Sapta Moksha Puri

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Context

Ministry of Tourism promotes tourist destinations of India, including the Saptha Moksha Puri (Seven Liberation destinations), viz., Ayodhya, Mathura, Maya (Haridwar), Kashi (Varanasi), Kanchi Avantika (Ujjain), Puri (Odisha) and Dwaravati (Dwaraka, Gujarat), in a holistic manner.

About Saptha Moksha Puri

What does Sapta Puri mean?

Sapta puri are Hinduism's seven holy pilgrimage sites in India.
They are the locations where avatars of different deities were thought to have descended in their earthly incarnations.
The term comes from the Sanskrit sapta, meaning “seven,” and puri, meaning “city,” “place” or “town.”
The faithful believe that if they make a pilgrimage to all sapta puri, they will attain the state of moksha, or liberation from the life-death cycle.
Moksha is considered one of the most important goals of four Purusarthas.
In addition to the sapta puri, there are sapta dweepa(great islands), sapta nadi (holy rivers), sapta lokas (holy worlds) and sapta rushi (great sages), among others.

The sapta puri

Ayodhya

Also known as Saket, it is believed to be the birthplace of Rama, the seventh avatar of Vishnu.
The city is located in Uttar Pradesh along the Sarayu River.

Dwarka

Located along the Gomti River in Gujarat, Dwarka gained prominence about 5,000 years ago when Krishna moved the capital of the Yadava kingdom to the city from Mathura.
Dwarka was for a long time considered the fabled city of Krishna, then called Dwaraka, until its excavation proved it to be real.
Its ancient name was Kushasthali. According to a legend, the name of this city was Kushsthali due to Maharaja Ravatak performing Yajna by laying Kush in the sea.

Haridwar

The name of this holiest site in Uttarakhand translates as “gateway to Hari,” the primary deity, which is usually Vishnu or Shiva.
Located along the Ganges River, Haridwar is where, according to legend, the goddess Ganga came to earth after King Bhagirath prayed to Shiva for help atoning for his ancestors' sins.
Haridwar also called Maya or Mayapuri.

Mathura

Located in Uttar Pradesh, this city is cited as the birthplace of Krishna, the eighth incarnation of Vishnu.
The city is also called Braj Bhoomi.
River Yamuna flows near the city Mathura. This city is well known for Shraddha Karma.

Kashi

Located along the Ganges River, this city is known also by the name Varanasi and is considered the spiritual capital of India.
It is thought to be one of Shiva's favorite cities, and the faithful believe that those who die there attain moksha.
Kashi Punya Kshethra also called Banaras or Varanasi, is situated along the banks of river Ganga, where the other two rivers Varuna & Asi also present here.

Kanchipuram

This city is located in Tamil Nadu on the Vegavathy River.
Known as Kanchi for short, it is revered by Hindus of the Vaishnava and Saiva schools for its temples.
Kanchipuram Tirthapuri is considered as Kashi of the south.
According to Kanchipuram’s history, Kanchi is known to have been created by Bhagwan Brahma, the creator of the universe.
According to history, Bhagwan Lord Brahma meditated here to have a glimpse of the Devi.

Ujjain

Also known as Ujjayini or Avantika, this city is along the Kshipra River in Madhya Pradesh.
Shiva is believed to have killed the demons collectively called Tripurasura there.
Two of the sapta puri – Haridwar and Ujjain – host the Kumbh Mela,a mass pilgrimage for ritual bathing in each city's sacred river.
One of the 12 jyotirlingas is situated here.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q) Which of the following statements with reference to Sapta Moksha Puri is/are incorrect?

a. Kanchi is located in Kerala on the Vegavathy River.

b. Ujjain is situated along the Kshipra River in Madhya Pradesh.

c. Mathura is located in Uttar Pradesh along the Sarayu River.

Answer: Option 3