Sacred Site of the Mahabharata
Prayaga
प्रयाग
Supreme confluence tirtha of the epic
Prayaga (Modern Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh): Supreme confluence tirtha of the epic, located at coordinates 25.43°N, 81.88°E.
Key Facts
| Type | Sacred Site |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit name | प्रयाग |
| Coordinates | 25.43°N, 81.88°E |
| Modern location | Modern Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh |
| Significance | Supreme confluence tirtha of the epic |
About Prayaga
The confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna, hailed in the epic as the king of tirthas. The Pandavas bathed at the sangam during their pilgrimage with the sage Lomasha (Vana Parva).
Why it matters: Supreme confluence tirtha of the epic
Details
- Merit
- Bathing at the confluence is equated with the greatest sacrifices
On the Map
Prayaga sits at 25.43°N, 81.88°E, in Modern Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.
View on the full mapEvents at Prayaga
- Pilgrimage to PrayagaYear -23On the great tirtha-yatra urged by Narada and guided by sages, the Pandavas bathe at Prayaga, where Ganga and Yamuna meet - the sacrificial altar of the gods.
- The King and the ApsaraYear 15A mortal king and the loveliest nymph of heaven fall in love, and she descends to earth to be his wife on two strange conditions. When the jealous gandharvas steal her pet rams and trick the king into being seen unclothed by a flash of lightning, the condition is broken and Urvashi vanishes back to heaven - leaving Pururavas to wander the earth half-mad with grief until his faithful longing wins her back.
- The Sage Whose Blood Was SapYear 54The sage Mankanaka, so purified that vegetable sap flows in his veins, dances with such pride at the marvel that the whole world dances and trembles; Shiva, coming quietly, presses his thumb and sheds pure ash, showing a greatness beyond, and cures the sage of his spiritual pride.
Stories Set at Prayaga
The King and the Apsara
Pururavas and Urvashi
The Sage Whose Blood Was Sap
Shiva humbles Mankanaka's pride with a touch of his thumb
The Pilgrimage of the Fords
Lomasa Leads the Pandavas
The Four Quarters of the Sacred Land
A priest reciting the map of Bharatavarsha
The King of Fords
Where two rivers and a third nobody sees meet
Garuda's Map of the World
The four directions described from a bird's back
The Names That Cleanse Sin
Asked what destroys sin, Bhishma answers with a litany of gods, rivers, mountains, sages and kings
Madhavi Chooses the Forest
At her own swayamvara she passes over every king and takes the woods for a husband