History of An Ancient City.
(Girzapur Now Mirzapur)
According to recorded history of Mirzapur, the city was founded by the British East India Company in 1735, while the British had just renamed this ancient city, Girizapur.
Mirzapur was initially known as Girijapur and was founded by Raja Nanner. There are others who believe that the city was addressed as Ganga-yatan Ghat.
Some of the earliest writings on the city can be found in Tieffenthaler’s writings in 1760.
The civilization here dates back to 5000 BC, as has been evident by the existence of culture of the lower paleolithic era, prehistoric cave artefacts, Belan river valley, which is having painted rocks and many other ancient Inscriptional evidences.
We can find some evidences that date back to more than 17000 BC old civilization, settled in Girizapur.
Some interesting petroglyphs are also found in Vindhya range sandstone at Morna Pahar in Mirzapur district. The depiction of chariots, horses, weapons and people in these works has, led to many interpretations and conclusions by the historians of India.
The area surrounded by this ancient city, was densely forested and was being independently used for hunting by the kings of various states like Banaras (Varanasi), Sakteshgarh, Vijay Garh, Naina Garh (Chunar), Naugarh, Kantit and Rewa.
Mirzapur was also a famous trading center of Central India and cotton and silk were traded on a large scale.
Mirzapur is called City of Mirza the (child of the ruler in Persian) The city is famous for carpet and brassware industry. Painted rocks, pre-historic caves and a touch of Palaeolithic culture can be found in Mirzapur’s Belan river valley
area.
During King Ashok’s reign, Mirzapur was considered as a trade centre. Its evidence is found on the carved stone tablets with rates of toll taxes inscribed that can be found near the Naar Ghat.
Historians had taken deep interest in studying the ruins and pictorial descriptions of horses, people, chariots, weapons and fascinating petroglyphs in sandstone found in Vindhya ranges of Mirzapur. On the forested area, just outside the city named Lekhania Dari, a number of ancient paintings can be found. As per the carved stones in Naar Ghat, Mirzapur was a commercial city during Ashokan period. Rates of toll taxes etched on stones have been discovered in Mirzapur district that goes back to Mauryan dynasty (269BCE – 232BCE).
The East India Company had in fact re-named this place as Mirzapur.
The word Mirzapur is derived from ‘Mirza’, which in turn is derived from the Persian word ‘Amirzade’ which literally means “child of the emir” or “child of the ruler”
Mirzapur, therefore means place of the king.
Girizapur is considered important in Hindu mythology and there is also a mention of this pilgrimage in the Vedas.
Following are the ancient temples of Girizapur city.
Vindhyavasini Devi Temple
It is one of the most cherished Shakti Peethas of India. Vindhyavasini Devi is also known as Kajla Devi. The temple attracts huge crowds especially during Navratri in the months of Chaitra and Ashwin. Apart from this, a large number of devotees visit the temple during the wedding season also. It is believed that it is considered auspicious to bid farewell to the newly married couple under the vigilance of Goddess Durga. In India, the union of Shiva and Parvati is given great importance. They are seen as an ideal couple who at times cannot even be worshiped separately. This fact is evident from the worship of Ardhanarishvara, who is an amalgamation of Shiva and Parvati.
Mirzapur city is famous for carpet making, pottery, toys and brass utensils. And all this is the center of attraction for the tourists visiting Mirzapur. Apart from being surrounded by several hills, it is also the headquarters of Mirzapur district. This holy pilgrimage is also prominent for Vindhyachal, Ashtabhuja and Kali Khoh and is also known for Devrava Baba Ashram. Mirzapur has also cherished many natural places and waterfalls in its natural inclusion. It has been the largest district of Uttar Pradesh before bifurcation along with Sonbhadra.
Ashtabhuji Devi Temple
Adjacent to Mirzapur’s Kachhawa Bazaar, there is a temple of Lord Shiva that is believed to belong to Treta Yug or Ramavavatar age. The temple, now under the surveillance of Archaeological Survey of India, has carvings and inscriptions quite similar to that of Khajuraho temple
Situated on the top of the Vindhya mountain range, this temple also holds a historical significance. This temple is located inside a cave and is dedicated to Ashtabhuji Devi, a form of Goddess Parvati. It is easy to reach here from Vindhyavasini Devi Temple and Mirzapur.
Chunar Fort is one of the historical evidences here, which is believed to have been built by Maharaja Vikramaditya, the king of Ujjain. The historical fort is located at a distance of 45 km from Mirzapur. This fort was an important post during the years of the Mughal king, Babur. Later, the fort also served Sher Shah Suri and Akbar. The fort was captured by the East India Company in 1772. The ancient fort is famous for Sonava Mandap, Samadhi of Bhartrihari and birthplace of Vitthalnathji. Chunar Fort is one of the historical places of Mirzapur. Chunar Fort is a must visit for all history lovers. Apart from being well maintained, it also has clean premises. A wonderful view of the river Ganga is visible from the fort. A rapid river flows behind the palace. The roaring sound of the river passing near it can be heard. It is one of the oldest forts in India and there are stories related to the fort told by the local people. It is a splendid example of ancient architecture.
Kalikho Temple is a famous Mahakali temple. It is situated in the Vindhya mountain range. It is situated on a hill, it has an idol of Goddess Kali. Apart from being a Hindu pilgrimage, it is a serene and picturesque place full of nature as it is situated amidst small rivers and dense, lush green forests.
Sita Kund
Sita Kund is one of the iconic sites in Mirzapur, which is associated with the mythological story of Ramayana. According to legend, when Goddess Sita was thirsty on her journey from Lanka, Lakshmana shot an arrow into the earth for water at this site. As a result of which the water turned out to be a perennial spring. Due to the overall importance of the water, it came to be known as Sita Kund by devotees. Devotees come here in large numbers. According to folklore belief, this water quenches thirst besides giving relief to the visitors from their sufferings.