Braj

Braj, also known as Brij or Brijbhoomi, is a region in India on both sides of the Yamuna river with its centre at Mathura-Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh state encompassing the area which also includes Hodal in Haryana state and Bharatpur district in Rajasthan state.[1] Within Uttar Pradesh it is very well demarcated culturally in the area which stretches from the core Mathura to Aligarh, Hathras, Etah, Firozabad, Mainpuri, Farrukhabad, Agra, Etawah and Auraiya.[2] This region is associated with Krishna,[3] who according to Hindu legend was born in Mathura and had Vrindavan as his playground, hence why it is now the main centre of Krishna circuit of Hindu pilgrimage.[1]

For the language, see Braj Bhasha.
"Brij Bhoomi" redirects here. For the 1982 film, see Brij Bhoomi (film).

Braj
Region
Country India
RegionNorthern India
Proposed capitalsMathura, Agra
Proposed Districts
List
LanguageBraj Bhasha dialect of Hindi

It is located 150 km south of Delhi and 50 km northwest of Agra.[1]

Etymology

The term Braj is derived from the Sanskrit word vraja (व्रज).[3][4] Vraja was first mentioned in Rigveda, and in Sanskrit it means a pasture, shelter or resort for cattle from Sanskrit term "vraj" which means "go" in english.

Braj pilgrimage circuits

Main article: Vraja Parikrama
Further information: 48 kos parikrama of Kurukshetra, Dwarka, and Hindu pilgrimage sites in India

Since this is a site associated with the Vedic era Lord Krishna and Mahabharata, it is an important place of pilgrimage for Hindus. It is one of 3 main pilgrimage sites related to Krishna circuit, namely 48 kos parikrama of Kurukshetra in Haryana state, Vraja Parikrama in Mathura in Uttar Pradesh state and Dwarka Parikrama (Dwarkadish yatra) at Dwarkadhish Temple in Gujarat state.

Braj Yatra circuit of pilgrimage was formally established by the 16th century sadhus of vaishnava sampradaya with fixed routes, itinerary and rituals. The circuit covers is spread across 2500 sqkm area with 84 kos or 300 km long periphery extending 10 km to east and 50 km to north and west. Braj has two main types of pilgrimage circuits, the traditional longer Braj Yatra encompassing the whole circuit, and the other shorter significantly modified contemporary point-to-point pilgrimage to visit the main sites at Mathura, Vrindavan, Gokul, Govardhan. The former, longer traditional pilgrimage route, also includes additional sacred sites Nandgaon and Barsana with travel on foot.[1]

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See also
Regional
  • Braj language
  • Vṛji, the ancient region of the Vṛji janapada that Bajjika evolved from
Religious
Vedic era
General

Further reading
  • Rupert Snell, The Hindi Classical Tradition: A Braj Bhasa Reader. Includes grammar, readings and translations, and a good glossary.

References
  1. Janet Cochrane, 2008, Asian Tourism: Growth and Change, page 249.
  2. Lucia Michelutti (2002). "Sons of Krishna: the politics of Yadav community formation in a North Indian town" (PDF). PhD Thesis Social Anthropology. London School of Economics and Political Science University of London. p. 49. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  3. Lucia Michelutti (2002). "Sons of Krishna: the politics of Yadav community formation in a North Indian town" (PDF). PhD Thesis Social Anthropology. London School of Economics and Political Science University of London. p. 46. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  4. Prasad, Dev (2015). Krishna: A Journey through the Lands & Legends of Krishna. Jaico Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-8495-170-7.

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