Tirtharaj Prayag: A divine place

"दृष्ट्वा प्रकृष्ट योगभ्यः पुष्टभ्यो दक्षिणादिभिः।
प्रयागमिति तन्नाम कृतं हरिहारिभिः।।"

That is, seeing this place full of excellent Yagyas and donations, Lord Vishnu and other gods including Lord Shankar named it "Prayag".

Prayag: Mention in scriptures

Prayag is a holy pilgrimage site, whose glory is described in various Puranas and religious texts. It has been called "Tirtharaj" because it is the best among all the pilgrimages.

It is said in Brahmapuran:

"प्रकृष्टत्वा प्रयागो सौ प्राधान्या राज शब्दवान्।"

That is, due to its excellence it was called "Prayag" and due to its prominence the word "Raj" was added, which made it "Tirtharaj Prayag".

Prayag: Provider of the four Purusharthas

According to scriptures, Prayag is the provider of the four Purusharthas - Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha.

• Dharma: Place of religious rituals and pious deeds.

• Artha: Center for attainment of prosperity and grandeur.

• Kama: Medium for fulfillment of desires.

• Moksha: The holy place of ultimate liberation and self-purification.

Prayagraj is not just a pilgrimage site, but a center of spiritual consciousness, culture and virtue, where the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and invisible Saraswati takes place, which is called "Triveni Sangam".

It is a unique place for self-purification and attainment of salvation for devotees, saints and sages.

Importance of Prayag in Vedas and Puranas

The glory of Prayag has been described in great detail in the Vedas and Puranas. Once, the sages asked Sheshnag why Prayag is called the king of pilgrimages?

Sheshnag replied that on one occasion the superiority of all the pilgrimages was compared.

1. For the first time, when all the pilgrimages of India were placed on one side of a scale and Prayag on the other side, even then Prayag had the upper hand.

2. For the second time, when the Saptapuri (seven holy places) (Kashi, Ayodhya, Mathura, Haridwar, Kanchi, Avantika, Dwarka) were placed on one side and Prayag on the other, even then Prayag had the heavier hand.

Uniqueness of the king of pilgrimages Prayag

The basis of the importance of Prayag is not only its historicity, but also that it is considered the best pilgrimage in all the three worlds.

• Here the confluence of three holy rivers - Ganga, Yamuna and invisible Saraswati takes place, which is called "Triveni Sangam".

• It is mentioned in the scriptures that a person gets eternal virtue by bathing, doing penance, giving donations and performing yagna here.

• In Skanda Purana, Padma Purana and Mahabharata, Prayag has been described as the best pilgrimage for attaining salvation.

• Lord Brahma himself had declared it as the most sacred place for yagnas.

Prayag: The door to attain virtue

It is said in Skanda Purana:

"यत्र गंगा च यमुना चैव सरस्वती च, संगच्छन्ति तत्र पुण्यं बहुजातं भवति"

(That is, where Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati meet, there one attains immense virtue.

That is why Prayag is not only called a pilgrimage but also the king of pilgrimages - Tirtharaj.

पद्मपुराण

श्यामो वटो श्याम गुणं वृणोति स्वच्छायया श्यामलया जनानाम् ।

श्यामः श्रमं कृन्तति यत्र दृष्टः सतीर्थराजो जयति प्रयागः ।।

प्रयागो मध्यमावेदिः पूर्वावेदिः गयाशिरः।विरजा दक्षिणा वेदिरनन्तफलदायिनी ।। प्रतीची पुष्करा वेदिस्त्रिभिः कुण्डैरलंकृता |समन्त पंचका प्रोक्ता वेदिरेवोत्तराव्यया ।।

वामन पुराण

Tirtharaj Prayag: The ultimate pilgrimage of Sanatan Dharma

Prayag, which is called Tirtharaj, is considered the best among all the pilgrimages. Its glory is described in detail in the Vedas and Puranas. This place is said to provide Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha.

• Lord Vasudev himself protects Prayag.

• Lord Shiva protects the Banyan tree, which destroys all sins.

• All the gods together protect this pilgrimage.

• Merely remembering Prayag destroys sins, so the virtue of

bathing and visiting

here is indescribable.

Importance of Panchkund and Ganga-Smaran of Prayag

• Ganga ji flows in the middle of the Panchkund situated here.

• Only by remembering Ganga, one attains virtue.

• A person gets auspiciousness by merely seeing Ganga

• By bathing and drinking water in Ganga, seven generations

become pure. Prayag:

The Gateway to Salvation

The person who:

speaks the truth,

conquers anger,

follows non-violence and Dharma,

has respect for cows and Brahmins,

and takes a bath in the confluence of Ganga and Yamuna,

is freed from all sins and achieves all his desires.

Unique glory of Prayag

According to the scriptures, this is a famous pilgrimage in all the three worlds. By taking bath here, one attains Punyalok and those who die here are freed from the bondage of rebirth.

हिमवद्विनध्ययोर्मध्यं यत्प्राग्विनशनादपि । प्रत्यगेव प्रयागाश्च मध्यदेशः प्रकीर्तितः ।।

मनुस्मृति

Prayag: The best pilgrimage in all the ages

• In Satyayug, Naimisharanya Tirtha was the best.

• In Tretayug, Pushkar Tirtha was considered the best.

• In Dwaparyug, Kurukshetra was the most sacred.

• In Kaliyug, Ganga and especially Prayag have the highest importance.

🔹 "In Kaliyug, there is no other way to get rid of worldly troubles, Ganga is the best medicine."

The result of fasting and penance in Prayag

• By fasting for three days in Prayag, all wishes are fulfilled.

• By fasting in Prayag, one gets virtue equal to Ashwamedha Yagna.

• Prayag area is spread over five yojanas (about 40 km).

• The person who bathes here for a month, gets free from all troubles and attains the ultimate position.

Other holy pilgrimages of Prayag

• Agni Tirtha (on the south bank of Yamuna)

• Naraka Tirtha (Tirtha of Dharmaraj) – where bathing leads to heaven.

• Niranjan Tirtha of Sun – here Indra and the gods perform daily evening worship.

बहुरि राम जानकिहिं देखाई।जमुना कलिमल हरनि सोहाई।। पुनि देखी सुरसरी पुनीता।राम कहा प्रनाम करु सीता ।।

रामचरित मानस

The glory of Prayag in the Vedas

The Sangam is mentioned for the first time in Rigveda Khil 10.165:

"जहाँ पर गंगा और यमुना (सित-असित) नदियाँ मिलती हैं, वहाँ स्नान करने वाले परम पद को प्राप्त कर संसारिक बंधनों से मुक्त हो जाते हैं।"

This makes it clear that the Sangam of Prayag is considered the path to attain salvation.

Prayag in Mahabharata and Ramayana

• It is said in the Mahabharata that the superiority of the pilgrimages was compared, where Prayag outweighed all the pilgrimages.

• Valmiki Ramayana mentions Lord Shri Ram's stay in Prayag and his divine journey.

• Padma Purana has also underlined the glory of Tirtharaj.

The special glory of Prayag

1️ Mokshadayini tradition - One gets salvation by bathing in Prayag Sangam and seeing Akshayvat.

2️ The story of Prahlad - Devotee Prahlad, born in the demon clan, was counted among the Saptarishis, because he did penance in Prayag.

3️ Birthplace of Lord Som, Varun and Prajapati - hence it is also called Bhaskar Kshetra.

4️ Miracle of Akshayvat - It is considered to be Akshay (indestructible) tree, whose mere sight brings virtue.

Spiritual importance of Prayag

• Bathing in Sangam destroys all sins.

• It is a famous pilgrimage in all three worlds, where bathing liberates one from the bonds of the world.

• The meeting of Ganga, Yamuna and invisible Saraswati here is a symbol of knowledge, devotion and karma.

The confluence of all the pilgrimages

It is said in the scriptures that in Prayag: The power of pilgrimages of holy pilgrimages like Naimisharanya, Pushkar, Gaya, Gangasagar, Sindhusagar, Chaitrak etc. exists.

Prayag is not just a pilgrimage, but it is a symbol of faith, belief and liberation of Sanatan Dharma. This Tirtharaj provides salvation to its devotees and its glory has been unparalleled in every era.

Tirtha of Tirthas: Divine Importance of Prayag

Prayag is called the King of Tirthas (Tirtharaj). It is not just a pilgrimage site, but the center of Indian culture and spirituality. Its glory has been described repeatedly in the Vedas, Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Puranas.

Prayag is not just a pilgrimage but a symbol of Sanatan Dharma, Indian culture and Mokshadayini Shakti. This place is the best among all the pilgrimages where even the gods themselves are eager to take a bath.

शृणु राजन्प्रयागे तु अनाशकफलं विभो। प्राप्नोति पुरुषो धीमाञ्श्रद्दधानो जितेन्द्रियः ।।३ अहीनाङ्गोऽप्यरोगश्च पञ्चेन्द्रियसमन्वितः । अश्वमेधफलं तस्य गच्छतस्तु पदे पदे ।।

मत्स्य पुराण

Tirtharaj Prayag: A divine place

Prayag is not just a pilgrimage, but it is a symbol of faith, belief and liberation of Sanatan Dharma.