Samantapanchaka
| Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R) |
Samantapanchaka (समंतपंचक) refers to the name of a Spot or Tīrtha (pilgrim’s destination) mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. I.2.1), (III.81.178), (IX.36.42). Mahabharata identifies this spot in Kurukshetra.
Origin
Variants
- Samantapanchaka (समंतपंचक) (AS, p.935)
- Samantapañcaka (समन्तपञ्चक)
- Samanta-panchaka (समन्तपञ्चक)
History
In Mahabharata
Samantapanchaka (समन्तपञ्चक) (S)/(T) in Mahabharata (I.2.1-2-4-7-9), (III.81.178)(IX.36.42)
Adi Parva, Mahabharata/Book I Chapter 2 gives an account of Samantapanchaka (समन्तपञ्चक) (S)/(T) in Mahabharata (I.2.1-2-4-7-9).[1]..... In the interval between the Treta and Dwapara Yugas, Rama (the son of Jamadagni) great among all who have borne arms, urged by impatience of wrongs, repeatedly smote the noble race of Kshatriyas. And when that fiery meteor, by his own valour, annihilated the entire tribe of the Kshatriyas, he formed at Samanta-panchaka five lakes of blood. We are told that his reason being overpowered by anger he offered oblations of blood to the manes of his ancestors, standing in the midst of the sanguine waters of those lakes. ....The region that lieth near unto those lakes of gory water, from that time hath been celebrated as Samanta-panchaka the holy..... The wise have declared that every country should be distinguished by a name significant of some circumstance which may have rendered it famous. In the interval between the Dwapara and the Kali Yugas there happened at Samanta-panchaka the encounter between the armies of the Kauravas and the Pandavas.
Vana Parva, Mahabharata/Book III Chapter 81 mentions names of Tirthas (Pilgrims). Samantapanchaka (समन्तपञ्चक) (S)/(T) is mentioned in Mahabharata , (III.81.178)....[2]....That which lieth between Tarantuka (तरन्तुक) (III.81.178) and Arantuka (अरन्तुक) (III.81.178) and the lakes of Ramahrada (रामह्रदा) (III.81.178) and Machakruka (मचक्रुक) (III.81.178) is Kurukshetra. It is also called Samantapanchaka (समन्तपञ्चक) (III.81.178) and is said to be the northern sacrificial altar of the Grandsire.
Shalya Parva, Mahabharata/Book IX Chapter 36 describes Baladeva's journey along the bank of the Sarasvati River. Samantapanchaka (समन्तपञ्चक) (S)/(T) is described in Mahabharata (IX.36.42). [3] .....Those foremost of Brahmanas, O tiger among men, in consequence of their eagerness for enjoying the merits of tirthas, took up their abodes on the bank of the river up to the site of Samantapanchaka (IX.36.42).
समंतपंचक
समंतपंचक (AS, p.935): एक प्राचीन तीर्थ स्थान था, जिसका उल्लेख महाभारत और श्रीमद्भागवत में हुआ है- 'प्रजापतेरुत्तरवेदिरुच्यते सनातनं राम समन्तपंचकम्, समीजिरे यत्र पुरादिवौकसो वरेण सत्रेण महावरप्रदाः, पुरा च राजषिंवरेण धीमता, बहूनि वर्षाष्यमितेन तेजसा, प्रकृष्टमेतत् कुरुणा महात्मना ततः कुरुक्षेत्रमितीह पप्रथे।' महाभारत शल्यपर्व 53 1-2. उपर्युक्त अवतरण से विदित होता है कि महाभारत काल में समंतपंचक कुरुक्षेत्र का ही दूसरा नाम था। यह सरस्वती नदी के तट पर स्थित था। इसकी यात्रा बलराम ने सरस्वती के अन्य तीर्थो के साथ की थी। श्रीमद्भागवत 10, 82, 2 में भी समंतपंचक का उल्लेख है- 'तंज्ञात्वा मनुजा राजन् पुरस्तादेव सर्वतः, समन्तपंचकं क्षेत्रं ययुः श्रेयोविधित्सया।' यहाँ श्रीकृष्ण सूर्यग्रहण के अवसर पर आए थे।[4]
External links
References
- ↑ समन्तपञ्चकम इति यथ उक्तं सूतनन्थन, एतत सर्वं यदान्यायं शरॊतुम इच्छामहे वयम (I.2.1), शुश्रूषा यथि वॊ विप्रा बरुवतश च कदाः शुभाः, समन्तपञ्चकाख्यं च शरॊतुम अर्हद सत्तमाः (I.2.2), स सर्वं कषत्रम उत्साथ्य सववीर्येणानल थयुतिः, समन्तपञ्चके पञ्च चकार रुधिरह्रथान (I.2.4), तेषां समीपे यॊ थेशॊ हरथानां रुधिराम्भसाम, समन्तपञ्चकम इति पुण्यं तत्परिकीर्तितम (I.2.7), अन्तरे चैव संप्राप्ते कलिथ्वापरयॊर अभूत, समन्तपञ्चके युथ्धं कुरुपाण्डवसेनयॊः (I.2.9)
- ↑ तरन्तुकारन्तुकयॊर यद अन्तरं; रामह्रदानां च मचक्रुकस्य, एतत कुरुक्षेत्रसमन्तपञ्चकं; पिता महस्यॊत्तर वेदिर उच्यते (III.81.178)
- ↑ समन्तपञ्चकं यावत तावत ते द्विजसत्तमाः, तीर्थलॊभान नरव्याघ्र नथ्यास तीरं समाश्रिताः (IX.36.42)
- ↑ Aitihasik Sthanavali by Vijayendra Kumar Mathur, p.935