Kaundinyapur Explained

Kaundanyapur
Native Name Lang:Marathi
Other Name:Kaundinyapur
Settlement Type:village
Pushpin Map:India Maharashtra
Pushpin Label Position:right
Pushpin Relief:1
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Maharashtra, India
Coordinates:20.98°N 78.14°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: India
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Maharashtra
Subdivision Type2:Region
Subdivision Name2:Vidarbha
Subdivision Type3:District
Subdivision Name3:Amravati
Government Type:Panchayati raj (India)
Leader Title:Sarpanch
Population Total:935
Population As Of:2011
Population Density Km2:auto
Demographics Type1:Languages
Demographics1 Title1:Official
Demographics1 Info1:Marathi
Timezone1:IST
Utc Offset1:+5:30
Area Code:+91-0721
Area Code Type:Telephone code
Registration Plate:MH27 (Amravati)

Kaundanyapur is a village in Amravati District in the state of MaharashtraIndia, thought to be the site of Kundinapuri, ancient capital of the legendary Vidarbha Kingdom.

History

Kaundanyapur is the capital of the Vidarbha Kingdom mentioned in the Mahabharata. It is believed that the incident of Rukmini Haran happened here. Shri Krishna rested here for a while and drank water from the Wardha River (the present name of the River Vardayini). There is a famous temple of Vitthal and Rukhmini. The state archaeological department conducted excavations at Kaundanyapur to "ascertain its antiquity". The dig revealed traces of the rampart of the ancient city. "The stone, foundation and brick walls of what appeared to be a palatial building, probably of the 14th or 15th century AD, have also been discovered," the report adds.[1]

An information board at the temple also says that remains from the Copper Age and Stone Age are believed to have been found at Kaundanyapur. The ancient nature of the site also finds mention in the Hyderabad Gazette. Its ancient Vitthal Rukmini temple, situated on a hillock, overlooks the perennially flowing Wardha River. Some believe that in the month of Kartik, Rukmini used to come back to her maternal home in Kaundanyapur. It is also believed that there is a tunnel from the Kaundanyapur temple to another temple of the goddess Amba Devi located close by. However, there is another Ambai temple in the city of Amravati. The telling and retelling of the story has resulted in some confusion regarding the Ambai temple from where Rukmini is believed to have eloped with Lord Krishna.

References

Rukhmini Udana: The Flight to Sri Krishna Reunion by Hemant Bonde Patil Atlantic Publishers & Distributors India, Census Data 2011 - Kaudanyapur

Notes and References

  1. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/The-rebirth-of-Kaundinyapur/articleshow/26656440.cms "The rebirth of Kaundinyapur"