SITAPUR, Uttar Pradesh

Main Attraction: CHAKRA TIRTH

Located at Naimisharanya in the district Sitapur, a sacred and important historical pilgrimage and tourist center, CHAKRA TIRTH is a circular pond, which is fed by an underground continuous stream. It is believed that divine disk provided by BRAHMA, the creator of the universe, to the prominent sages was stormed in the universe by the angry Lord Shiva to destroy the universe in order to take revenge for His beloved wife, Mata Sati (Goddess Parvati). The ‘Chakra’ had torned the six heavens and was just near to destroy the seventh one i.e., ‘Patal Lok’. In the mean time all the Gods, Rishi, Munigana and other prominent sages finding no way to save the universe from Lord Shiva’s anger, rushed together to the Shakti Mata Lalita Devi, who by that time was in meditation at ‘Naimisharanya’ (Neemsaar) and bowing their heads before her, they prayed with folded hands and requested her to save the universe for the sake of mankind and to cool down the Lord. 

The Shakti Mata Lalita Devi pleased upon them and stopped the ‘chakra’ on her little-finger though it had poked into half of the earth. Since then where the ‘chakra’ had fallen on the earth, a circular pond was created by itself. The place is known as ‘Chakra Teerth’. It is also believed that, there is the underground origin of the holy river Gomti. CHAKRA TIRTH has been mentioned in great Sanskrit epics like MAHABHARATA and SKAND PURANA. It is also believed that nobody has drowned in this pond. There are so many other temples around the pond among which, that of Lord Shiva is of great importance. Near the place, lies goddess Mata Lalita Devi’s temple and at a distance is Vyas Gaddi where Maharishi Vyas divided Vedas into four parts and composed Puranas. There is the only Hanuman Garhi in the country, where Hanumans face is towards south.

Brief History

Sitapur district is famous for its mythological and historical background. There is no official description for its name but as per the traditional sayings, Sitapur is referred to as Lord Ram’s wife Sita. It is said that she stayed with Lord Ram at this place during a pilgrimage. Afterwards, king Vikramaditya established this city in the memory of Sita and gave the place its name as Sitapur. It is a land of seers and sufis and dalits. According to Hindu mythology, Purans were written by Rishi Ved Vyas (Vyas Gaddi) on the ancient location called Naimisharanya. Sitapur is one of the five sacred places the Hindus have to visit in their Panch Dham Yatra journey. Misrikh, near Naimisharanya, holds its religious significance due to the belief that Maharshi Dadhichi donated his bones to Devatas for making Vajras. Dargah of Hazrat Maqdoom Shaikh Shaduddin (Bada Maqdoom) at Khairabad and Hazrat Gulzar Shah are the symbols of communal harmony. According to Abdul Fazal's Aina Akbari this place was called Chatyapur or Chitiapur during the reign of Akbar.

The holy place of Naimisharanya, situated on the left bank of Gomti River, is a centre of pilgrimage. There are still remains of a large University of post Vedic period where 88,000 Rishis (Hermits) gained knowledge of Shastras. Saint Shaunak was the Chancellor of this university. Pandavas also came to Naimisharanya during their exile. Lord Ram and his wife bathed at this sacred place to wash off the stigma of death of Ravana- the king of Demons. It is said that Sita proved her purity and assimilated in the pious soil of Naimisharanya.

According to ancient history, this place was part of the kingdom of Shingunags of Magadh after the Kaushal king Bidudabh. After the fall of Nandas and Mauryas, this area was under the control of Shunga dynasty. Some clay statues of Shunga style were found in Sidhauli tahsil. Similarly, some small statues of Gupta period were also found in Badesar of Misrikh tahsil.

There is a usual tradition of a raid by a general of Saiyid Salar, The rise of Rajput Power according to tradition of great clan which held the district was somewhat later than in Southern Oudh (Avadh). The influx continued till the reign of Aurangzeb. The Rajputs generally found the soil occupied by the Pasis, whom they crushed or drove away. Under the early kings of Muhammadan Kings of Delhi, the country was normally ruled by the Governor of Bahraich, but little authority was exercised. In the fifteenth century, the district was included in the new kingdom of Jaunpur. About 1527, Humayun occupied Khairabad, then the chief town; but it was not until the accession of Akbar that the Afgans were driven out of the neighborhood. Under Akbar, the present district formed the part of four Sarkars - Khairabad, Bahraich, Oudh, and Lucknow - all located in the Subah of Oudh. Khairabad was held for sometime by the rebels of Oudh in 1567 but throughout the Mughal period and the rule of Nawabs and Kings of Oudh the district is seldom referred to by the native historians. Early in nineteenth century, it was governed by Hakim Mahdi Ali Khan, a capable minister of Naseerundden Haider, and some years later Sleeman noted that it was unusually quiet as far as great landholders were concerned.

At annexation in 1856, Sitapur was selected as headquarters of one district and Mallnpur (currently a village in Tambaur Development Block of District Sitapur. It is the same place where Sharda and Ghaghra river meet.) as the headquarters of another, which lay between Chauka and Ghaghra rivers. In that year, three regiments of native infantry and a regiment of military police were quartered in Sitapur Cantonment. The troops rose on the morning of June 3, fired on their officers, many of whom were killed, as were also several military and civil officers with their wives and children in the attempt to escape. Ultimately many of the fugitives succeeded in reaching Lucknow, while others obtained the protection of loyal zamindars. 

On April 13, 1858, Sir Hope Grant inflicted a severe defeat on the rebels near Biswan. Order was completely restored before the end of that year. Sitapur district was always politically awakened. In the fight for freedom in 1857, this district played an important role. During 1857, Arya Samaj and Seva Samiti had established and strengthened their organization in the district. In 1921, thousands of people of Sitapur took part in Gandhiji Non-Cooperation Movement. Gandhiji came to Sitapur in 1925 and appealed to cooperate in the Freedom Movement at Lalbagh. Many National leaders- Maulana Mohammed Ali, Pandit Motilal Nehru, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru were also present.