PRAYAG
The Holy Sangam

Though Yudhisthira won the war and was installed as emperor of Akhanda Bharat, with Hastinapur as capital, he was . in the tight grip of grief, for destroying all his cousins, along with kith and kin. When the sense of guilt and frustration exercised their, full sway, he was growing scepter thin, despite the best advice given by such divine personage as Sri Krishna himself. Knowing his predicament, Markandeya Maharshi, living then at Varanasi visited and consoled him with many discourses, ending with the advice of visiting Prayaga to attain mental peace and to be freed from the sin of killing akshouhinis of people for the sake of throne. He left emphasising that every step taken in Prayaga by the devout is as rewarding as the performance of Aswamedhayaga. Dharmaraja did as bid and returned to normalcy.

Several pouranic accounts also bring out the importance of this place through the association of illustrious rules and sages. The soil is said to have produced numerous types of miracles in the lives of many kings. 

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