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 The
city of Allahabad is among the largest cities of Uttar Pradesh and situated
at the confluence of three rivers- Ganga, Yamuna and the invisible Saraswati.
The meeting point is known as Triveni and is especially sacred to Hindus.
The earlier settlements of the Aryans were established in this city, then
known as Prayag” Prayagasya Praveshshu Papam Nashwati Tatkshanam. All sins
are cleaned with entry in Prayag ( the ancient name of modern time
Allahabad) PRAYAG is one of the historic & mythological cities of India with
glorious past and present. It continues to enjoy the distinction of being a
place of haunting and lasting memories. It is a city of mixed culture of
Hindu, Muslims, Jains and Christians.
Its sanctity is manifest by references to it in Purans, the Ramayan and the
Mahabharata. According to Hindu Mythology, Lord Brahma, the creator God of
the Trinity, chose a land on earth (ie Prayag) to perform ‘Prakrista Yag’,
at the beginning of the creation and he also refereed to it as Tirth raj or
the King of all pilgrimage centers’ As per writing of ‘Padam Puran’ – “As
the sun is amongst the moon and the moon amongst the stars, likewise ‘Prayag
is best amongst all places of pilgrimage”
The bathing at Prayag is mentioned in Brahma Puran s “ in the month of Magha
at the bank of Ganga Yamuna in Prayag bestows results of millions and
millions of Ashvmedha Yajna”
Prayag is birth place of Som, Varuna and Prjapati. Prayag has been
associated with mythological personalites in Brahmanical (Vedic) and
Buddhist Literatures. It was the seat of the great sge Bhardwaj, sage
Durvasa and Sage Pannas sage Bhardwaj lived here circa 5000BC and taught
more than 10000 disciples. He was the greatest philosopher of ancient world.
The Present Jhunsi area cery close to sangam was the kingdom of
Chandrabanshiya ( lunar clan ) king Pururava. Nearby Kaushambi bloomed to
prosperety during Vatsa and Maurya Rule. The earliest monument of antiques
Ashok Piller with incriptions of third century B.C. cears the incriptions of
his directions to his fellow rajas and praise of King Samudragupta. The
Chinese traveler Huan Tsang in 643 BC found Prayag inhabited by many Hindus
who regarded the place very Holy.
1575 AD Emperor Akbar fonded the city in by the name of “ ILLAHABAS” which
has now become ALLAHABAD meant “ The City of Allaha” impressed with the
strategic importance of the SANGAM. In medieval India the city enjoyed the
honors of being the religious-cultural center of India. For a long time it
was Provincial capital of the Mughals. Later it was captured by Marathas.
1801 AD British History of the city begun in this year when the Nawab of
Oudh ceded it to the British Throne. British army used the fort for their
military purposes.
1857 AD The town was the centre of war of Independence and later became the
crucible of Indian Freedom Movement against British.
1858 AD The East India Company officially handed over India to British
Goverenment here at Minto Park After the first war of independence the town
was named “ALLAHABAD” and was made the capital of United Providence of Agra
and Oudh.
1868 AD it become a seat of Justice when Allahabd High Court was
established.
1871 AD British architect Sir William Emerson erected a majestic monument
All Saint Cathedral thirty years before he designed the Victoria Memorial in
Kolkkata.
1887 AD Allahabad become the fourth oldest University. Allahabad has been
rich in numerous Victorian and Georgian buildings made in synthesis with
Indian architectural traditions.
This city was the heart of the Indian Freedom Movement against the British
rule with Anand Bhawan being the epicenter, It was in Allahabad the Mahatama
Gandhi proposed his program of non-violent resistance to liberate India.
Allahabad has provided the largest number of prime ministers of Post
independence India Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira
Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, V.P.Singh. Former Prime Minister Chandreshekhra was
student of Allahabad university.
Allahabad is basically an Administrative and Educational city. High Court of
Uttar Pradesh, Auditor Genral of Uttar Pradesh, Principal Controller of
Defence Accounts ( Pension ) PCDA, Uttar Pradesh Madhymik Shiksha Prishad (
UP BOARD ) office, Police Head Qtrs and in education MotiLal Nehru Regional
Engg. College MNREC, Medical and Agriculture College , Indian Institute of
Information Technology ( IIIT )
ITI Naini and IIFCO Phulpur , Triveni Glass are some of major industries
here.
From the days of civilization Allahabad has been seat of learning, wisdom
and writing. It is the most vibrant politically spiritually conscious and
spiritually awakened city of India. |