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Prayagraj is the birthplace of Jawaharlal Nehru, and the Nehru family estate, called Anand Bhavan, is now a museum. It is also the birthplace of Indira Gandhi , and the home of Lal Bahadur Shastri , both later prime ministers of India.
Prayagraj was also known as Kosambi in the late Vedic period, named by the Kuru rulers of Hastinapur, who developed it as their capital. Kosambi was one of the greatest cities in India from the late Vedic period until the end of the Maurya Empire, with occupation continuing until the Gupta Empire.
The party claims that it is only trying to "correct history" as it was Akbar who changed Prayagraj's name to Illahabad (which means a place where Allah lives) in 1583.
Prayagraj stands on the site of ancient Prayag, a holy city that was comparable in fame to Varanasi and Haridwar. Prayag’s importance in the ancient Buddhist period of Indian history is attested by the inscriptions on a pillar attributed to the 3rd-century-bce Mauryan emperor Ashoka.
1887 AD — Prayagraj became a seat of knowledge with the establishment of the fourth oldest University – University of Allahabad. Prayagraj has been rich in numerous Victorian and Georgian buildings made in synthesis with Indian architectural traditions.
The famous Chinese traveller Xuanzang visited the city in the 7th century and wrote about its thriving Buddhist community and its importance as a pilgrimage site. In the 16th century, the city came under the rule of the Mughal Empire, and the name Prayagraj became popular during this time.
The name was derived from the Arabic words “Allah” and “Abad,” which mean “city of God.” The name reflected the city’s rich Islamic heritage and its importance as a centre of learning and culture. However, the name Prayag is much older and is deeply rooted in Hindu mythology.
Allahabad’s ancient name was ‘Prayag’, but was changed after 16th-century Mughal emperor Akbar built a fort near ‘Sangam’, the holy confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati. He named the fort and its neighbourhood ‘Ilahabad’.
The root of Prayagraj can be traced back to the annals of ancient Indian civilization. You can easily find the mention of this place in revered texts like the Vedas and Puranas. This naturally affirms the status of Prayagraj as a linchpin in India’s spiritual and cultural narrative.
Prayagraj, also known by its former name Allahabad, is a city in India that resonates with the whispers of the past and the vibrant energy of the present. Its very existence is interwoven with the stories of ancient mythology, the rise and fall of empires, and the deep-rooted faith of Hinduism.