Kurukshetra, Kurukṣetra, Kuru-kshetra: 27 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
1. Purana
2. Vaishnavism
3. Shaivism
4. Kavya
5. Shaktism
6. Jyotisha
7. General definition
In Buddhism
1. Mahayana
India history
Languages
1. Marathi
2. Sanskrit
3. Kannada
See also
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Introduction:

Kurukshetra means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

The Sanskrit term Kurukṣetra can be transliterated into English as Kuruksetra or Kurukshetra, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: Wisdom Library: Bhagavata Purana

Kurukṣetra (कुरुक्षेत्र):—The kingdom of Kuru (son of Saṃvaraṇa and his wife Tapatī). (see Bhāgavata Purāṇa 9.22.4-5)

Source: Google Books: Bhagavad-Gita with the Commentary of Sankaracarya

Kurukṣetra (कुरुक्षेत्र):—In the Jābāla-upaniṣad it is said: “Kurukṣetra is for the gods the resort of the gods; and for all the creatures it is the abode of Brahman, place of liberation, salvation.” In the Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa, too, we have: “Kurukṣetra is indeed the place of sacrifices to the gods”.

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

Kurukṣetra (कुरुक्षेत्र).—General. Made famous by the Mahābhārata, Kurukṣetra is a sacred place situated to the south of the river Sarasvatī and north of Dṛṣadvatī. People who live in this region really live in heaven. (Araṇyakāṇḍa, Chapter 83, Verse 4). (See full article at Story of Kurukṣetra from the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani)

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

Kurukṣetra (कुरुक्षेत्र).—Founded by Kuru and sacred to Harī.¹ Watered by the river Sarasvatī.² Capital city of the Kurus.³ Sages of Kurukṣetra visited Dvāraka. At Kurukṣetra Kṛṣṇa performed sacrifices for twelve years.⁴ The battlefield where the Pāṇḍavas fought with the Kurus led by Duryodhana.⁵ Here Paraśurāma dug a lake called Syamantapañcaka.⁶ On the occasion of a sacrifice Sūta narrated the br. purāṇa here.⁷ Purūravas met Urvaśī after their separation at; the residence of Sanatkumāra and Dharmarāja fit for śrāddha offerings, and sacred to Pitṛs. Founded by Kuru, son of Samvaraṇa;⁸ residence of sage Kauśika, and sacrifice of Adhisīmakṛṣṇa for 2 years at; sacred in Dvāpara;⁹ Dharmakṣetra where a great sacrifice was performed.¹⁰ Residence at, leads to mukti; no shaving or upavāsa required here.¹¹ Noted for ambhojasaras or lotus tank.¹² R. Sarasvatī flows here: noted for a temple of Vāmana.¹³

1) Bhā III. 3. 12; VII. 14. 30; Viṣṇu-purāṇa VI. 8. 29.
2) Bhāgavata-purāṇa IX. 14. 33.
3) Ib. IX. 22. 4.
4) Ib. X. 90. 28[3], 46[1].
5) Ib. X. 78. [95 (V) 9], [18].
6) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 47. 2.
7) Bhāgavata-purāṇa I. 1. 17.
8) III. 13. 65 and 68; 66. 18; Matsya-purāṇa 22. 18; Vāyu-purāṇa 77. 64; 91. 31; 99. 215, 259.
9) Matsya-purāṇa 20. 2; 50. 20 and 67; 106. 49 and 57; 109. 3; 180. 55; 184. 16.
10) Vāyu-purāṇa 1. 14; 59. 107.
11) Ib. 105. 16 and 25.
12) Viṣṇu-purāṇa IV-19. 77.
13) Matsya-purāṇa 186. 10; 192. 12; 244. 3.

Source: JatLand: List of Mahabharata people and places

Kurukṣetra (कुरुक्षेत्र) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. I.89.42) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Kuru-kṣetra) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.

Source: Shodhganga: The saurapurana - a critical study

Kurukṣetra (कुरुक्षेत्र) or Kurukṣetratīrtha is the name of a Tīrtha (holy places) mentioned in the 10th century Saurapurāṇa: one of the various Upapurāṇas depicting Śaivism.—It is here at this place the great battle was fought between the Kauravas and the Pāṇḍavas. [...] In Kurukṣetra-tīrtha there is the liṅga named Sthāṇu. Brahmā is said to have achieved brahmatva by undergoing penance at this tīrtha. The Vālakhilya sages got siddhi at this place.

Note: According to Vamanapurāṇa (2.24-25, 27, 33) when king Kuru, the son of Saṃvaraṇa ploughed the land there with the help of a golden plough, it was known by the name of Kurukṣetra. Nāradīyapurāṇa (II.64.6-7) speaks of Kurukṣetra as Brahmāvarta which lies in between the rivers Sarasvatī and Dṛṣadvatī. [...] In the introductory verse of the Bhagavadgītā it is called Dharmakṣetra.

context information

The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.

Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)

Source: ISKCON Press: Glossary

Kurukṣetra (कुरुक्षेत्र).—A holy place due to the penances of King Kuru. It was here that the great Mahābhārata war was fought; situated about ninety miles north of New Delhi where Lord Kṛṣṇa spoke the Bhagavad-gītā to Arjuna, five thousand years ago. It is a place of pilgrimage.

Source: Pure Bhakti: Bhagavad-gita (4th edition)

Kurukṣetra (कुरुक्षेत्र) refers to “‘Field of the Kurus’, an ancient holy place where Paraśurāma performed penances of atonement. It is still visited to this day (especially when there is an eclipse), for shelter from inauspicious effects”. (cf. Glossary page from Śrīmad-Bhagavad-Gītā).

Source: Pure Bhakti: Brhad Bhagavatamrtam

Kurukṣetra (कुरुक्षेत्र) refers to:—Also known as Dharmakṣetra, the field of religion, where Śrī Kṛṣṇa spoke the Bhagavadgītā to His friend Arjuna, just before the beginning of the great Mahābhārata war. It is located nearly 100 miles (160 km) north of New Delhi. (cf. Glossary page from Śrī Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta).

context information

Vaishnava (वैष्णव, vaiṣṇava) or vaishnavism (vaiṣṇavism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshipping Vishnu as the supreme Lord. Similar to the Shaktism and Shaivism traditions, Vaishnavism also developed as an individual movement, famous for its exposition of the dashavatara (‘ten avatars of Vishnu’).

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Śaivism

Kurukṣetra (कुरुक्षेत्र) is a Sanskrit word referring to one of the sixty-eight places hosting a svāyambhuvaliṅga, one of the most sacred of liṅgas according to the Śaivāgamas. The presiding deity residing over the liṅga in this place (Kurukṣetra) is named Sthāṇu. The list of sixty-eight svāyambhuvaliṅgas is found in the commentary of the Jirṇoddhāra-daśaka by Nigamajñānadeva. The word liṅga refers to a symbol used in the worship of Śiva and is used thoughout Śaiva literature, such as the sacred Āgamas.

context information

Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.

Kavya (poetry)

Source: Wisdom Library: Kathāsaritsāgara

Kurukṣetra (कुरुक्षेत्र) is the name of an ancient city, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 72. Accordingly, as king Vinītamati said to Somaśūra: “... there lived a long time ago in Kurukṣetra a king of the name of Malayaprabha. One day the king was about to give money to his subjects in a time of famine. But his ministers dissuaded him from doing so, out of avarice”.

The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Kurukṣetra, is a famous Sanskrit epic story revolving around prince Naravāhanadatta and his quest to become the emperor of the vidyādharas (celestial beings). The work is said to have been an adaptation of Guṇāḍhya’s Bṛhatkathā consisting of 100,000 verses, which in turn is part of a larger work containing 700,000 verses.

Source: archive.org: Aspects of Bengal society: Ship-building and commerce

Kurukshetra is the name of an ancient city mentioned by the author of the Kavikankan’s Chandikāvya pp. 195-202.—Accordingly, after the performance of the usual ceremonies before sailing, the merchant Dhanapati passed the following places: [...]—all by the side of the Ganges. Then he reached the very celebrated inland port of Bengal known as Saptagram near the Tribeni. The poet here incidentally praised this port and gave it a superiour place among the following ports and places: [e.g., Kurukshetra, etc...]. According to the poet the merchants of the above places visit Saptagram but the merchants of Saptagram do never visit those ports and places.

context information

Kavya (काव्य, kavya) refers to Sanskrit poetry, a popular ancient Indian tradition of literature. There have been many Sanskrit poets over the ages, hailing from ancient India and beyond. This topic includes mahakavya, or ‘epic poetry’ and natya, or ‘dramatic poetry’.

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

Kurukṣetra (कुरुक्षेत्र) is the name of an upapīṭhas, according to the Śrīmatottara-tantra verse 3.135-138, an expansion of the Kubjikāmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult.—The Upapīṭhas are Śrījayantī, Kulutā, along with Mālava and Mahaujas, Kāṃcīpura, Kurukṣetra, Barbara, and Sāṃvara.

context information

Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.

Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)

Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by Varahamihira

Kurukṣetra (कुरुक्षेत्र) refers to an ancient kingdom identified with the Kurus, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 5), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “If there should be both lunar and solar eclipses in one month, princes will suffer both from dissensions among their own army and from wars. [...] If the eclipses should fall in the lunar month of Śrāvaṇa, the people of Kāśmīra, of Pulinda and of Cīna (China), the Yavanas, the Kurus [i.e., kurukṣetra-ja], the Gāndhāras and the people of Madhyadeśa (Central Provinces), the horses of Kāmboja and the crops of Śarat will perish; the rest of mankind will enjoy prosperity and will be happy”.

context information

Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.

General definition (in Hinduism)

Source: WikiPedia: Hinduism

Kurukshetra (कुरुक्षेत्र): Plain of, scene of great battle between the Pandavas and Kurus for the throne of Hastinapura resulted in a battle in which a number of ancient kingdoms participated as allies of the rival clans. The location of the battle was Kurukshetra in the modern state of Haryana in India.

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: archive.org: Bulletin of the French School of the Far East (volume 5)

Kurukṣetra (कुरुक्षेत्र) (in Chinese: Kieou-leou-tch'a-to) is the name of an ancient kingdom associated with Puṣya or Puṣyanakṣatra, as mentioned in chapter 18 of the Candragarbha: the 55th section of the Mahāsaṃnipāta-sūtra, a large compilation of Sūtras (texts) in Mahāyāna Buddhism partly available in Sanskrit, Tibetan and Chinese.—Chapter 18 deals with geographical astrology and, in conversation with Brahmarāja and others, Buddha explains how he entrusts the Nakṣatras [e.g., Puṣya] with a group of kingdoms [e.g., Kurukṣetra] for the sake of protection and prosperity.

context information

Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.

India history and geography

Source: Wisdom Library: India History

1. The Kurukshetra war; A war between the Kauravas and Pandavas, as documented in the Mahabharata. According to Mahabharata, a struggle between the Kauravas and the Pandavas resulted in a battle in which a number of surrounding kingdoms participated as allies.

2. Kurukshetra is the city located in Haryana. The meaning of the word `Kurukshetra` means the land of the Kauravas. According to Mahabharata it is the holy site where the Kurukshetra war has taken place. The place also has another importance as this is the site where Bhagavad Gita was taught to Arjuna on the battle field, just before the great battle.

Kurukshetra finds mention in the ancient literature. It was the sacred region of the Dvapara age according to the Matsya Purana and one of the sixteen Mahajanapadas of Jambudvipa. In Manu Smriti, Manu praises the dexterity of the people of Kurukshetra. Kurukshetra also finds mention in Panini`s Ashtadhyayi.

Source: Shodhganga: New look on the kushan bengali

Kuruksetra is Located in Hariyana. This city represented by a series of mounds at Amin, Thaneswar, Raja-Kama-Ka-Qila which exposed valuable Kushan antiquities. Three periods of occupation were noticed here of which Period II of Raja-Kama-Ka-Qila belongs to early centuries of Christian era. This is evident from the findings of various stamped pottery, houses made of burnt bricks, three clay sealings with legend in Brahmi. scripts of early centuries of Christian era (IAR 1971-72).

context information

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

kurukṣētra (कुरुक्षेत्र).—n (S) The country near Delhi, the scene of the great battle between the kaurava & pāṇḍava.

context information

Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Kurukṣetra (कुरुक्षेत्र).—Name of an extensive plain near Delhi, the scene of the great war between the Kauravas and Pāṇḍavas; धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः (dharmakṣetre kurukṣetre samavetā yuyutsavaḥ) Bhagavadgītā (Bombay) 1.1; Manusmṛti 2.19.

Derivable forms: kurukṣetram (कुरुक्षेत्रम्).

Kurukṣetra is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms kuru and kṣetra (क्षेत्र).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Kurukṣetra (कुरुक्षेत्र).—I. n. the name of a country, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 2, 19; Ii. m. pl. the name of its inhabitants, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 7, 193.

Kurukṣetra is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms kuru and kṣetra (क्षेत्र).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Kurukṣetra (कुरुक्षेत्र).—[neuter] [Name] of a country and celebrated battle-field; [masculine] [plural] its inhabitants.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Kurukṣetra (कुरुक्षेत्र):—[=kuru-kṣetra] [from kuru] a n. ‘the field of the Kurus’, Name of an extensive plain near Delhi (the scene of the great battles between the Kurus and Pāṇḍus), [Aitareya-brāhmaṇa; Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa] etc.

2) [v.s. ...] m. [plural] the inhabitants of that country (renowned for their bravery), [Manu-smṛti vii, 193.]

3) [v.s. ...] b m. [plural] ([wrong reading] for kaurukṣ°)

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Kurukṣetra (कुरुक्षेत्र):—[kuru-kṣetra] (traṃ) 1. n. The country near Dehli where the Kurus and Pāndus fought; a sacred place.

[Sanskrit to German]

Kurukshetra in German

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Kurukṣētra (ಕುರುಕ್ಷೇತ್ರ):—

1) [noun] the place where the great war between Pāṇḍavas and Kauravas took place ( near the present Delhi).

2) [noun] a clash of wills, temperaments or opinions; mutual animosity arising from disagreement.

3) [noun] a place (a house, working place, etc.) where wrangling, quarrel takes place (esp. continuously and seriously).

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

Relevant text

Search found 103 books and stories containing Kurukshetra, Kuru-ksetra, Kuru-kṣetra, Kuru-kshetra, Kurukṣetra, Kuruksetra, Kurukṣētra; (plurals include: Kurukshetras, ksetras, kṣetras, kshetras, Kurukṣetras, Kuruksetras, Kurukṣētras). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

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