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Shravasti district

Shravasti district
श्रावस्ती जनपद
شراوستی ضلع
District of Uttar Pradesh
Location of Shravasti district in Uttar Pradesh
Location of Shravasti district in Uttar Pradesh
Country India
State Uttar Pradesh
Administrative division Devipatan
Headquarters Bhinga
Tehsils 3, Ikauna,Bhinga Jamunaha
Government
 • Lok Sabha constituencies Shravasti
 • Assembly seats 2, Shrawasti and Bhinga
Area
 • Total 1,640 km2 (630 sq mi)
Population (2011)
 • Total 1,114,615
 • Density 680/km2 (1,800/sq mi)
Demographics
 • Literacy 46.74 per cent
 • Sex ratio 881
Major highways up state highway 26,SH-96A
Website Official website

Shravasti district is one of the districts of the Uttar Pradesh state of India and Bhinga town is district headquarters. Shravasti district is a part of Devipatan Division. According to Government of India, the district Shravasti is one of the minority concentrated district in India on the basis of the 2001 census data on population, socio-economic indicators and basic amenities indicators.

Shravasti, the north-eastern town of Uttar Pradesh, is located near the West Rapti River. This town is closely associated with the life of Gautama Buddha, who is believed to have spent 24 Chaturmases here. Age-old stupas, majestic viharas and several temples near the village of "Sahet-Mahet" establish Buddha's association with Shravasti. It is being said that the Vedic Bharat period king Sravasti(8th king of Ikshwaku dynasty) founded this town. Shravasti was the capital of the Kosala Kingdom during his reign . This prosperous trading center was well known for its religious associations. Sobhanath temple is believed to be the birthplace of the Tirthankara Sambhavanath in Jainism, making Shravasti an important center for Jains. According to Nagarjuna, the city had a population of 900,000 in 5th century BCE and it even overshadowed Magadha's capital, Rajgir.

As mentioned in the 'Bruhatkalpa' and various Kalpas of the fourteenth century, the name of the city was Mahid. There are subsequent mentions showing that the name of this city was Sahet-Mahet. It is also mentioned that a vast fort covered this city in which there were many temples having idols of Devkulikas.


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