Mata Narmada – The Favoured Child of Lord Shiva

 

Once upon a time, lord shiva was engaged in religious austerities with Devi Uma for the welfare of the Universe and its creatures at the Hrikhhashaila (Bindha mountain) invisibly. Since long time they were engaged in deep meditation. In rogue asceticism Lord shiva started sweating. His sweat was flowing down from his body and Trishul on his feet. From the holy sweat of Lord Shiva a beautiful girl in dhyan yoga  took birth at his feet . The continuous flow of the sweat from Lord Shiva through the dhyan yogi  girl at his feet  flooded the mountain and created a holy river. Being pleased in her worship Lord Shiva appeared, asked for her acquaintance and offered her willful blessings.

The girl prayed,  “O my lord, I have been created from you only and I wish that at the end, during destruction, when all movables and immovables, oceans and mountains  will get destroyed, with your grace and wish my presence in the universe shall remain forever. Any human with one’s great sins once take bath in me with pure devotion in heart shall get relieved from all sins. Studying all vedas and virtue of all havans shall be attained by a pure devotee who takes a deep in me. O lord, a devotee shall reach you by worshipping you at my bank. O lord of lords, if you are pleased and find me eligible then please bless that I shall be known as the giver of fulfillment.” Lord Shiva was overwhelmed with her words and blessed her as his most favoured child. The holy river started its journey from Amarkantak happily. As a beautiful girl she was roaming the Mekal mountain when a few gods and demons were attracted by her charming presence and started chasing her. Feeling their bad intention, the girl took the form of  holy river and started flowing with all its streams lively dancingly overcoming all mountains. At times she appeared as  a beautiful girl on the flowing streams of her water form  and as the gods & demons were trying to get closer, she again started flowing with high tides. This playing hide and seek with gods & demons chasing her, Lord Shiva and Devi Uma were amused observing the incident. Crossing a long route through now known as Chhattishgarh, MP, Gujarat  finally  the holy river reached the Kambe ocean. Lord Shiva and Devi Uma appeared in the midst of the ocean , now known as Reba Sangam, and took their daughter in lap. Gods and demons were shocked and surprised seeing them there.  Lord shiva said “ you have made Gods and demons ashamed and taught them a good lesson by giving “Narm”to them. Hence you will be known as Narmada.”

                Circumambulation(parikrama) of the holy river Narmada is a common practice here for the devotees.  Circumambulation may be of different types -  Runda Parikrama, Brief Parikrama, Complete Jalehari Parikrama and Panch Koshi Parikrama. Common people and saints perform these circumambulation of Maa Narmada at auspicious time by walk or by car. Performed with devotion, one can feel her presence and get her blessings in such practice. The Narmada parikrama itself is a great sadhana and hundreds of Prayaschittas are automatically performed in parikrama to eliminate sins of past births. Many such experiences & stories are famous in people around.

Bindhya, Satpura and Mekal are the 3 mountains surrounding Amarkantak having greenery at the lap of blue sky with its heart felt views. The main temple of Maa Narmada is found here, where she was originated. Narmada originating kund (pool) and Banseswar Shiva are important in this temple. Devotees can take a holy deep in Narmada at Koti tirtha bank located just opposite to this temple. Other than this, Pataleswar shiva, Matsendriya Temple, Mai ki Bagia, Chakra Tirtha, Kapil Dhara, Dudh Dhara, Rudra Ganga, Shri Jaleswar Temple, Durga Dhara (Saint Kapil Ashram), Bada Ganesh are some of the remarkable places to be worshiped and visited by a devotee. At the Dudh dhara there is a waterfall falling down forming milky white fog around, thus the name dudh (milk) dhara is given. Saint Durbasha used to stay in a cave there for his austerity. Temple Jaleswar was built at the time of demon Banasur where King Yudhisthir of Mahabharat also visited. When on prayer of Lords Brahmma & Vishnu, Lord Shiva destroyed the empire of Banasur, the Banlinga that Banasur was worshipping  which was the source of his mammoth strength fell here. Thus Worshipping Banlinga is important here. There is another waterfall at Durga Dhara inside forest, far from locality and crowd. It is believed that Devi Durga was engaged in deep austerities here when Lord Shiva was meditating on Mekal mountain. The beautiful deity of MataDurga  always look live blessing  every body with charming smile.  Saints like this place for sadhana in front of flowing stream from mountain. The place takes one’s soul to a different place of universe.

At the south bank of the holy river Narmada, a devotee starts its parikrama from the Amarkantak Matri Mandir( Narmada originating temple) and proceeds through Kapil Sangam ( holy Ganga meets with Narmada here),Kukkuta Math, Sahasra Dhara(waterfall), Dhuma bati Temple, Rajrajeswari Temple, Mukundeswar Shiva, Mahadev Piparia, Narasimha Temple, Brahman ghat, Sandia Ghat, Sita Ram Temple, Saint Sandilya field of austerities, Ramji Ashram, Gouri Sankar ji grave, GangJaleswar Mahadev, Hridhhinath Temple, Khandwa – Dadadhuni Ashram, Ek roti Baba Ashram and finally Omkareswar South bank of Narmada. From Sri Krishna Ghat Mamaleswar Temple is of 2 kilometer. Mountain Bindha worshipped Lord Shiva here. From Omkareswar devotee has to start its journey again towards Sulpaneswar, Mani Nageswar,Goman Dev Temple, Ankelswar, Balabol Kund, Ashapuri Matri Temple, Hangseswar, Surya Kund, Koteswar Temple, Bimaleswar Tirath and finally reaches the point where Reba (other name of Narmada) meets with the ocean.

                At the north bank of Narmada, starting from the meeting point of Reba with the ocean, devotee has to start it’s journey via Bhutnath, Haridham, the famous Ashram of Saint Jamadagni & Parasuram, Bahrbhuteswar, Nareswar – Rang Abdhut Swami Temple, Madhavdasji Temple,Gangonath Ashram, Saint Byas Tirath, Chadod Tirath( Dev Barun, Yam and Pavan was engaged in austerities here), Ouri Sangam, Pingaleswar Mahadev, Someswar Tirath, Kubereswar, Goutameswar, Tilakeswar,Agasteswar,Dattatreya Temple, Garureswar Mahadev Temple up to Gujarat and then Maheswar Tirath, Ujjain – Mahakaleswar Temple, Sandipan Muni Ashram, Viraghat, Goari Ghat Matri Temple and finally Amarkantak to complete the parikrama.

                It’s a long rout. The south bank covers around 1472 kilometer and the north bank covers 1577 kilometer travel approximately. “Har Narmade” is a greet followed by common people, especially among devotees. Here “Har” is referred to Lord Shiva and Narmada is his daughter.  All the places may not be luxurious with all amenities but every temple and tirath spots are having it’s own historical and spiritual significance that cannot be stated here in this short article.One can refer the book published on Maa Narmada to know in detail. For the Shiva devotees it’s a very important place of spiritual pleasure, austerities and inner peace to purify one’s soul. To know, feel and devote with Maa Narmada , the favour child of Lord Shiva,one must visit.

Har Narmade !!