Braj

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For the language, see Braj Bhasha.
"Brij Bhoomi" redirects here. For the 1982 film, see Brij Bhoomi (film).

Braj

Region

Country  India

Region Northern India

Proposed capitals Mathura, Agra

Proposed Districts
List[hide]

Mathura district
Bharatpur district
Aligarh district
Farrukhabad district
Agra district
Palwal district
Hathras district
Etawah district
Mainpuri district
Etah district
Kasganj district
Firozabad district

Language Braj Bhasha dialect of Hindi

Braj, also known as Brij or Brijbhoomi, is a region in India on both sides of

the Yamuna river with its center at Mathura-Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh state
encompassing the area which also includes Hodal in Haryana state and Bharatpur
 district in Rajasthan state.[1] Within Uttar Pradesh it is very well demarcated culturally
in the area which stretches from the core Mathura
to Aligarh, Hathras, Etah, Firozabad, Mainpuri, Farrukhabad, Agra, Etawah and Aura
iya.[2] This region is associated with Lord Krishna,[3] who was born in Mathura and
since Vrindavan was his playground it is now the main centre of Krishna circuit of
Hindu pilgrimage.[1]
It is located 150 km south of Delhi and 50 km northwest of Agra. [1]

Contents

 1Etymology
 2Braj pilgrimage circuits
 3See also
 4Further reading
 5References

Etymology[edit]
The term Braj is derived from the Sanskrit word vraja (व्रज).[3][4] Vraja was first
mentioned in Rigveda, and in Sanskrit it means a pasture, shelter or resort for
cattle from Sanskrit term "vraj" which means "go" in english.

Braj pilgrimage circuits[edit]

Main article: Vraja Parikrama
Further information: 48 kos parikrama of Kurukshetra, Dwarka, and Hindu
pilgrimage sites in India
Since this is a site associated with the Vedic era Lord Krishna and Mahabharata, it is
an important place of pilgrimage for Hindus. It is one of 3 main pilgrimage sites
related to Krishna circuit, namely 48 kos parikrama of
Kurukshetra in Haryana state, Vraja Parikrama in Mathura in Uttar Pradesh state
and Dwarka Parikrama (Dwarkadish yatra) at Dwarkadhish Temple in Gujarat state.
Braj Yatra circuit of pilgrimage was formally established by the 16th
century sadhus of vaishnava sampradaya with fixed routes, itinerary and rituals. The
circuit covers is spread across 2500 sqkm area with 84 kos or 300 km long periphery
extending 10 km to east and 50 km to north and west. Braj has two main types of
pilgrimage circuits, the traditional longer Braj Yatra encompassing the whole circuit,
and the other shorter significantly modified contemporary point-to-point pilgrimage to
visit the main sites at Mathura, Vrindavan, Gokul, Govardhan. The former, longer
traditional pilgrimage route, also includes additional sacred
sites Nandgaon and Barsana with travel on foot.[1]

See also[edit]
Regional

 Braj language
 Vṛji, the ancient region of the Vṛji janapada that Bajjika evolved from
Religious

 48 kos parikrama of Kurukshetra

 Dwarka
 Hindu pilgrimage sites in India
Vedic era

 King Kuru
 Cemetery H culture
 Painted Grey Ware culture
General

 Kingdoms of Ancient India

 Regions of Haryana
 Regions of Rajasthan
 Regions of Uttar Pradesh