Greatness of ‘Naimisharanya’ a place of pilgrimage, the seat of origin of the Satyanarayan katha

As advised by Maharshi Mayan on Chaitra Pournima, April 19, 2019 Sadguru (Mrs.) Binda Singbal performed Satyanarayan puja in the Ramnathi ashram while Sadguru (Mrs.) Anjali Gadgil performed it at Naimisharanya, a place of pilgrimage in Uttar Pradesh. The Satyanarayan katha was first narrated by Shri Mahavishnu to Maharshi Narad. Towards the end of the Dwaparyug all Sages including Sage Shaunak asked the Saptarshi (seven great Sages) what vowed observance (vrat) man should perform in the fearsome Kaliyug. In response They narrated the Satyanarayan vrat as well as its story. The greatness of this sacred Naimisharanya is given further.

1. Place and importance

Naimisharanya is situated 90 kilometres away from Lakshmanpuri (Lucknow) the capital city of the state of Uttar Pradesh in the District of Sitapur on the left bank of River Gomati, the tributary of River Ganga. Naimisharanya is also known as ‘Nimsar’ or ‘Naimisha’. It is a place of pilgrimage from the Satyayug and is believed to be the the first pilgrimage area on the earth. 33 types of Deities and 88000 Sages reside here permanently because of which it is believed to be is the most sacred place. Every action performed here is fruitful.

2. History behind the naming of ‘Naimisharanya’

Naimisharanya is also called Nemisharanya where nemi means edge of the chakra. This is the place where the Manomay Chakra of the Brahma collided with the earth and fell on it. The place where the chakra fell on the earth is known as Nemisharanya. The place where the edge of the chakra struck the earth is called Chakrateerth and the forest surrounding came to be known as Naimisharanya.

2A. Creation of Chakrateerth in the Naimisharanya region

After creation of the universe all Sages went to Deity Brahma and prayed to Him asking which is the appropriate place to be absolved of sins, to perform continuous spiritual practice, to receive spiritual knowledge and to perform a spiritual rite for the welfare of all mankind. So, Deity Brahma offered to send the ‘Manomay Chakra’. He said that this chakra would show them the appropriate venue and that wherever it fell would be the focal point of the sacred place. When Deity Brahma released the chakra all Sages followed it. After circumambulating the earth several times, it finally stopped at an unknown destination.

This powerful ‘Manomay Chakra’ when struck the earth with a lightening speed, the Patal region was split open and water started gushing out of it on a large scale. That time Deity Brahma asked Deity Lalita Devi to stop the ‘Manonmay Chakra’. Deity LalitaDevi stopped the Chakra with her Divine Energy and she stayed at that place in the form of Lingadharini. Since that day, the place where the ‘Manomay Chakra’ of Deity Brahma fell and its surrounding area came to be known as Nemisharanya or Naimisharanya. The place on the earth where the Chakra struck and from where water started gushing, became the Teerthchakra. This place is considered to be as the centre of the universe. Later this place became the centre point for meditation and spiritual practice of all the Saints and the Sages from all the eras.

3. Greatness of Naimisharanya as a place

A. It is in Naimisharanya that Sage Vyas wrote the 4 Vedas, 6 Shastras and 18 Purans. It is here that He taught His beloved disciple Maharshi Jaimini the Samaveda.

B. The Shri Satyanarayan vrat commenced in Naimisharanya itself.

C. This is a Shaktipeeth (seat of worship of Divine Energy) where Shri Lalitadevi is worshipped as the chief Deity of Naimisharanya. On amavasya (no moon) or pournima (full moon) falling on a Monday, if a bath is taken in Chakrateerth and then if Shri Lalitadevi is given an offering (or a havan is performed for Her), then the worshipper is absolved of all sinful actions performed in his entire lifetime.’

Compiler : Mr. Vinayak Shanbag, Delhi (27.4.2019)