Priyanshi Pareek reports on Maharaja Agrasen Jayanti..
Maharaja Agrasen Jayanti is a regional public holiday in India, usually observed in Haryana and Punjab, though it may be observed in some years in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. It is observed on the fourth day of Ashwin, the seventh month in the Hindu calendar.
This holiday is celebrated on the birth anniversary of the legendary Hindu king, Agrasen Maharaj.
This year it will be celebrated on 15th October, 2023.
About Maharaja Agrasen
Prince Agrasen was born on 15th September 3082 BCE to Suryavanshi Maharaja Vallabh of Pratap Nagar (in today’s Rajasthan, India) in the last stage of Dvaapar Yug.
Maharaja Vallabh named a city on Prince Agrasen’s name as ‘Agra’ (in today’s Uttar Pradesh, India).
Prince Agrasen was very well known for his compassion, who never discriminated against anyone and the subjects were very pleased with the way he conducted himself during his childhood.
Unfortunately, Maharaja Vallabh was martyrdom during the Mahabharat War. During the martyrdom of Maharaja Vallabh, Prince Agrasen was 15 years old. Being the eldest son, Prince Agrasen was crowned as successor.
When Agrasen became a young man, he attended the Swyamvara of the daughter of the King Nagaraj, Princess Madhavi. The Princess Madhavi selected Prince Agrasen, by putting the garland on him.
Work of Maharaja Agrasen
Maharaja Agrasen was a doer who conjured prosperity for all. An adherent of Socialism, he devised a unique rule in order to ensure an egalitarian society.
He promulgated that any person coming to Agroha to settle down permanently, shall be given one rupee, one brick, by each resident of Agroha. With the bricks he could build a house for living and with the money collected he could set up his own business. This way through a small help by each a person could attain an equal status in the society of equals.
He adopted the ideal of Non-Violence during the 18th Yagna, wherein he realised the futility of animal sacrifices. The Yagna was being performed for the establishment of the 18th Gotra. This realisation led him to become one of the strong protagonists of Non-Violence.