Kaushambi:
Scene of Important events in the Buddha's career
Kaushambi, in Uttar Pradesh, was visited by Buddha in the 6th and 9th years
after his enlightenment. He delivered several sermons here, elevating it to
a center of learning for Buddhists. Today one can see the ruins of an
Ashokan Pillar, an old fort and the Ghositaram Monastery. The archaeological
excavations here have yielded a large number of sculptures and figurines,
coins, punch-marked and cast coins and terra-cotta sculptures which show the
reverence the city was held in by the devout, in times gone by. All these
religious finds of historical and archaeological importance can be viewed at
the Allahabad Museum.
However the area occupied by this district has a very glorious past. In
Ancient India, Hundreds of years before the christ born, Kaushambi was the
capital of Chedi-vatsa janapada, one of the prominent janapadas into which
the Indo-Aryan people were divided. As some of these janapadas figure
prominently in the Brahmanas and Upanisads, it is not unlikely that the
antiquity of Kaushambi goes back to the period of the Brahamanas. The
Satapatha Brahamana mentions a person called Proti Kaushambeya, a native of
Kaushambi. This hoary antiquity of the city is confirmed by the Mahabharata
and the Ramayana, the former ascribing its foundation to Kusamba, the third
son of the Chedi King Uparica Vasu and the latter to Kusamba, the son of
Kusa.
Location
District Kaushambi is situated in the west of Allahabad district. In the
North of the district Pratapgarh, in the south Chitrakoot, In the east
Allahabad, in the west Fatehpur districts are located. The total
geographical area of the district is 2012.8 sq. km.
History
During Buddha's time Kaushambi was one of the six most important and
prosperous towns of India. It was a nerve center of ancient Indian
communications as the principal routes from north to south and east to west
met at the city. It was a terminus of river traffic and an important
emporium of Madhyadesa. The city retained its importance at least up to the
sixth century A.D.,as it was visited by the Chinese pilgrims Fa-Hien and
Yuan-Chwang.
The ruins of the well-known site of Kaushambi (25o20' 30"N., 81o23'12"E.)
are situated on the left blank of the river Yamuna at a distance of 51.2 km
from Allahabad in a south-westerly direction. The remains of the ancient
city viewed from a distance give the impression of an imposing hillock,
which, when approached nearer, reveals itself as a chain of rolling mounds,
standing high above the surrounding plains, girdled on the south by the
Yamuna. The Vindhyan range across the horizon at not a great distance beyond
the river Yamuna provides the southern frame of the Panorama.
Pilgrimage Attractions of Kaushambi
District Kaushambi is rich in historical places. History of all times
demistify the importance of the district. Kara, Prabhasgiri and Kaushambi
are the main historical centers. The district is full of temples in which
Sheetla temple of Kara Dham and the Jain temple of Prabhosa are the main
attraction.
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