Maharaja Agrasen

Maharaja Agrasen
 

The crown jewel of the Agrawal clan, Maharaja Agrasen, was born approximately five thousand years ago in Pratap Nagar. His father's name was Raja Ballabh, and his grandfather was Raja Mahidhar. After Agrasen's birth, astrologers predicted that this newborn would grow up to earn great fame and possess extraordinary intelligence. As Agrasen gradually matured, he started learning the art of warfare and weaponry along with statecraft.  
 

Maharaja Agrasen had 18 queens, 54 sons, and 18 daughters. The primary queen was named Madhavi, the daughter of Nag Raj Kumud. Indra, the king of gods, also desired to marry Madhavi, but when she married Agrasen, Indra became infuriated. In anger, Indra stopped the rainfall in Agrasen's kingdom, leading to a severe drought. The people suffered from thirst, and famine struck. Indra also initiated a war, but Agrasen, with his valor, remained undefeated. Ultimately, Lord Brahma intervened, stopping the war and returning both kings to their respective kingdoms.  
 

Witnessing the plight of his kingdom, Maharaja Agrasen contemplated undertaking penance. Madhavi took charge of the kingdom and set out on a pilgrimage. After visiting various pilgrimage sites, Maharaja Agrasen reached the Kapil Dhar Teerth in Kashi. There, he performed a yajna and engaged in intense penance. Lord Shiva appeared and, in a gracious manner, offered him a boon. Agrasen expressed his desire to bring prosperity to his kingdom and achieve victory over Indra. Lord Shiva advised him to worship Goddess Mahalakshmi.  
 

Agrasen resumed his pilgrimage, reaching Haridwar, where he sought the refuge of Sage Garg. In the presence of Garg Muni, he began worshiping Mahalakshmi. (The place in Haridwar where Maharaja Agrasen performed his penance is now known as "Maharaja Agrasen Ghat.") Meanwhile, when Maharani Madhavi learned about Agrasen's intense penance in Haridwar, she also went there to serve him. Together, they worshiped Mahalakshmi. Pleased, Mahalakshmi granted Agrasen a boon, stating that Indra would be under his control, and his dynasty would never face sorrow. The lineage would always remain prosperous. Mahalakshmi declared herself the guardian deity of Agrasen's lineage.  
 

In joy, Maharaja Agrasen proceeded to Kaulapur, where he married the daughters of the Snake King. As a result, Agrasen's strength and power increased significantly. When Indra learned about Agrasen receiving blessings from Mahalakshmi and marrying the Snake King's daughters, he became anxious. Indra, accompanied by Sage Narad, sought a truce with Maharaja Agrasen.  
 

Welcoming Indra, Maharaja Agrasen embraced him, renouncing his animosity. Blessed with the protection of Mahalakshmi, Agrasen had gained fearlessness. Indra, humbled by this turn of events, accepted defeat. Maharaja Agrasen's dedication to social welfare was unparalleled. In Agroha, he established Agra as the capital and implemented a democratic system for governance. He formed a council of representatives based on the leaders of eighteen states, laying the foundation for a republican form of government.  
 

After establishing the republic, Maharaja Agrasen felt inspired to perform yajnas. He initiated seventeen consecutive yajnas, where animal sacrifices were made. Witnessing the distress of the sacrificial animals, Agrasen felt remorseful and decided to discontinue the yajnas. He realized that true glory does not come from taking lives but from protecting them. Hence, he promulgated rules against violence, advocated protecting all living beings, adopted non-violence in daily life, and endorsed a vegetarian diet.  
 

Maharaja Agrasen was a pioneer of socialism, egalitarianism, and harmony. Agroha became a prosperous city with one hundred thousand families. In case of anyone becoming destitute or seeking refuge in Agroha due to poverty, each of the one hundred thousand families would provide one coin and one brick, totaling one hundred thousand coins and bricks for the destitute person. With this support, the destitute individual could build a house and start a business.  
 

Maharaja Agrasen, Agroha, and the Agrawal community are subjects of extensive research in works such as "Agrawalon ki Utpati" by Bhartendu Babu Harishchandra, "Agrawal Jati ka Prachin Itihas" by Dr. Satyaketu Vidyalaankar, "Agrasen, Agroha, Agrawal" by Dr. Swarajyamani Agrawal, and "Maharaja Agrasen ka Jeevan Charitra" by Shri Giriraj Prasad Mittal.