Shrawasti district
| Shravasti district | |
|---|---|
| District of 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 | 1,117,361 |
| • 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. 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.
Today a great rampart of earth and brick surrounds this city. During excavation in 'Sahet-Mahet' near Shravasti City, many ancient idols and inscriptions were found. They are now kept in museums of Mathura and Lucknow. At present, the archaeological department of the Indian Government is doing excavation to perform allied research.
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Wikipedia