My Visit to Naimisharanya

 

 Chakra Thirth Kund

            

Chakra Narayana

Badri Narayana Temple

                 

Bhuteshwar Mahadev Mandir

Sri Lalita Devi Mandir

     

Sri Lalita Devi -- ancient idol

         

Sri Lalita Devi inner sanctum

Sri Mahvishnu

Sri Satyanarayan Mandir

Mishrik Dadhichi Kund

Shringi Rishi shrine

Vyas Gaddi

Hanuman Gharhi

Hanuman Gharhi

Havan Kund

                                                                         Trishakti Dham

                                                                        Deva Puri

Naimisharanya is considered as the holiest place where many gods and sages stayed and did penance beside the banks of the Gomati River.  During Satya Yuga Naimisharanya is considered as the holiest place; in Tretha Yuga Pushkar as a sacred thirth; during Dwapara Yuga, Kurukhetra as the holy place and during Kali Yuga, the Ganges as most sacred thirth. This fact shows Naimisharanya as the most ancient sacred place revered by all sages and gods. This place is mentioned in many legends and Puranas glorfying its purity and spiritual grandeur. It is said that one who does penance here for twelve years goes to Brahma Loka.

The name of the place suggests that once it was a forest where many sages and saints stayed doing penance or composing sacred works. Sage Vyasa stayed here and composed puranas and classified Vedas. He taught the sacred Vedas and Puranas to his disciples like Suta and others. Suta also expounded Puranas to his disciples like Vaishampayana and other 88,000 sages and disciples. The sacred 5000-year old banyan tree is still seen here where sage Vyasa taught his disciples. Just nearby there is a holy shrine with an elevated conical seat called “Vyasa gaddi.” One who meditates and does yoga here can get rid of his incurable diseases. Similarly one can also see “Suta gaddi” the place where Suta enlightened his disciples on Puranas and other holy lore. Manu chose this place for performing penance for 23,000 years along with his spouse Satarupa to get Vishnu as their beloved son. Just near Vyasa Gaddi one can see a shrine for Lord Satyanarayana since Veda Vyas narrated Satyanarayana Vrata Katha here to Suta who in turn told it to Shaunak and other rishis.

The word Naimisha also suggests the legend in which Lord Vishnu was said to have killed Durjaya and his army of demons in a nimish or moment. Lord Vishnu also killed Gayasura here. The head of the demon fell at Badri (Kapali Gaya), his feet at Gaya (Pada Gaya) and his middle part of the body fell at Naimisharanya (Nabhi Gaya). So many people come here to perform Shradh or tarpanams (oblations) to their forefathers for their salvation. Lord Rama performed Ashwamadha Yagna here after killing Ravana. This Ghat is called Ashwamedh Ghat. Some people say that Sita entered the earth at the same place.  One can see shrines for Narada and Shringi Rishi nearby.  Dadhichi Kund  is seen at Misrikh at a distance of ten kms from here. Dadhichi sacrificed his life so that Indra could prepare his weapon Vajra and other divine weapons from the spine and bones of Dadhichi’s body to kill Vritrasura.

At present one cannot see any forest dotted with hermitages. Naimisharanya is a small town in Sitapur district at a distance of 32 kms from Sitapur and 90 kms from Lucknow. Of course we can see lush greenery and huge trees while passing by the road. A cluster of temples are seen around a circular Kund called Chakra Thirth. According to legend at the beginning of Kali Yug, sages approached Brahma and requested Him to show a sacred place where they can do penance and perform yagnas. Lord Brahma then sent a wheel rolling and asked them to stay at the place where the wheel stops. The wheel rolled away at great speed and stopped at this place cutting the ground below. A powerful spring of water emerged from the ground in circular shape. The sages prayed to Lord Brahma to stop this disaster. Brahma in turn prayed to Lalita Devi who at once controlled the flow of water. So this pond formed by the rolling Chakra or wheel is called Chakra Thirth. It said that all holy rivers are present in the waters of this pond. Hence many pilgrims take holy bath here and perform rites to their forefathers. Especially on Full Moon and New Moon days many devotees come here to take holy bath and perform rituals and worship. The steps near the Chakra Thirth are very slippery covered with moss. there is a risk of people slipping there. So the steps of the ghat should be maintained neat and clean.

 Around Chakra Thirth one can see many shrines and holy places. In Bhooteshwar Mahadev temple one can see a big Mukha Linga with small idols of Maha Vishnu, Ganesh, Kartikeya, Surya, Kali, Dadhichi and Lord Brahma. In Gokarnanath temple the Linga is seen in a small pit. In Badrinath temple we see a bright yellow colored shrine with a pillared corridor. In Suryanarayana temple a Shiva Linga with a Srichakra carved behind it is seen.

Lord Vishnu is seen here sitting with one leg folded crosswise with attenadants serving him. Naimisharanya is considered as one of the 108 holy Vaishanavite Divya Khetras where Lord Vishnu manifested Himself in His effulgent form. The holy shrine of Lalita Devi is a must visit as She is the presiding deity of this holy place and one’s visit is not complete without having her darshan. Inside the sanctum a small marble idol is seen draped in red clothes. Just near the exit the original idol of Lalita Devi seen beside a sacrificial altar. The pandas pester us demanding not less than 500/- for offering coconut to the goddess. This place is treated as one of the 108 Shakti Peethams where the heart of Sati fell when Lord Vishnu cut off the body of Sati with His Sudarshan Chakra when Sati immolated Herself in sacrificial fire during Daksha’s yagna. As per Brahma’s request Lalita Devi appeared here for destruction of demons here.

 Just near Chakra Thirth there is a place called Pandav Khila where Pandavas stayed during their exile period. This is the place where King Virat had a fort. In 1305 this fort was re-built by a Hindu minister of Allauddin Khilji. Now only a room is seen with statues of five Pandava brothers along with Draupadi and Lord Krishna. Just near this place Hanuman Garhi is seen with a huge statue of Lord Hanuman bearing Ram and Lakshman on his shoulders. Lord Hanuman is said to have emerged from Patal Lok here after conquering Abhiravan.

 A little distance from here one can also see Sri Balaji temple, Sri Trishakti Dham temple and Devpuri temple with 108 idols of various gods and goddesses. So one should spend at least one or two days to see all these holy shrines. We spent only a few hours here and so did not have enough time to see all these holy temples. The serene atmosphere with mighty trees and ponds will surely impress any devotee with a sense of tranquility and immense devotion. But the authorities should streamline the organization so that devotees are not chased and harassed by the priests who always ask for money without performing rituals and poojas in a proper way. This creates a very bad and disappointing impression on devotees who come here with so many expectations. The temple timings of Naimisharanya are from 5.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m. and from 4.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m. Many great saints and sages visited this place. Saint Tulsidas is said to have composed Ramcharithmanas here. Saint Surdas resided at this place. Shankaracharya during his tour of India visited this place. Let us try to preserve the sanctity of this place where great Sages and Maharshis stayed and did penance and wrote great works and puranas.

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        18th October, 2019                                                           Somaseshu Gutala