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Amongst the holiest of water tanks of the revered land of
Kurukshetra, is the Brahma Sarovar. It is
the cradle of civilization. It is believed that Lord Brahma, the Creator
of the Universe conceived the Earth here. The sanctity of this water tank
finds mention in the memoirs of Al Beruni named 'Kitab-ul-Hind', wherein
he wrote of the tank as "the tank resembles an ocean". This
scholar was describing the country in the 11th century AD.
Today, the Brahma Sarovar has been renovated. It is 3600x1500 feet in
size. Its crowning feature is the holy seat of Lord Mahadev, which is a
small but sacred temple built to stand within the lake and is linked to
the outer periphery by a small bridge. With the outer walls of the tank
having been rebuilt, the lake is lined by bathing steps. There are arched
enclosures for pilgrims. Hermits sit here for prayers, quite undisturbed
by the crowds.
Common Rituals
According to the holy scriptures, a dip in this Sarovar bears the
sanctity of performing the 'Ashvamedha Yajna'. To bathe here on the days
of the solar eclipse is believed to absolve one of all sins.
One of the most delightful occasions when this holy tank is breath-taking
is on the event of 'Deep Daan' and 'Aarti'- a ceremony specially held as
part of the Gita Jayanti
celebrations in the last week of November and early December, every
year.
Other Attractions
Migratory birds from far off lands visit the farthest end of this holy
tank, during the winter. Adjacent to Brahma Sarovar lies
Birla Gita Mandir, a
traditional structure built here. Along side, one can also see Baba Nath's
haveli and temple.