Ramahrada

Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R)

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Ramahrada (रामह्रद) is a place mentioned by Panini and in Mahabharata (3.81.22), (III.81.178). Hukum Singh Panwar (Pauria) has identified it with Village Ramray near Jind

Variants

• Rama-hrada (राम-ह्रद)
• Ramahrada (रामह्रद) (AS, p.792)
• Parashurama Kunda (परशुराम कुंड), दे. Ramahrada (रामह्रद), (AS, p.531)
• Sharyanavat शर्यणावत् (AS, p.891)
• Sharyanavata शर्यणावत
• Sharyana (शर्याण) Panini (4.2.86)

Mention by Panini

• Rama-hrada (राम-ह्रद) is mentioned by Panini in Ashtadhyayi.

• Sharyana (शर्याण) is mentioned by Panini in Ashtadhyayi (4.2.86).

History

V. S. Agrawala writes that Panini mentions a village in category ending Harda (IV.2.142) - Ramahrada. The Mahabharata knows Ramahrada in Kurukshetra (Aranyakaparva, 81.22).

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Ramrai or Ramahrada is a traditional south-west Yaksha of the Kurukshetra region. It is connected with the mythological story of Parsurama who after the annihilation of Kshatriyas, filled five pools with their blood and propitiated his forefathers there. It is believed that a bath at Ramahrada tirtha and Sanet tirtha is very holy. There is an old temple of Parsuram where he is worshipped.

Jat History

Hukum Singh Panwar (Pauria) writes....The myth of association of Parsurama's family with certain tirthas in haryana need to be fully explored and critically assessed. The Vamana Purana, a product of medieval period (900-1700 AD) , dedicated to Thaneshwar , associated the ancient pilgrimage of Ramahrada (रामह्रद) (3.81.22), identified with Village Ramray near Jind (, with Parsurama who according to Mahabharata (III,81,26f,117,9ff), filled the five tanks (Samantapanchaka) with the blood of Kshatriyas, annihilated 21 times by him. He is said to have performed the tarpana with their blood (Adi Parva, 1,2,5) in the lakes made by him (Vana Parva, 81,22). These lakes made by him are said to have been full of blood like water.

Parsurama's association with Ramahrada (Ramray) as of later origin, and that too, based on hearsay. As a matter of fact, "to suggest that a particular chapter or story in the Mahabharata is a subbsequent addition would always be distasteful and exasperating to the ear of a Hindu", especially an orthodox Brahman. but as the matters stood and the available evidence warrants, it is difficult to run away from facts.

That Parasurama performed the great sacrifice (tatpana) with the blood of the Kshatriyas at Ramahrada (Ramray) is not only Pre-posterous but also violative of all canons of Brahman morality of the day, unless we are prepared, as Waddell would have us believe (supra), to accept that Parasurama was given to the barbarous practice of human sacrifice. Further, that the lakes were filled by Parasurama with Kshatriyas' blood and also that the water of those lakes remained consequently blood-like for long sounds not only outrageous but also scientifically untenable. The water was blood-like because of reddish silt brought by Sarasvati river from its catchment area in the Sivaslaka hills, and not due to Kshtriyas' blood, for human blood turns black within six hours in the open, settles down as black clots after leaving white plasma on the surface in stagnant or running water, making it reddish only temporarily (Dr. S.B. Siwach, M.D.; FICA (USA); FICP, Delhi Road, Rohtak),

That the lakes of Ramahrada (Ramray) were made by (Parasu) Rama (Vanaprava, 81,22) conflicts With historical evidence available from Cunningham (ASI, Vol. XIV: 91), Sayana (Monier-Williams, Skt. Eng. Dic., 1057) and mentioned in Rigveda (1, 84, 14 and 1, 117,22) that those lakes and tanks were associated with the ashramas of Sharyanavata and Dadhiyancha rishis. Similarly, Ramahrada was Rama's lake or was the name of a sacred bathing place (Monier-Williams,

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The Jats:Their Origin, Antiquity and Migrations:End of p.17

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ibid.878), but it is nowhere stated that the suggested Rama was Parasurama. What is true of Parasurama myth, may also hold equally good for the legendary connections of his parents, Jamadagni and Renuka, with temples and shrines in the north.

In Mahabharata

Ramahrada (रामह्रद) (Tirtha) in Mahabharata (III.81.22), (III.81.178), (XIII.26.44),

Vana Parva, Mahabharata/Book III Chapter 81 mentions Rama-hrada (रामह्रद) (III.81.22), The pilgrim, where the heroic Rama exterminating the Kshatriyas by his might, dug five lakes and filled them, with the blood of his victims.

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Vana Parva, Mahabharata/Book III Chapter 81 mentions the location of Ramahrada near Kurukshetra: That which lieth between Tarantuka and Arantuka and the lakes of Ramahrada and Machakruka is Kurukshetra. It is also called Samantapanchaka and is said to be the northern sacrificial altar of the Grandsire.

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Anusasana Parva/Book XIII Chapter 26 mentions the sacred waters on the earth. Ramahrada (रामह्रद) (Tirtha) is mentioned in Mahabharata (XIII.26.44). Bathing in Ramahrada and offering oblations of water to the Pitris in the river Vishala, and observing a fast for twelve days, one becomes cleansed of all sins.

रामह्रद

विजयेन्द्र कुमार माथुर ने लेख किया है ...रामह्रद (AS, p.792): महाभारत अनुशासन पर्व में उल्लिखित एक तीर्थ है जो विपाशा या व्यास (पंजाब) के तट पर स्थित रहा होगा। इसको परशुराम कुंड भी कहते थे। यह विपाशा का ही कोई कुंड जान पड़ता है - ‘रामह्नद उपस्पृश्य विपाशायां कृतोदकः, द्वादशाहं निराहारः कल्पषाद् प्रमुच्यते’ अनुशासन 25,47। (दे. शर्यणावत्)

परशुराम कुंड

विजयेन्द्र कुमार माथुर ने लेख किया है ...परशुराम कुंड, दे. (AS, p.531) महाभारत अनुशासन पर्व में उल्लिखित एक तीर्थ जो विपाशा या व्यास (पंजाब) के तट पर स्थित रहा होगा। क्योंकि इसका उल्लेख पंजाब की इसी नदी के प्रसंग में है.

शर्यणावत्

विजयेन्द्र कुमार माथुर ने लेख किया है ...शर्यणावत् (AS, p.891): ऋग्वेद 1,84,14 तथा पाणिनि 4.2.86 में उल्लिखित है. श्री वीएस अग्रवाल के अनुसार यह थानेसर के निकट रामह्रद है.