Jyotisar

The holy Banyan Tree, which is supposed to have witnessed Lord Krishna delivering the sermon of Bhagavad Gita
Jyotisar is a town on the Kurukshetra-Pehowa road, 5 km west ofThanesar in the Kurukshetra district of Haryana. 'Jyoti' means light and 'Sar' means the core meaning. Hence the name of place is a reference to the 'core meaning of light' or ultimately of God. It is one of the most revered holy sites of the holy city of Kurukshetra. A Vat (Banyan tree) stands on a raised plinth. Local traditions say that this tree is an offshoot of the holy Banyan tree under which Lord Krishna delivered the sermon ofBhagavad Gita, the doctrine of Karma and Dharma to his wavering friendArjuna. It is here that He showed his Virat rupa (Universal form), the terrifying image of Himself as the Destroyer God.

A marble chariot depicting Lord Krishna delivering the sermon to Arjunamarks the site of the Srimad Bhagwad Gita. In one secluded section of this center, an old Shiva temple can also be seen. Hundreds of years ago, a holy water tank was present here and it can still be seen in the rainy season. The Kurukshetra Development Board has renovated the site in recent times. A mango shaped lake has been constructed here with covered bathing ghats for ladies. Cement parapets and enclosures have been built for protection. A light and music show is organized by the tourism department at the site, on a regular basis, which recreates episodes from Mahabharta. A restaurant and accommodation wing forYatrees have been built and the entire area has been landscaped with flowering bushes and eucalyptus trees.