Sangam Nagar Allahabad, after 450 years, finally got its old name back. Ever since Mughal ruler Emperor Akbar changed his name to Allahabad (अल्लाहबाद) with Prayagraj. Prayagraj is mentioned in many places in the Puranas. Allahabad has been called Prayagraj in Ramcharit Manas. It is said that Lord Shri Ram had visited Bharadwaj Rishi’s ashram during the forest march, after which it was called Prayagraj. It is also written in the Matsya Purana that it is the region of Prayag Prajapati where Ganga and Yamuna flows. The city was mentioned in many books and documents of the time when the Mughals were ruled by India. In 1574, Akbar had laid the foundation of the fort in this city. When Akbar settled down a new town here, he changed his name to Allahabad.
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Mythological form of prayag
According to Hindu belief, here Brahma creator made the first yagna after completion of creation work. This prayer of first sacrifice and Yag means that Prayag was formed and that place was called Prayag. Lord Shri Vishnu, the founder of this holy city is himself and he is sitting here in the form of Madhava. There are twelve forms of God here. Those called Dvash Madhava are called. The largest Hindu Conference is one of the four places of Mahakumbh, the remaining three are Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik. The holy place mentioned in Hindu scriptures is located at the confluence of the holy river Ganges and Yamuna. Here the Saraswati river secretly meets in Sangam, hence it is called Triveni Sangam, where the Kumbh Mela takes place in every twelve years.
Until the British came to the secret
For Indians, some parts of Prayag and present Kaushambi district are important areas here. This area was formerly part of the Maur and the Gupta Empire and part of the Kushan empire from the west. Later it came in the Kannauj Empire. After the re-entry of the Mughal empire in India in 1526, Allahabad came under the Mughals. Akbar had constructed a large castle on the Ghat of Sangam here. Marathas were also attacked in the city. After this came the British rights. In 1765, the fort of Allahabad was established by the army-garrison fort. Allahabad was also active in the first Indian freedom struggle of 1857. From 1904 to 1949, Allahabad was the capital of the United Provinces.
Spiritual city is Prayag
Prayagraj or Allahabad has been seen as a city of spirituality since ancient times. Even today, the feeling of overwhelming respect for this in the mind of the people is clearly visible. As far as the name change is concerned, the voice has been rising several times in the past. There was demand for change in name during the UP elections and Lok Sabha elections. At that time, Yogi Adityanath had promised that if the BJP government was formed in the state then Allahabad will be changed to Prayagraj. In this regard the latest decision of the cabinet is to fulfill this promise. However, after the name change, politics has started on this too.
Faizabad’s name change demand
The UP Revenue Council has mentioned that in ancient texts there are descriptions of 14 Prayag sites, of which Prayag’s name was changed to Allahabad, the name has not been changed anywhere. King of all Prayag has called Prayagraj. After Allahabad, Saint has now begun to demand that Faizabad district should also be named as Ayodhya or legendary name on Saket. State Government spokesman said such a suggestion has come to the government. Which can be a quick decision.
Stronghold of politics
There is a political fortress for the country’s independence before and after a few years. It has a direct connection with India’s many great personalities, including the name of the first Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. His childhood was spent here and he also read the hymn of politics here too. The Anand Bhawan, located here, is still a silent witness of political ups and downs in the country.
Role of Independent Movement
Allahabad also played an important role in the Indian independence movement. If the rise of national Renaissance was done on the land of Allahabad, then in the Gandhi era, this city is a center of inspiration. The city has also contributed to the organization and upgradation of the Indian National Congress. The 1857 revolt was led by Liaquat Ali Khan here. Three Conventions of the Congress Party were held here in 1888, 1892 and 1910 under the chairmanship of Georges Yule, Vyomesh Chandra Banerjee and Sir William Bearburner. The famous declaration of Queen Victoria, November 1, 1858, was read by Lord Kenning, the then Viceroy in ‘Minto Park’ located here.
Chandrasekhar Azad was here in the martyr
Along with moderate and socialist leaders, Allahabad has also been a refuge for the revolutionaries. Chandrashekhar Azad, here on February 27, 1931 at Alfred Park, was attacked by British police chief Nat Babar and police officer Visheshwar Singh, who killed many policemen and ultimately completed his life by shooting himself. In 1921, when the Government did not withdraw the Rowlett Act of 1919, an all-party convention was held in Allahabad, in which the program of boycott of schools, colleges and courts was announced, thus also the foundation of the first non-cooperation movement and the Khilafat movement was held in Allahabad.