Chitrakoot, Madhya Pradesh: Difference between revisions

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{{About|the municipality in [[Madhya Pradesh]]|other uses|Chitrakoot (disambiguation)}}
{{About|the municipality in [[Madhya Pradesh]]|other uses|Chitrakoot (disambiguation)}}
{{distinguish|Chitrakote Falls}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2012}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
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'''Chitrakoot''' is a famous pilgrimage centre and a [[nagar panchayat]] in the [[Satna district]] in the state of [[Madhya Pradesh]], India. It is a place of religious, cultural, historical and archaeological importance, situated in the [[Bundelkhand]] region. It borders the [[Chitrakoot district]] in Uttar Pradesh, whose headquarters [[Chitrakoot Dham (Karwi)|Chitrakoot Dham]] is located nearby. The city lies in the historical Chitrakoot region, which is divided between the present-day Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. It is known for a number of temples and sites mentioned in [[Hindu scriptures]].
'''Chitrakoot''' is a pilgrimage centre and a [[nagar panchayat]] in the [[Satna district]] in the state of [[Madhya Pradesh]], India. Connected to the Indian epic [[Ramayana]], it is a place of religious, cultural, historical and archaeological importance, situated in the [[Baghelkhand]] region. It borders the [[Chitrakoot district]] in Uttar Pradesh, whose headquarters [[Chitrakoot Dham (Karwi)|Chitrakoot Dham]] is located nearby. The city lies in the historical Chitrakoot region, which is divided between the present-day Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. It is known for a number of temples and sites mentioned in [[Hindu scriptures]].


It attracts pilgrims throughout the year on occasions such as [[Amavasya]], [[Amavasya|Somwati Amavasya]], [[Deepawali]], [[Full moon|Sharad-Poornima]], [[Makar Sankranti]], [[Rama Navami]] and for Free Eye Care Medical Camps. Noted '[[Ayurvedic]]' and '[[Yoga]]' centres like 'Arogyadham' are located in Chitrakoot.
It attracts pilgrims throughout the year on occasions such as [[Amavasya]], [[Amavasya|Somwati Amavasya]], [[Deepawali]], [[Full moon|Sharad-Poornima]], [[Makar Sankranti]], [[Rama Navami]] and for Free Eye Care Medical Camps. Noted '[[Ayurvedic]]' and '[[Yoga]]' centres like 'Arogyadham' are located in Chitrakoot.
==Legend==
Chitrakoot is one of the important places connected to the epic Ramayana, where Lord [[Rama]] is persuaded by his brother [[Bharata (Ramayana)|Bharata]] to return to [[Ayodhya]] and where Rama performed the last rites of his father [[Dasharatha]] in presence of all the gods and goddesses. The forests of Chitrakoot is where Rama, [[Sita]] and [[Lakshmana]] took refuge and spent 12 years in the woods, which was already home to several hermits.<ref name="OT_Chitrakoot">{{cite web | url = https://www.outlookindia.com/traveller/mp/mptourism/chitrakoot-mythology-revisited/ | title = Chitrakoot: Mythology Revisited | last = | first = | date = 15 May 2017 | website = OutlookIndia.com | publisher = Outlook Traveller | access-date = 30 December 2021 | quote = }}</ref> The ancient Indian sages, including Atri Muni, Rishi Agastya, and Sage Sharbhanga, were said to have meditated in the forests of Chitrakoot.<ref name="NP_Chitrakoot">{{cite web | url = https://www.nativeplanet.com/travel-guide/places-visited-by-lord-rama-chitrakoot-002494.html?story=2 | title = Places Connected To Lord Rama And Ramayana - Chitrakoot | last = Mohan | first = Vineeth | date = 23 April 2018 | website = NativePlanet.com | publisher = Native Planet | access-date = 30 December 2021 | quote = }}</ref>


==Geography==
==Geography==
Chitrakoot means the 'Hill of many wonders'. Chitrakoot region falls in the northern [[Vindhya Range]] spread over the states of [[Uttar Pradesh]] and [[Madhya Pradesh]]. The region is included in the Chitrakoot district of Uttar Pradesh and the Satna district of Madhya Pradesh. Chitrakoot district in Uttar Pradesh was created on 4 September 1998.<ref name="chitrakoot.nic.in">[http://chitrakoot.nic.in District Unit Chitrakoot, National Informatics Centre]</ref>
Chitrakoot means the 'Hill of many wonders'. Chitrakoot region falls in the northern [[Vindhya Range]] spread over the states of [[Uttar Pradesh]] and [[Madhya Pradesh]]. The region is included in the Chitrakoot district of Uttar Pradesh and the Satna district of Madhya Pradesh. Chitrakoot district in Uttar Pradesh was created on 4 September 1998.<ref name="chitrakoot.nic.in">[http://chitrakoot.nic.in District Unit Chitrakoot, National Informatics Centre]</ref>
Chitrakoot Parvat Mala includes Kamad Giri, Hanumaan Dhara, Janki Kund, Lakshman pahari, and Devangana famous religious mountains.
==Transportation==
Bamrauli airport at [[Allahabad]] is the nearest airport, 106.1&nbsp;km. away from Chitrakoot, that connects Chitrakoot to the rest of India. Two regular flights of Air India serve this place, and once you touch down, you can always take up a taxi to Karwi, Chitrakoot.
==Scriptural information==
Chitrakoot's spiritual legacy stretches back to legendary ages. It was in these deep forests that [[Lord Rama|Ram]], [[Goddess Sita]] and his brother [[Lakshman]] spent eleven years and six months of their fourteen years of banishment. Great sages like [[Atri]], [[Sati Anusuya]], [[Dattatreya]], Maharshi [[Markandeya]], [[Valmiki]] and many renowned seers, devotees and thinkers meditated here and the principal trinity of the [[Sanatana]] dharma, [[Brahma]], [[Vishnu]] and [[Shiva]] visited this place according to Hindu legends.<ref name="ReferenceA">Vinod Avasthi: ''Chitrakuta darshan (Hindi)'', Purushotam Das Agarwal, Banda</ref>
It is said that all the gods and goddesses came to Chitrakoot when Lord Rama performed the ''[[Śrāddha|Shraddha]]'' ceremony of his father to partake of the ''[[Shuddhi (Hinduism)|shuddhi]]'' (i.e. a feast given to all the relatives and friends on the thirteenth day of the death in the family). The first known mention of the place is in the [[Valmiki Ramayana|Valmiki Ramayan]], which is believed to be the first ever [[Mahakavya]] composed by the first ever poet. As Valmiki is said to be contemporaneous with (or even earlier than) Ram and is believed to have composed the [[Ramayan]] before the birth of Lord Ram, the antiquity of its fame can well be gauged.
Valmiki speaks of Chitrakoot as an eminently holy place inhabited by the great sages, abounding in monkeys, bears and various other kinds of fauna and flora. Both the sages [[Bharadwaj]] and Valmiki speaks of Chitrakoot in glowing terms and advise Lord Ram to make it his abode during the period of his exile. Lord Ram himself admits this bewitching impact of this place. In the ''Ramopakhyan'' and descriptions of [[teerth]]s at various places in the [[Mahabharat]], Chitrakoot finds a favoured place. In '[[Adhyatma Ramayana|Adhyatma Ramayan]]' and ''Brihat Ramayan'' testify to the throbbing spiritually and natural beauty of Chitrakuta. Various [[Sanskrit]] and [[Hindi]] poets also have paid similar tributes to Chitrakuta. Mahakavi [[Kālidāsa|Kalidas]] has described this place beautifully in his epic ''[[Raghuvaṃśa]]''. He was so much impressed with its charms that he made Chitrakuta (which he calls Ramgiri because of its time-honored associations with lord Ram) the place of exile of his [[yaksha]] in [[Meghadūta|Meghdoot]].
[[Tulsidas]], the saint-poet of Hindi has spoken very reverently of Chitrakoot in all his major works-[[Ramcharit Manas]], ''Kavitawali'', ''Dohawali'' and [[Vinaya Patrika]]. The last-mentioned work contains many verses which show a deep personal bond between Tulsidas and Chitrakoot. He spent quite some part of his life here worshipping Ram and craving his darshan. It was here that he had what he must have considered the crowning moment of his achievements—i.e. the darshan of his beloved deity Lord Ram at the intercession of Hanumanji. His eminent friend, the noted Hindi poet [[Abdul Rahim Khan-I-Khana|Rahim]] (i.e. Abdur Rahim Khankhana, the soldier-statesmen-saint-scholar-poet who was among the Nav-Ratnas of [[Akbar]]) also spent some time here, when he had fallen from favour with Akbar's son Emperor [[Jahangir]].<ref name="chitrakoot.nic.in"/>
===Lord Ram left Chitrakoot===
When [[Bharata (Ramayana)|Bharat]] was asked by his ministers to take his seat upon the throne of [[Ayodhya]], he refused and came to Chitrakoot to meet Lord Ram. Here at place called Bharat Milap, Bharat met Lord Ram and requested him to return to Ayodhya and rule; but Lord Ram would not. Then Bharat returned to Ayodhya and installed the sandals on the throne, and, living in retirement, carried on the government as their minister. Now Lord Rama decided for two reasons to leave Chitrakuta: first, in as much as hosts of [[rakshasa]]s, out of hatred of him, annoyed the hermits of that place; and, secondly, because the host of men from Ayodhya had trampled and defiled the place; and, moreover, it reminded him too sharply of brother's grief and the citizens' and queen-mothers'. He went, therefore, with Sita and Lakshmana toward [[Dandaka]] forest.<ref>[[Sister Nivedita]] & Ananda K.Coomaraswamy: Myths and Legends of the Hindus and Bhuddhists, Kolkata, 2001 {{ISBN|81-7505-197-3}}
</ref>


==Demographics==
==Demographics==
As of the [[2011 Census of India]] Chitrakoot had a population of 23,316. Males constitute 54.36% of the population and females 45.63%, making Female Sex Ratio of 840 against state average of 931. Chitrakoot has an average literacy rate of 70.01%, lower than the national average of 74% and higher than state average 69.32%; with male literacy of 79.49% and female literacy of 58.40%. 15.72% of the population is under 6 years of age.<ref>https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/2312_PART_B_DCHB_SATNA.pdf</ref>
As of the [[2011 Census of India]], Chitrakoot had a population of 23,316. Males constitute 54.36% of the population and females 45.63%, making the Female Sex Ratio of 840 against the state average of 931. Chitrakoot has an average literacy rate of 70.01%, lower than the national average of 74% and higher than the state average of 69.32%; with male literacy of 79.49% and female literacy of 58.40%. 15.72% of the population is under 6 years of age.<ref>https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/2312_PART_B_DCHB_SATNA.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}</ref>
 
==Places of tourist importance==
[[Image:Chitrakoot (4750024971).jpg|thumb|View of Ramghat]]
 
===Ramghat===
The ghats that line the Mandakini river are called Ramghat. During the exile period [[Rama]], [[Lakshmana]] and [[Sita]] took bath here and are believed to have appeared before the poet [[Tulsidas]].
 
===Kamadgiri===
[[File:Kamta nath.JPG|thumb|Shri Kamta Nath 2nd face on Kamadgiri parikrma path]]
Kamadgiri, the original Chitrakoot, is a place of religious significance. A forested hill, it is skirted all along its base by a chain of temples and is venerated today as the holy embodiment of Rama. Lord Rama is also known as Kamadnathji or Kamtanath which literally means fulfiller of all wishes.<ref>https://chitrakoot.nic.in/tourist-place/chilika-barkul-3/</ref> There is a 5&nbsp;km Parikrama Path around the Kamadgiri Mountain.
 
===Bharat Milap===
 
[[Image:PlacesRelatedToRama.JPG|right|thumb|200px| Places Related to [[Ramayana]], showing Chitrakuta in Rama's journey from Ayodhya to [[Lanka]]. ]]
 
Bharat Milap temple is located here, marking the spot where Bharata is said to have met Rama to persuade him to return to the throne of Ayodhya. It is said that the meeting of four brothers was so emotional that even the rocks and mountains of Chitrakut melted. Foot prints of Lord [[Rama]] and his brothers were imprinted on these rocks and are still present today and seen in Bharat Milap Mandir. Bharat milap mandir is situated beside kamadgiri mountain, in the circumambulation path of kamadgiri.
 
===Janaki Kund===
 
Janaki Kund is situated upstream of the Ramghat where it is believed that [[Sita]] bathed in the crystal clear waters of Mandakini river during the years of her exile with Rama.
 
===Sati Anasuya ashrama===
 
[[Image:Anusuya.jpg|thumb|View of Mandakini River at Anusuya ashram]]
Sati Anasuya ashrama is located further upstream, 16&nbsp;km from the town, set amidst thick forests that round to the melody of birdsong all day. It was here that Atri muni, his wife [[Anasuya]] and their three sons (who were the three incarnations of [[Brahma]], [[Vishnu]] and [[Shiva|Mahesh]]), lived and are said to have meditated.
 
As per description of [[Valmiki]] at one time there was no rain in Chitrakuta for ten years. There was a severe famine and nothing was left to eat or drink for animals and birds. Sati Anasuya performed hard and intensive austerities and got the river Mandakini down on earth. This led to the greenery and forests to grow which removed the sufferings of all sages and the animals.<ref>Ayodhya kanda&nbsp;– sarga 117 shloka 9, 10</ref>
 
Sati Anasuya ashrama at present is a very peaceful place where various streams from the hills converge and form the [[Mandakini River]]. It is said that Rama along with Sita had visited this place to meet Maharishi Atri and Sati Anasuya. It is here Sati Anasuya explained to Sita the grandeur and importance of Satitva (which means chastity; not the sati practice). The dense forests of [[Dandaka]] start from this place. It was ruled by [[Ravana]]. Ravana had appointed strong rakshasas like [[Khara (Ramayana)|Khara]] and [[Viradha]] as its rulers. The place was infected by the terror of [[rakshasa]]s.<ref>Ayodhya kanda&nbsp;– sarga 116 shloka 11, 12</ref>
 
===Gupt-Godavari===
Gupt-Godavari is situated at a distance of 18&nbsp;km from town. Here is a pair of caves, one high and wide with an entrance through which one can barely pass, and the other long and narrow with stream of water running along its base. It is believed that Rama and Lakshmana held court in latter cave, which has two natural throne-like rocks.
 
===Pampapur===
It is situated in the valley of Devangana. Sacred caves related to Lord Rama.
 
===Hanuman Dhara===
[[File:Temples in Hanuman Dhara.JPG|thumb|Temples in Panchmukhi Hanuman Dhara]]
Located on a rock-face several hundred feet up a steep hillside is a spring, said to have been created by Rama to assuage [[Hanuman]] when the latter returned after setting [[Lanka]] afire. A couple of temples commemorate this spot, which offers a panoramic view of Chitrakut.
 
===Bharat Koop===
 
Bharath Koop is where Bharata stored holy water collected from all the places of pilgrimage in India. It is small, an isolated spot a few kilometres from the town. It has a small well and temple situated next to it. The water in the well remains pure and clean round the year. The story goes, that Bharatji came to Chitrakoot to convince Shri Ram to come back to Ayodhya, after the death of King Dasharath, to ask Shri Ram to become king of Ayodhya and rule it, thus creating Ram-Rajya. For this purpose, he also bought the waters of five rivers along with him to do Lord Shri Ram's coronation. But, Lord Ram told Bharath that he does not wish to break his vow given to King Dasharath of coming back to Ayodhya only after completing Vanvas of 14 years. Hence, Bharath asked rishi Vashisht how to use the 5 rivers water that he brought along with him for Lord Ram's Rajya Abhishek. Rishi Vashisht advised him to put all the water along with flowers he had got for Rajya-abhishek in a well specified near Chitrakoot. He explained that the water in this well will remain pure and will be revered till the end of the time. Hence, upon the advice of rishi Vashisht, king Bharath followed his instructions and thus this place was named as Bharath koop.
 
===Ram Shaiya===
 
This place is located on the way between Chitrakoot and Bharat Koop, in an isolated location. According to Ramayana, this is the place where Shri Ram, Sitaji and Laxmanji used to sleep and rest in the evenings after wandering around the forest of Chitrakoot. It is located between mountains with no town nearby. It has a large flat-bed rock which bears foot imprints popularly believed to be those of Shri Rama, Lakshman, and Sita Mata.


==References==
==References==
{{Wikivoyage|Chitrakoot}}
{{reflist}}6. ^ Agra pratap:  Chitrakoot (0414173314)


* [https://web.archive.org/web/20131014181338/http://www.mptourism.com/web/MapImages/Mp_map.pdf MP Tourism map]
{{reflist}}


{{Hindu holy cities}}
{{Hindu holy cities}}

Latest revision as of 08:14, 22 July 2023

Chitrakoot
Mandakini river, View of ghats at Chitrakoot,Temples in Hanuman Dhara
Chitrakoot is located in Madhya Pradesh
Chitrakoot
Chitrakoot
Coordinates: 25°00′N 80°50′E / 25.00°N 80.83°E / 25.00; 80.83
Country India
StateMadhya Pradesh
DistrictSatna
Population
 (2011)
 • Total23,316
Languages
 • OfficialHindi
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
ISO 3166 codeIN-MP
Vehicle registrationMP-19

Chitrakoot is a pilgrimage centre and a nagar panchayat in the Satna district in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. Connected to the Indian epic Ramayana, it is a place of religious, cultural, historical and archaeological importance, situated in the Baghelkhand region. It borders the Chitrakoot district in Uttar Pradesh, whose headquarters Chitrakoot Dham is located nearby. The city lies in the historical Chitrakoot region, which is divided between the present-day Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. It is known for a number of temples and sites mentioned in Hindu scriptures.

It attracts pilgrims throughout the year on occasions such as Amavasya, Somwati Amavasya, Deepawali, Sharad-Poornima, Makar Sankranti, Rama Navami and for Free Eye Care Medical Camps. Noted 'Ayurvedic' and 'Yoga' centres like 'Arogyadham' are located in Chitrakoot.

Legend[edit | edit source]

Chitrakoot is one of the important places connected to the epic Ramayana, where Lord Rama is persuaded by his brother Bharata to return to Ayodhya and where Rama performed the last rites of his father Dasharatha in presence of all the gods and goddesses. The forests of Chitrakoot is where Rama, Sita and Lakshmana took refuge and spent 12 years in the woods, which was already home to several hermits.[1] The ancient Indian sages, including Atri Muni, Rishi Agastya, and Sage Sharbhanga, were said to have meditated in the forests of Chitrakoot.[2]

Geography[edit | edit source]

Chitrakoot means the 'Hill of many wonders'. Chitrakoot region falls in the northern Vindhya Range spread over the states of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. The region is included in the Chitrakoot district of Uttar Pradesh and the Satna district of Madhya Pradesh. Chitrakoot district in Uttar Pradesh was created on 4 September 1998.[3]

Demographics[edit | edit source]

As of the 2011 Census of India, Chitrakoot had a population of 23,316. Males constitute 54.36% of the population and females 45.63%, making the Female Sex Ratio of 840 against the state average of 931. Chitrakoot has an average literacy rate of 70.01%, lower than the national average of 74% and higher than the state average of 69.32%; with male literacy of 79.49% and female literacy of 58.40%. 15.72% of the population is under 6 years of age.[4]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. "Chitrakoot: Mythology Revisited". OutlookIndia.com. Outlook Traveller. 15 May 2017. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  2. Mohan, Vineeth (23 April 2018). "Places Connected To Lord Rama And Ramayana - Chitrakoot". NativePlanet.com. Native Planet. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  3. District Unit Chitrakoot, National Informatics Centre
  4. https://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/2312_PART_B_DCHB_SATNA.pdf Template:Bare URL PDF

Template:Hindu holy cities