We all know a lot about Narmada. But, do we know all the mythological references and the significance?
LOCATION
The Narmada River rises from the Amarkantak Plateau in Anuppur district Madhya Pradesh. It forms the traditional boundary between North India and South India and flows westwards over a length of 1,312 km before draining through the Gulf of Khambhat into the Arabian Sea, 30 km west of Bharuch city of Gujarat. It is one of only two major rivers in peninsular India that runs from east to west, along with the Tapti River. It is one of the rivers in India that flows in a rift valley, bordered by the Satpura and Vindhya ranges.
MYTHOLOGY
There are many stories about the origin of the Narmada River. According to the Reva Khand, the Narmada was created from Shiv’s perspiration while he was performing penance on Mount Riksha. Due to this, the Narmada River is known as Shiva’s daughter. In another legend, two teardrops fell from the eyes of Brahma, the creator of the universe, which yielded two rivers – the Narmada and the Son.
SIGNIFICANCE IN HINDUISM
Like the Ganges, the Narmada River is a goddess and a river in Hinduism. The Matsya Purana states that all of the banks along the Narmada are sacred. The Ramayana, the Mahabharat, and the Puranas refer to it frequently. Narmada is also said to have been engaged with the Sonbhadra, another river flowing on the Chota Nagpur Plateau. According to the Puranas, the Narmada is also called the Reva, due to her leaping motion through the rocky bed. Narmada is also considered sacred because of the pebbles known as ‘bana linga’ that are found on the river bed. The pebbles are made up of white quartz and are ling shaped. They are believed to be the personified form of Shiva and there is a popular saying, ‘Narmada ke kankar utte Shankar’ which means that ‘Shiva is in the pebbles of Narmada’. Adi Shankar met his guru ‘Govind Bhagavatpad’ in Omkareshwar, a town on the banks of the Narmada.
HISTORY
Narmada is a Sanskrit word meaning ‘The Giver of Pleasure’. We can find the mention of Narmada in historical accounts of foreign travellers who visited India during their life time. The Periplus Maris Erythraei (c. 80 AD) called the river the ‘Nammadios’, Ptolemy called it ‘Nammadus’ and the British Raj called it the ‘Nerbudda’ or ‘Narbada’.
PILGRIMAGE PARIKRAMA & RELIGIOUS PLACES ALONG THE RIVER
The importance of the Narmada River as sacred is testified by the fact that the pilgrims perform a holy pilgrimage of a parikrama or circumambulation of the river. The Narmada Parikrama, as it is called, is considered to be a meritorious act that a pilgrim can undertake. It comprises a walk on foot from the Arabian Sea at Bharuch in Gujarat, along the river, to the source in Maikal Mountains (Amarkantak hills) in Madhya Pradesh and back along the opposite bank of the river. It is a 2,600-kilometre walk. The spiritual journey is usually taken for 3 years, 3 months and 13 days and the pilgrims are stipulated not to cross the river at any point of time.
- Amarkantak or Teertha raj
- Omkareshwar
- Maheshwar and Mahadeo temples
- Siddheshwar Temple, Nemawar
- Chausath Yogini Temple, Bhedaghat
- Chaubis Avatar Temple, Omkareshwar
- Bhrigu Rishi temple in Bharuch
To know more about Hinduism, places of religious importance in India, the Vedic belief system, festivals and their significance, etc. or to learn its cultural art forms like music and dance, etc. please visit our website Sameedh.
