106- DIVYA DESAMS-11. NAIMISARANYAM

We are on virtual tour of North India- particularly where the great epic Ramayana took place. After our holy bath at Triveni Sangamam we have reached the place Naimisaranyam.

Naimisaranyam can be reached by:

Located at the junction of the roads from Sitapur and Khairabad, 20 miles from Sitapur and 24 miles from the Sandila railway station. 45 miles north of Lucknow in Uttarpradesh. Naimisaranya is also known as "Nimsar" or "Nimkhar" and is located on the left bank of the river Gomati.

Here Lord as Devaraja give dharsan to pilgrims in the form of entire forest.

The legend says that Rishis approached Brahma to suggest a place where they can peacefully do Tapas to reach Narayana.

Brahma took the Grass ( Tharpa) and made it in the form of a wheel and said that he will roll the same on the earth and the place at which it stops –is the best place for doing the tapas.

It stopped at this place and hence it is called Naimisaranyam.

It is very sacred place because great mahans have done penance and Rama has set his foot here.

Legends also say when Gayasuran was killed he was cut into three pieces- one piece was thrown at Gaya, one at Naimisaranyam and the last at Badrinath. Any one does pindadhanam at these places, his ancestors will be relieved from birth for 21 generations.

The Sthala viruksha:  The entire forest itself is Sthala Vruksha.

The Pushkarani of this sthalam are Gomukhi Nadhi and Chakkara theertham. On the shore of Chakkara theertham.

There are separate sannadhis for Chakarathalwar, Vinayakar, Sri Rama, Lakshmana and Seetha. On the way to Gomukhi Nadhi, a separate temple called as "Vyasa Ghat"  can be seen.

Near to this place we can see the temple for Sukha Brahmam in the form of Bronze statue.

There is a small hill on which we can see the Hanuman Temple where Hanuman carries Lord Rama and Lakhmana on his shoulders.

There are good places to stay overnight here: Ahobila Mutt, Vanamamalai Jeer Mutt etc.

Thee is a Brindavan for Ahobila Mutt Jeer who reached Acharyan Thiruvadi here while on pilgrimage tour. They maintain the Balaji Mandir here.

The Pushkarani of this sthalam are Gomukhi Nadhi and Chakkara theertham. On the shore of Chakkara theertham,  we can see many small temples for Vinayaka, Rama ..

Mangalasasanam: Thirumangai Alwar.

Edited By: R.Jagannathan.