Deoband
Encyclopedia
Deoband is a city and a municipal board in Saharanpur district
in the state of Uttar Pradesh
, India
. It is located in the upper Doab
region of Uttar Pradesh. Deoband used to be surrounded by dense forests, and was believed to be the abode of the Goddess Durga
, according to one tradition this is where the town got its name, from Devi Van, or 'the Forest of the Goddess'. Others suggest that is derived from devi vandan, because the Goddess killed the Maha Asur Durg here, and was then worshipped here by many Devtas.
Deoband is about 150 km from Delhi
. It is best known for Darul Uloom of Deoband
, one of the most important and influential schools of Islamic Studies
and the presence of the Jamia Tibbiya Deoband college of Unani
Medicine, imparting the qualifications of B.U.M.S. and M.D.
, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar
, Roorkee
, Dehradun
etc.
resided in Deoband during his childhood. It is said that he was once playing with some other children when the ball fell into a deep well; Mahaprabhu jumped in and came out with a 'Shri Vigraha' (sacred image). The well still exists, and the image was placed in the ancestral palace. On another occasion Mahaprabhu had a vision of Sri Radha
in his dream, whilst sleeping under a peepal tree, in it she graced him with a special mantra
. The tree can still be seen in the precincts of one of the temples at Deoband.
East of Deoband there is a large pool, known as Devi Kund. This is where it is said that the Goddess Durga killed the terrible 'demon' Mahishasura
. A temple of Bala Sundari has been built close by in memory of this event, and has become a major centre for Durga worshippers. A statue of the Goddess Durga has been erected here. The temple itself is ancient, as proved by the fact that the inscriptions engraved on its doorway have still not been deciphered. Every year a large festival
(mela
) is organized here in Chaitra
Shukla Chaturdashi
. Innumerable devotees throng the place to take a dip in the holy waters of this pool and worship the Goddess. People believe that Devi of Deoband and Shakumbari are sisters. Devi Kund and the Bala Sundari temple of Deoband are considered as one of the two Shakti Peethas or holy places of cosmic power of the Saharanpur District.
Deoband Islamic movement began at Darul Uloom Deoband (a madrasah) in Deoband, India, where its foundation was laid on 30 May 1866.
The Deobandi thought, which originated in a north Indian town, has eventually reached many countries, such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, South Africa and the United Kingdom.Now Deoband movement is one of the major Islamic movements in subcontinent .Majority residents out of the 65% Muslim population are proponents of this movement.
Saharanpur District
Saharanpur district is the northernmost of the districts of Uttar Pradesh state, India. Bordering the states of Haryana and Uttarakhand, and close to the foothills of Shivalik range, it lies in the northern part of the Doab region...
in the state of Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It is located in the upper Doab
Doab
A Doab is a term used in India and Pakistan for a "tongue" or tract of land lying between two confluent rivers...
region of Uttar Pradesh. Deoband used to be surrounded by dense forests, and was believed to be the abode of the Goddess Durga
Durga
For the 1985 Hindi Film of Rajesh Khanna see DurgaaIn Hinduism, Durga ; ; meaning "the inaccessible" or "the invincible"; , durga) or Maa Durga "one who can redeem in situations of utmost distress" is a form of Devi, the supremely radiant goddess, depicted as having eighteen arms, riding a lion...
, according to one tradition this is where the town got its name, from Devi Van, or 'the Forest of the Goddess'. Others suggest that is derived from devi vandan, because the Goddess killed the Maha Asur Durg here, and was then worshipped here by many Devtas.
Deoband is about 150 km from Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
. It is best known for Darul Uloom of Deoband
Darul Uloom Deoband
The Darul Uloom Deoband is an Islamic school in India where the Deobandi Islamic movement was started. It is located at Deoband, a town in Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh, India. It was founded in 1866 by several prominent Islamic scholars , headed by Maulana Muhammad Qasim Nanotvi...
, one of the most important and influential schools of Islamic Studies
Islamic studies
In a Muslim context, Islamic studies can be an umbrella term for all virtually all of academia, both originally researched and as defined by the Islamization of knowledge...
and the presence of the Jamia Tibbiya Deoband college of Unani
Unani
Unani-tibb or Unani Medicine also spelled Yunani Medicine means "Greek Medicine", and is a form of traditional medicine widely practiced in South Asia...
Medicine, imparting the qualifications of B.U.M.S. and M.D.
Geography
Deoband is located at 29.7°N 77.68°E. It has an average elevation of 348 metres (1093 feet). Famous cities located in its neighbourhood are: SaharanpurSaharanpur
Saharanpur is a city and a Municipal Corporation in the state of Uttar Pradesh in northern India. It is the administrative headquarters of Saharanpur District as well as Saharanpur Division...
, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar
Muzaffarnagar
Muzaffarnagar is a major city and a municipal board in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The city was established in Mughal period by a Sayyid Jagirdar, Munawar Lashkar Ali, and so named in honour of his father, Muzaffar Ali Khan. It is the headquarters of the Muzaffarnagar district. It is a...
, Roorkee
Roorkee
Roorkee is a city and seat of a municipal council in Uttarakhand, in far northern India. It is located on the banks of the Ganges canal on the national highway between Delhi and Dehradun. Roorkee is known for Roorkee Cantonment, one of the country's oldest cantonments, and the headquarters of...
, Dehradun
Dehradun
- Geography :The Dehradun district has various types of physical geography from Himalayan mountains to Plains. Raiwala is the lowest point at 315 meters above sea level, and the highest points are within the Tiuni hills, rising to 3700 m above sea level...
etc.
Holy sites
Shri Hith Harivansh MahaprabhuHith Harivansh Mahaprabhu
Shri Hith Harivansh Mahaprabhu is the founder of Radhavallabh Sampradaya. Born in Baad Graam on 11th Day of Boishakh. He was the incarnation of Lord Krishna's Flute. A follower of Prema Bhakti and devotee of Radharani the Supreme power. His preaching of Radha Krishna being Ek Pran Dou Deh -One Soul...
resided in Deoband during his childhood. It is said that he was once playing with some other children when the ball fell into a deep well; Mahaprabhu jumped in and came out with a 'Shri Vigraha' (sacred image). The well still exists, and the image was placed in the ancestral palace. On another occasion Mahaprabhu had a vision of Sri Radha
Radha
Radha , also called Radhika, Radharani and Radhikarani, is the childhood friend and lover of Krishna in the Bhagavata Purana, and the Gita Govinda of the Vaisnava traditions of Hinduism...
in his dream, whilst sleeping under a peepal tree, in it she graced him with a special mantra
Mantra
A mantra is a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that is considered capable of "creating transformation"...
. The tree can still be seen in the precincts of one of the temples at Deoband.
East of Deoband there is a large pool, known as Devi Kund. This is where it is said that the Goddess Durga killed the terrible 'demon' Mahishasura
Mahishasura
In Hindu mythology, Mahishasura was an asura.Mahishasura's father Rambha was king of the asuras, and he once fell in love with a water buffalo ; Mahishasura was born out of this union...
. A temple of Bala Sundari has been built close by in memory of this event, and has become a major centre for Durga worshippers. A statue of the Goddess Durga has been erected here. The temple itself is ancient, as proved by the fact that the inscriptions engraved on its doorway have still not been deciphered. Every year a large festival
Festival
A festival or gala is an event, usually and ordinarily staged by a local community, which centers on and celebrates some unique aspect of that community and the Festival....
(mela
Mela
Mela is a Sanskrit word meaning 'gathering' or 'to meet' or a Fair. It is used in the Indian subcontinent for all sizes of gathering and can be religious, commercial, cultural or sports. In rural traditions melas or village fairs were of great importance...
) is organized here in Chaitra
Chaitra
Chaitra is a month of the Hindu calendar....
Shukla Chaturdashi
Chaturdashi
In the Hindu calendar, Chaturdashi is the 14th day of the waxing phase or waning phase of the moon. This is the day prior to new moon or full moon...
. Innumerable devotees throng the place to take a dip in the holy waters of this pool and worship the Goddess. People believe that Devi of Deoband and Shakumbari are sisters. Devi Kund and the Bala Sundari temple of Deoband are considered as one of the two Shakti Peethas or holy places of cosmic power of the Saharanpur District.
Deoband Islamic movement began at Darul Uloom Deoband (a madrasah) in Deoband, India, where its foundation was laid on 30 May 1866.
The Deobandi thought, which originated in a north Indian town, has eventually reached many countries, such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, South Africa and the United Kingdom.Now Deoband movement is one of the major Islamic movements in subcontinent .Majority residents out of the 65% Muslim population are proponents of this movement.