Mathura

Along the Ghats of Mathura (circa 1880)

Gate of Shet Lukhmeechund's Temple, a photo by Eugene Clutterbuck Impey, 1860s.

Statue of Kanishka I, 2nd century CE, Mathura Museum.

Sculpture of woman from ancient Braj-Mathura ca. 2nd century CE.

Mathura has an ancient history and also believed to be the homeland and birthplace of Krishna who was born in Yadu dynasty. According to the Archaeological Survey of India plaque at the Mathura Museum,[7] the city is mentioned in the oldest Indian epic, the Ramayana. In the epic, the Ikshwaku prince Shatrughna slays a demon called Lavanasura and claims the land. Afterwards, the place came to be known as Madhuvan as it was thickly wooded, then Madhupura and later Mathura.[8]

Archaeological excavations at Mathura show the gradual growth of a village into an important city. The earliest period belonged to the Painted Grey Ware culture (1100-500 BCE), followed by the Northern Black Polished Ware culture (700-200 BCE). Mathura derived its importance as a center of trade due to its location where the northern trade route of the Indo-Gangetic Plain met with the routes to Malwa (central India) and the west coast.[9]

By the 6th century BCE Mathura became the capital of the Surasena Kingdom.[10] The city was later ruled by the Maurya empire (4th to 2nd centuries BCE). Megasthenes, writing in the early 3rd century BCE, mentions Mathura as a great city under the name Μέθορα (Méthora).[11] It seems it never was under the direct control of the following Shunga dynasty (2nd century BCE) as not a single archaeological remain of a Shunga presence were ever found in Mathura.[12]

The Indo-Greeks may have taken control, direct or indirect, of Mathura some time between 180 BCE and 100 BCE, and remained so as late as 70 BCE according to the Yavanarajya inscription,[12] which was found in Maghera, a town 17 kilometres (11 mi) from Mathura.[13] The opening of the 3 line text of this inscription in Brahmi script translates as: "In the 116th year of the Yavana kingdom..."[14][15] or '"In the 116th year of Yavana hegemony" ("Yavanarajya")[12] However, this also corresponds to the presence of the native Mitra dynasty of local rulers in Mathura, in approximately the same time frame (150 BCE—50 BCE), possibly pointing to a vassalage relationship with the Indo-Greeks.[12]

After a period of local rule, Mathura was conquered by the Indo-Scythians during the first 1st century BCE. The Indo-Scythian satraps of Mathura are sometimes called the "Northern Satraps", as opposed to the "Western Satraps" ruling in Gujarat and Malwa. However, Indo-Scythian control proved to be short lived, following the reign of the Indo-Scythian Mahakshatrapa ("Great Satrap") Rajuvula, c. 10–25 CE.

The Kushan Empire took control of Mathura some time after Rajuvula, although several of his successors ruled as Kushans vassals, such as the Indo-Scythian "Great Satrap" Kharapallana and the "Satrap" Vanaspara, both of whom paid allegiance to the Kushans in an inscription at Sarnath, dating to the 3rd year of the reign of the Kushan emperor Kanishka c. 130 CE.[16] Mathuran art and culture reached its zenith under the Kushan dynasty which had Mathura as one of its capitals.[17] The preceding capitals of the Kushans included Kapisa (modern Bagram, Afghanistan), Purushapura (modern Peshawar, Pakistan) and Takshasila/Sirsukh/ (modern Taxila, Pakistan). During 3rd century Nagas ruled Mathura after decline of Kushan Empire.[18]

Chinese Buddhist Monk Faxian mentions the city as a centre of Buddhism about 400 CE. He found the people were very well off, there were no taxes other than for those on farmers who tilled the royal land. He found that people did not kill animals, no one consumed wine, and did not eat onion or garlic. He found that engraved title deeds were issued to land owners. Visiting priests were provided with accommodation, beds, mats, food, drinks and clothes to perform scholarly works.[19] Xuanzang, who visited the city in 634 CE, mentions it as Mot'ulo, recording that it contained twenty Buddhist monasteries and five Hindu temples.[20] Later, he went east to Thanesar, Jalandhar in the eastern Punjab, before climbing up to visit predominantly Theravada monasteries in the Kulu valley and turning southward again to Bairat and then Mathura, on the Yamuna river.[21]

The city was sacked and many of its temples destroyed by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1018 CE[20] and again by Sikandar Lodhi, who ruled the Sultanate of Delhi from 1489 to 1517 CE.[22][23] Sikander Lodhi earned the epithet of 'Butt Shikan', the 'Destroyer of Hindu deities'. The Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, built the Shahi-Eidgah Mosque during his rule, which is adjacent to Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi believed to be over a Hindu temple.[24] He also changed the city's name to Islamabad.[25]

Entrance to the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi temple complex.

Mathura is a holy city for Hinduism and is considered the heart of Brij Bhoomi, the land of Krishna.[26][27] The twin-city to Mathura is Vrindavan.

There are many places of historic and religious importance in Mathura and its neighbouring towns.[6]

Krishna Janmasthan Temple Complex is an important group of temples built around what is considered to be the birthplace of Krishna.[28][29] The temple complex contains Keshav Deva temple, Garbha Griha shrine, Bhagavata Bhavan and the Rangabhoomi where the final battle between Krishna and Kamsa took place.[30][5][7][28]

The Dwarkadheesh Temple is one of the largest temple in Mathura.[5] Vishram Ghat at the bank of river Yamuna is said to be the place were Krishna had rested after killing Kamsa.[5]

Other notable Hindu religious sites and heritage locations includes Shri Shweat Varah Temple and the main deity of the temple is siad to dating prior to Ramayan era,the Gita Mandir,[31] Govind Dev temple,[31] Iskcon temple,[5] Kusum Sarovar,[31] Naam yog Sadhna Mandir, Peepleshwar Mahadeo Temple[32][33] and Yum Yamuna Temple[32]

Jama Mosque, Mathura is a notable site for Islam. It was completed by Abd-un-Nabi, governor of Aurangzeb in 1662.

The Mathura Museum is notable for archaeological artefacts, especially those from the Kushan and Gupta empires. It has sculptures associated with Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.[7][34]

Janmashtami is grandly celebrated every year in Mathura with. Every year 3 to 3.5 million devotees celebrate Janmashtami in Mathura, with most number of people in Keshav Deva temple and Dwarkadheesh temple.[35][36] People generally observe a fast and break it at midnight when Lord Krishna was believed to have been born. Devotional songs, dance performances, bhog and aartis are observed across Mathura-Vrindavan.[37]

Mathura is located at 27.28°N 77.41°E / 27.28; 77.41.[38] It has an average elevation of 174 metres (570 feet).

The 2011 census of India estimates the population of Mathura to be 441,894, a decadal growth rate of 22.53 per cent from 2001 census of India. Males account for 54% (268,445) and females for 46% (173,449) of this population. Sex ratio of Mathura is 858 females per 1000 males, which has increased from 840 in 2001. However, national sex ratio is 940. Population density in 2011 has increased from 621 per km² in 2001 to 761 per km². Mathura has an average literacy rate of 72.65 per cent which has increased from 61.46 percent in 2001 but still lower than the national average of 74.04 per cent. Male and female literacy rate are 84.39 and 58.93 per cent respectively. 15.61 percent of Mathura's population is under 6 years of age. This figure was 19.56 per cent in 2001 census.[39]

Mathura is the home for I Corps (Strike Formation)[45][46] within the Indian Army's Central Command, hosting Strike I Corps headquarters in a large classified area in the outskirts of the city known as Mathura Cantonment (Central Command itself has its headquarters at Lucknow). It hosts Strike Infantry units, air defence units, armoured divisions, engineer brigades, artillery Units, and classified units of Strategic Forces Command. The I Corps is primarily responsible for the western borders of India. In 2007 during Exercise Ashwamedha, all the armoured, artillery, and infantry divisions performed a simulation of an overall NBC (nuclear-chemical-biological) environment. The aim was to show operational ability in high intensity, short duration and 'sudden' battles.[47]

Mathura Refinery located in the city is one of the biggest oil refineries of Asia with 8.0 million tonnes per year refining capacity.[48] This oil refinery of the Indian Oil Corporation is a highly technologically advanced oil refinery and provides local employment opportunities.[48]

All India Radio has a local station in Mathura which transmits various programs of interest.

• GLA University
• Hindustan College of Science and Technology
• Sachdeva Institute of Technology
• Sanskriti University
• U.P. Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Veterinary Science University and Cattle Research Institute[49]

• Brij Bhoomi
• Gokul
• Kankali Tila

• Mathura-The Cultural Heritage. Edited by Doris Meth Srinivasan, published in 1989 by AIIS/Manohar.
• Konow, Sten. Editor. 1929. Kharoshthī Inscriptions with Exception of those of Ashoka. Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum, Vol. II, Part I. Reprint: Indological Book House, Varanasi, 1969.
• Mukherjee, B. N. 1981. Mathurā and its Society: The Śaka-Pahlava Phase. Firma K. L. M. Private Limited, Calcutta.
• Sharma, R. C. 1976. Mathura Museum and Art. 2nd revised and enlarged edition. Government Museum, Mathura.
• Growse, F. S. 1882. " Mathura A District Memoir.
• Drake-Brockman, D. L. 1911. " Muttra A Gaztteer.
• The Jain stûpa and other antiquities of Mathura, by Smith, Vincent Arthur, 1848–1920. (1901)
• 1018: Mahmud Ghazni’s invasion of Mathura

Wikiquote has quotations related to: Mathura

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mathura.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Mathura.

• Entry on Mathura in the Dictionary on Pali Proper Names