demographics==
{{As of|2011}} India [[census]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999|archivedate=2004-06-16|title= Census of India 2011: Data from the 2011 Census, including cities, villages and towns |accessdate=2020-04-10|publisher= Census Commission of India}}</ref> Pehowa had a population of 38,853. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Pehowa has a literacy rate of 82.12%, higher than the Haryana average of 75.55%, with male literacy at 87%, and female literacy it 77%. In Pehowa, 11.72% of the population is under 6 years of age. Punjabi and Haryanvi dialects are spoken in the countryside, while Hindi is the most commonly spoken language.

==Religious significance==

Pehowa is considered a religious place of high importance and to highlight the sanctity of the place, Haryana State Government has banned sale, possession, consumption and purchase of non-vegetarian food in the town limits.<ref name=san>{{cite news|title=Haryana bans meat in holy towns of Kurukshetra, Pehowa|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/haryana-bans-meat-in-holy-towns-of-kurukshetra-pehowa/993170|accessdate=24 October 2014|publisher=The Indian Express|date=25 August 2012}}</ref> Slaughtering of animals is also banned in the town through the court orders.<ref name=san/> During Mahabharta, soldiers who laid down their lives in the battle of Kurukshetra were cremated at Pehowa. Pehowa is considered a sacred place of pilgrimage for all Hindus as well as Sikhs too.<ref name=sds/>

[[File:Sarawati River and Temple - Pitrudhak Teerth - Pehowa.jpg|thumb|Sarawati River and Temple - Pitrudhak Teerth - Pehowa]]

===Prithudak Teerth===

Prithudak is one of the important [[Tirtha (Hinduism)|tirtha]] in the [[48 kos parikrama of Kurukshetra]].

Pehowa is a very ancient town, believed to pre-date the Mahabharat War by many centuries as it flourished on the banks of now dried up Saraswati River in those days. By the time of the Mahabharata war, the river had long dried up, yet was still a very holy place where people offered "Pinda Pradhan" to their ancestors. It is still called as "Pitrudhak Teerth" and was the holiest place for these oblations to be done much before Prayag or Gaya as the local legend goes. Lord Krishna is believed to have taken the Pandavas to this place before the war started and made them take the blessings of Sarasawati Mata and of their ancestors.<ref name=sds/> The river, which in 2006 did not have any inflows nor outflows and was stagnant.<ref name=sds/> was made perennial under [[Adi_Badri,_Haryana#SR|Sarasvatio Revival Project]].

Saraswati Sarovar is located in this town, where people perform pooja and religious rituals.<ref name=sds>{{cite book|last1=Yadava|first1=S.D.S.|title=Followers of Krishna : Yadavas of India|date=2006|publisher=Lancers Publishers & Distributors|location=New Delhi|isbn=9788170622161|page=2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p69GMA226bgC&q=Pehowa&pg=PA2|accessdate=25 October 2014}}</ref> The Pillars on the entrance to the Saraswati Temple date many centuries.{{citation needed|date=October 2014}}

In 2021, [[Haryana Sarasvati Heritage Development Board]] initiated projects to develop 5 river fronts on the rejuvenated [[Sarasvati river]] at [[Mini_Zoo_%26_Black_Buck_Breeding_Centre,_Pipli|Pipli]], Pehowa, [[Bilaspur, Haryana|Bilaspur]], [[Dosarka]] (on Panchkula-Yamunanagar [[National Highway 344 (India)|NH-344]] near Sirsgarh) and the [[Theh Polar]] (near [[Indus Valley Civilisation|Sarasvati-Sindhu Civilisation]] archaeological site on Kaithal-Guhla [[List of highways in Haryana|SH-11]]). Pipli riverfront will be on the pattern [[Sabarmati Riverfront]].<ref name=de1>[https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/haryanas-saraswati-heritage-board-to-develop-5-riverfronts-285084 Haryana's Saraswati heritage board to develop 5 riverfronts], The Tribune, 19 Jul 2021.</ref>

====Genealogy registers====
{{anchors | Gene | Genealogy | Registers | Genealogy registers }}

'''[[Hindu genealogy registers at Haridwar#Peohwa, Haryana|Hindu genealogy registers at Pehowa]]''' are the [[Hindu genealogy registers at Haridwar|genealogy registers]] of pilgrims maintained here by [[pandit|pandas]].<ref name="gen2">[http://www.overseasindian.in/2007/dec/news/20072712-183237.shtml Tracing your Asian roots] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170426041339/http://www.overseasindian.in/2007/dec/news/20072712-183237.shtml |date=26 April 2017 }} www.overseasindian.in.</ref><ref name="gen3">[http://www.movinghere.org.uk/galleries/roots/asian/countries/lds.htm Hindu Pilgrimage Marriage Records] ''www.movinghere.org.uk''.</ref><ref name="gen4">[https://www.indiatimes.com/culture/travel/10-places-across-the-world-that-help-you-trace-your-ancestors-249825.html 10 Places Across The World That Help You Trace Your Ancestors], India Times, 29 Jan 2016.</ref>'''

===Sarasvati Temple===
Pehowa is known to be an important place and pilgrimage on the banks of mythical and revered [[Sarasvati River]]. There is an ancient temple dedicated to Goddess/River [[Saraswati]].<ref name=nic/> This is another temple of this city forming a part of [[48 kos parikrama of Kurukshetra]].

===Kartikeya Temple===

[[File:Pehowa, Arunai - 16.jpeg|thumb|Kartikeya temple, Pehowa]]

[[Kartikeya Temple, Pehowa]] is a 5th century temple.<ref name=nic/>

=== Arunai Temple===

Arunai Shiva Temple at Arunai is part of 48 kos Parikrama.<ref name= "48kos"/> In 2021, the [[Kurukshetra_University#coe|Centre of Excellence for Research on the Saraswati River]] (CERSR) of [[Kurukshetra University]] excavated an ancient [[ghat]] next to Arunai temple on the paleochannel of [[Sarasvati River]]. The ghat has 12 stairs, the depth of archaeological trench and stairs is ~4 metre. According to Prof AR Chaudhri, Director of CERSR, ''"This bathing ghat falls on the Saraswati River paleochannel identified by CERSR and represents a unique case where the details mentioned in [[Mahabharata|holy scriptures]] and the scientific investigations match."''<ref name=ar1>[https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/ancient-saraswati-river-ghat-excavated-in-pehowa-300880 Ancient Saraswati river ghat excavated in Pehowa], The Tribune, 22 Aug 2021.</ref>

===Other Temples===
* Pashupathinath Mahadev Temple<ref name=nic/>
* Shri Guru Ravidaas Temple and Ashram. (Managed by Sham Lal Attri)
* Prachi Tirtha <ref name= "48kos">{{Cite web |url=http://kurukshetra.nic.in/bulkdata/pdf/tirthalist.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=30 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305091416/http://kurukshetra.nic.in/bulkdata/pdf/tirthalist.pdf |archive-date=5 March 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> (Part of 48 kos Parikrama)
* Brahmayoni tirtha (Part of 48 kos Parikrama)<ref name= "48kos"/>
* Shri Dakshinmukhi Hanuman Temple<ref name=nic/>
*Raghunath ram temple
Shiv puri road

<gallery>
File:Saraswati Temple main entrance - ancient archway.jpg|Saraswati Temple main entrance - ancient archway.
File:Fresco on the Sarasawti temple wall - Archaeological treasure.jpg|Fresco on the Sarasawti temple wall - Archaeological treasure
Eroded Fresco on the Sarasawti temple wall - Archaeological treasure.jpg|Eroded Fresco on the Sarasawti temple wall - Archaeological treasure.
File:Pehowa, Arunai - 18.jpeg| Kartikeya Temple
</gallery>

==Commercial Importance==
Pehowa is a place of significant commercial importance and continues to sustain a lot of diverse industries.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dcmsme.gov.in/dips/kurushetra.pdf}}</ref>

===Agriculture===
Until about the mid-20th century, the Pehowa area was covered with dhak trees (Butea frondosa). With the introduction of irrigation, it has become one of the state’s granaries for wheat and rice.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Pehowa|title=Pehowa | India}}</ref>

===Bricks===
The city has many brick kilns and is considered as a hub of brick production. Main brick kilns of the city include Mahabir Bhatta Company situated at Arnaicha Pehowa.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cisharyana.in/home/industries_list?distt_id=11&dept_id=&per_page=450|title = Haryana Govt. Central Inspection System}}</ref>

==See also ==

* [[48 Kos Parikrama of Kurukshetra]]
* [[Administrative divisions of Haryana]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{48 kos parikrama of Kurukshetra}}

{{Kurukshetra district topics}}

{{Commons|Pehowa}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities and towns in Kurukshetra district]]
[[Category:48 kos parikrama of Kurukshetra]]

Pehowa - Revision history

Kartikeyar: refined section for accuracy

58.182.176.169: /* Genealogy registers */ cleanup