Naimisharanya History (Story, Info, Facts, Special, Mahabharata) | Which God is in Naimisharanya? | What is the other name of Naimisharanya?
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Just before going to “Naimisharanya History (Story, Info, Facts, Special, Mahabharata) | Which God is in Naimisharanya? | What is the other name of Naimisharanya?“, let us have a brief some brief information.
Let us know the meaning of the word ‘Naimisharanya’ (नैमिषारण्य / ನೈಮಿಷಾರಣ್ಯ / naimiṣāraṇya).
Here Naimisharanaya (naimiṣāraṇya) = Naimisha is the abode of Lord Sri Vishnu by his own name Animisha (Animish). In Sri Vishnusahasra Nama shloka number 23, Lord Sri Vishnu is known as Animisha (अनिमिष / ಅನಿಮಿಷ / animiṣa).
Here Animisha means, Lord Sri Vishnu is the one who is always alert, highly vigilant, always proactively awake, he is the wisest of all etc.
Here below in Sri Vishnusahasranama Shloka the name / word Animisha is used:
गुरुर्गुरुतमो धाम सत्यः सत्यपराक्रमः । निमिषोऽनिमिषः स्रग्वी वाचस्पतिरुदारधीः ॥ 23 ॥
ಗುರುರ್ಗುರುತಮೋ ಧಾಮ ಸತ್ಯಃ ಸತ್ಯಪರಾಕ್ರಮಃ । ನಿಮಿಷೋಽನಿಮಿಷಃ ಸ್ರಗ್ವೀ ವಾಚಸ್ಪತಿರುದಾರಧೀಃ ॥ 23 ॥
gururgurutamō dhāma satyaḥ satyaparākramaḥ। nimiṣō̕nimiṣaḥ sragvī vācaspatirudāradhīḥ॥ 23॥
As said above, Lord Sri Vishnu is called as Animisha (अ + निमिष / ಅ + ನಿಮಿಷ / a + nimiṣa) – (In Hindi, Animisha is pronounced as Animish).
Also, we should note that, Naimishe-animish-kshetre, that means, Naimisha is the abode of Lord Sri Vishnu and his name is Animisha (अनिमिष / ಅನಿಮಿಷ / animiṣa).
The divine Naimisharanya is situated in the state of today’s Uttar Pradesh, India in Sitapur district, which is about 90 km from its capital Lucknow.
Naimisharanya is located on the left banks of river Gomati and this river is a tributary of the most divine river Ganga. Naimisharanya is popularly known as Neemsar, Naimisha also. Naimisharanya is also called as नेमिषारण्य / ನೇಮಿಷಾರಣ್ಯ / nēmiṣāraṇya (Nemisharanya).
Here, nēmi (Nemi) means the outer surface of the chakra / disc and the place where it (chakra) fell is called as Nemisharanya or popularly called as Naimisharanya.
The place where the nēmi (Nemi) of the chakra fell, came to be known as Chakra Teertha (The divine bathing place in the shape of Chakra / disc) and the surrounding forest area as Naimisharanya.
As per Hindu granthas (divine books), upon a time Lord Sri Maha Vishnu had killed the demons at this place within no time, that is, in a निमिष / ನಿಮಿಷ / nimiṣa / nimisha.
This means, here nimiṣa / nimisha is a unit of time as per Hindu time frame and thus known as Nimesharanya.
(Here nimiṣa / nimisha in Sanskrit means, a blink or twinkle of an eye / eyes. It is the time frame where a normal human can blink his / her eye / eyes.)
Naimisharanya has a circumference (parikrama in Sanskrit) area of about 16 km, in which all the auspicious and divine places in India are located.
In every ancient Hindu Sanatana Dharma granthas (Divine books), that is, It may be Srimad Bhagavatam or the modern Sri Ramcharitamanas, the name Naimisharanya has been very clearly mentioned and described in each one of them.
List of information (facts) of Naimisharanya are as given below: (नैमिषारण्य / ನೈಮಿಷಾರಣ್ಯ / naimiṣāraṇya)
1. The great and divine story of Naimisharanya is believed to have existed since the onset of the universe.
2. The reality and importance of this holy place was revealed to the rishis and saints of that period. And this divine knowledge got percolated down through successive generations and it is happening even today.
3. It is written in Hindu Sanatana Dharma Granthas (Divine books), that is, Naimisharanya is existing since in Satya Yuga (Krita Yuga) and the first ever pilgrimage site to be laid out on earth is this same place.
And this most divine place is called Naimisharanya (नैमिषारण्य / ನೈಮಿಷಾರಣ್ಯ / naimiṣāraṇya).
4. Naimisharanya (नैमिषारण्य / ನೈಮಿಷಾರಣ್ಯ / naimiṣāraṇya) is said to be the Ashtama Vaikuntha (8th Vainkuntha) and eighth Aranya.
5. In this divine place of Naimisharanya (नैमिषारण्य / ನೈಮಿಷಾರಣ್ಯ / naimiṣāraṇya), 33 crore Devatas, 3½ crore shrines, 88,000 Rishis reside in place since unknown time.
Thus, this place of Naimisharanya is as a pious land where every deed performed receives highest and most fruitful results.
6. This Naimisharanya land has eternal meaning and its might is beyond the explanation in any possible words by any ordinary human(s).
7. In the most auspicious and Dharmic domain of Naimisharanya, there are several sites of Dharmic importance and this place also display the might of the “Almighty” Lord Sri Vishnu.
8. On earth each and every place has some or the other importance and significance that teaches the human race one or more lessons. And these lessons lead a prosperous life with strong belief in Bhagavan (God).
But this Naimisharanya has unlimited lessons to learn and this will lead to the everlasting Vaikuntha, that is, One can easily get Moksha / Mukti (Divine liberation) because of this place and can stay in Vaikuntha (Lord Sri Vishnu abode).
9. The divine Srimad Bhagavatam says that, there is no holy place on earth that compares to this Naimisharanaya. There are unlimited number of stories about this great and holy place of Naimisharanya.
10. This is the same place where Lord Sri Vishnu killed a demon called as Durjaya and his followers using his divine ‘Sudarshana Chakra‘.
11. It is also said that when Lord Sri Vishnu killed the demon Gayasura with his Sudarshana Chakra, his body was cut into three parts that fell at three places namely:
a. Pada Gaya – पाद गया / ಪಾದ ಗಯಾ / pāda gayā – Gaya Kshetra in Bihar
b. Nabhi Gaya – नाभि गया / ನಾಭಿ ಗಯಾ / nābhi gayā – In Naimisharanya, and
c. Kapali Gaya – कपालि गया / ಕಪಾಲಿ ಗಯಾ / kapāli gayā – In Badrinath Kshetra.
Thus, this great place of Naimisharanya is also known as Nabhi Gaya Kshetra.
12. Naimisharaya is a place where ‘Brahma Mano Maya Chakra‘ struck the earth popularly known as Chakra Teertha.
13. The divine Swayambhuva Manu and Shatarupa performed yagna and rigorous tapas / penance for 23,000 years at this very place of Naimisharanya. They did this for begetting ‘Nirakara Para Brahma‘, that is, to get Lord Sri Vishnu as their son.
14. The whole episode related to Sage Dadhichi donating his spinal-cord bones to Lord Sri Indra Deva happened at same place of Naimisharanya.
Dadhichi donated his backbone (spinal cord) to Lord Sri Indra Deva and other Devatas (Demigods) at this place to make weapons and defeat their enemies, that is asuras / demons. This weapon name is called as ‘Vajrayudha‘, which is the main weapon of Lord Sri Indra Deva.
15. Lord Sri Rama performed one of the divine yagnas known as ‘Ashwamedha Yagna‘ at this very place, after killing the asura (demon) king of Lanka, that is, Ravana.
16. Also at this very place of Naimisharanya, Goddess Sri Sita Devi went down to merge with Mother Earth (Goddess Sri Bhudevi). (This happened after Luva and Kusha met Lord Sri Rama.)
17. In this place of Naimisharanaya there is a tiny place called Hanuman Garhi. And this is the very place where Hanuman after getting released Lord Sri Rama and Lakshmana from the clutches of AhiRavana, bought them on his shoulders from Patala Loka.
18. Naimisharanya is the divine land, where Lord (Sage) Sri Vedavyasa Ji (An avatar of Lord Sri Vishnu) composed 4 Vedas, 6 Shastras and 18 Puranas. Also, Lord (Sage) Sri Vedavyasa Ji preached Samaveda to his beloved disciple, Maharishi Gemini.
19. This is same divine place, where the the most auspicious Srimad Bhagavatam was spoken.
20. Jnana (knowledge) regarding the grace of humans was imparted here along with the most simplest and easiest methods of pooja (worship).
And also in this very place, importance of Lord Sri Satyanarayana Vrata Katha was started, that is, this is the place of origin for Lord Sri Satyanarayana Swamy Pooja.
21. Lord Sri Krishna’s most beloved friends and devotees, that is, Pandavas visited this place during their exile and Sri Balarama visited this place during his pilgrimage also.
22. In the Mahabharata it is said, “Anyone who fasts, prays, and attains perfection at Naimisharanya finds happiness in all the worlds.”
23. The modern day Saint Sri Tulasidas Ji wrote Sri Ramacharitamanas here.
Information about Chakra Teertha is as given below:
(About the divine place of Naimisharaya, a special mention has to be made.) With the start of the universe, 88,000 Rishis went to Lord Sri Brahma Deva and prayed him with the notion to know the ideal place for uninterrupted meditation.
And also 88,000 Rishis wanted to know about a place which will give moksha / mukti (divine liberation) from all the difficulties and sins.
All the Rishis also enquired about a place where one can get divine jnana / knowledge and for performing adhyatmika / spiritual rites for the prosperity of the humanity.
After hearing the prayers of all the Rishis, Lord Sri Brahma Deva told them that he will send his disc (called Manomaya Chakra) and it will direct them to the sacred spot.
Lord Sri Brahma Deva also informed them that wherever its axis will fall, that particular location will be the focal point of their sacred place for meditation. Having said this, Lord Sri Brahma Deva released his Manomaya Chakra and all the Saints followed its path.
After completing many revolutions around the universe, finally the Manomaya Chakra settled at a deserted place. And that Manomaya Chakra addressed the Rishis that, this place which is dwelled on the banks of AdiGanga Gomati is free from all sins and calamities.
Moreover, any deed performed on this holy place will give divine and beneficial results. There is no other divine place, as this Naimisharanya in this entire world. After saying this, the Manomaya Chakra fell into the Yagya Shala.
Due to Manomaya Chakra’s powerful fall with thunderous speed, the underworlds broke down and huge gushes of water sprouted from underneath.
Lord Sri Brahma Deva requested Sri Adishakti (divine power) Goddess Sri Lalita Devi, to stop the “Brahma Manomaya Chakra”.
The divine power of Sri Adishakti stopped that chakra and thus settled at this place as Lingadhaarini (Linga + Dhaarini = Holder of Linga).
From that time, this place where the axis of Brahma Manomaya Chakra (Nemi) fell surrounded by the forest came to be known as Nemisharanya or Naimisharanya.
And this very place became the central place for performing meditation by all the Rishis. The location where the Chakra struck the earth and water spring came out became known as Chakra Teertha. Chakra Teertha is said to be the center of the universe.
It is said that the large sweet-water spring that marks the location of Chakra-Teertha has no bottom end.
Even the British wanted to disprove this and wanted to make this as mythology in the history.
And thus those British brought a very long cable and attempted to find the bottom. After more than 1000 meters they ran out of cable and gave up and completely failed in this attempt.
If someone bathe in Chakra Teertha and make an offering to the presiding deity, that is, Goddess Sri Lalita Devi, on a Purmina (full Moon) and / or Amavasya (new Moon) day that falls on a Monday, that person will wash away all the sins committed in a lifetime.
Sri Shakti Peetha is situated here and Goddess Sri Lalita Devi is being worshipped here as the female presiding deity of Naimisharanya.
Chakra Teertha is the most holiest place and will destroy all kinds of sins and is the best among all the Teerthas.
It is said that by taking bath in Chakra Teertha, Graha Peeda (ग्रह पीड) will vanish and the sins of 10 earlier generations and 10 future generations will also completely vanish.
This place is ideal to provide complete satisfaction and liberation (Moksha / Mukti – A place in Vaikuntha) to the ancestors.
Greatness (Mahatmya) of Naimisharanya is as given below:
Almost all puranas very clearly talks about Naimisharanya and its history, significance & importance.
The summary of all is as given below:
1. There are unlimited number of Teerthas on earth, but this Naimisharanya is the first among them all. | 2. Naimisharanya is the most holiest and best among all the Teerthas.
3. The importance of this Teertha is 10 times than that of any other Teertha on the earth. | 4. This is the most important Teertha which offers Bhoga (materials things) and Moksha (divine liberation) both.
5. This is a divine place where सिद्धि (Siddhi / divine accomplishment / perfection) can be achieved very quickly.
6. 30,000 Teerthas always live in this surroundings.
7. This Teertha is very famous in Trilokas (Upper planets, Earth and Lower planets) as sins destroyer and a favorable place of Trimurtis, that is, Lord Sri Brahma Deva, Lord Sri Vishnu and Sri Maheshwara (Shiva).
8. There is importance of Naimisha Teertha in Satya Yuga, Pushkara in Treta Yuga, Kurukshetra in Dwapara Yuga and Ganga in Kali Yuga. | 9. Naimisharanya is the Yagna place of Devatas (Demigods), worshipped by Rishis.
10. Divine Gomati River, Akshaya Patra of Lord Sri Surya Deva (Sun Demigod) always exists here. | 11. When tapas / penance is done here, the papas / sins of seven lives will disappear.
11. One who think of visiting this Teertha, half of the sins vanish and by entering Naimisharanya Teertha all the sins vanish completely. | 12. One who do tapas / penance here attains higher planets.
13. If tapas / penance is done here for 12 years, one gets the power to enter into Brahma Loka (Satya Loka).
13. One who takes a bath here will have a place in Svarga Loka and other higher planets. | 14. Material problems are solved on taking bath in this Teertha. | 15. All the Teerthas, Rivers, Seas of the earth exist in this Teertha.
16. Someone who takes bath here, gets the benefit of bathing at all the Teerthas of the earth.
17. Taking bath in Ganga, arriving at Varanasi, Dwaraka and Badarikashrama (Badrinath), yield punya (good deeds), but one gets punya (good deeds) as soon as he leaves his / her house for this Teertha.
18. Huge importance and significance is given for taking bath in Naimisharanya during Mahakumbha, when Sun is in Mesha Rashi which happens once in 12 years.
19. One who dies in Naimisharanya, does not face any problem. | 20. If Pitru Shraddha (Pinda danam) is done here, ancestors get place in Vaikuntha.
21. During Chaturmasam, especially during Pitru Paksha, if charity is given at this Teertha, ancestors get satisfied till the end of Kalpa.
22. This place is highly Punyadayaka (पुण्यदायक / good deeds giver) and as well as a Mokshadayaka (मोक्षदायक / giver of divine liberation).
23. One who hears the Lrod Sri Vishnu Charitram (Pastimes of Lord Sri Vishnu) here for one or two days at this Teertha, will definitely secures a place in Vaikuntha.
24. On residing in this Teertha for a month and offering Jala arghya (जल अर्घ्य), people get the benefit of a Yagna.
Places in and around Naimisharanya are as given below:
1. Chakra Teertha | 2. Goddess Sri Lalita Devi Temple (presiding female deity of Naimisharanya) | 3. Vyasa Gaddhi / Vyasa Vatika / Vyasa Dhamam (Vedavyasa abode)
4. Manu and Shatarupa Tapasthala (तपस्थल / Penance place) | 5. Hanuman Garhi (18 feet self manifested Hanuman Ji) | 6. Gomati River (AdiGanga)
7. Lord Sri Srinivasa / Venkatewara / Venkatesha / Balaji Temple (Lord Sri Venkateshwara) | 8. Suta Gaddhi – Here Suta Muni sat while instructing the Rishis 5,000 years ago | 9. Devarshi Narada Temple
What can we do in Naimisharanya?
1. Can take bath in Chakra Teertha and River Gomati | 2. Pitru Ceremonies (Pitru Paksha) (E.g., Pinda Danam, Tila Tarpanam)
3. Charity can be given in the form of Go-danam (Donating Cow), Vriksha Danam (Donation Tree), Shayya Danam (Donating Bed), Vastra Danam (Donating clothes) and Wheat.
4. It is said that charity given here in the name of ancestors, that is, The Pitrus in whichever world they may be present, will get free of all sins and can will definitely attain divinity and liberation (Moksha / Mukti).
Hindus don’t do charity as charity, but do as a Dharma (duty).
5. Parayana (Hearing, reading, preaching) of divine Puranas especially Srimad Bhagavatam, Srimad Bhagavad Gita, Sri Vishnusahasra Nama, Purusha Sukta, Narayana Upanishad at Vyasa Gaddhi is highly favorable.
6. Lord Sri Satyanarayana Pooja etc.
More information will be added to this on regular basis. Please this post and other posts of this website / blog to get the updated information.
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