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PILGRIMAGE
Om! Gam! Ganapathaye! Namaha!
Om! Sri Raghavendraya Namaha!
Om! Namo! Bhagavathe! Vasudevaya!
Om! Ham! Hanumathe! Sri Rama Doothaya! Namaha!
(A view of Chakra Theertha at Naimisharanya)
Naimisharanya is located in the state of Uttar Pradesh about 90 km from its capital Lucknow in the district of Sitapur.
Naimisharanya is situated on the left banks of river Gomathi a tributary of river Ganges. Naimisharanya is popularly
known as Neemsar, Naimisha. Naimishe’animishkshetre meaning Naimish is the abode of Lord Vishnu called by his
name Animish. Following sloka of Sri Vishnu Sahasranama (sloka23) describes Lord Vishnu as Animisha, meaning the
one who is ever awake, ever alert, and ever vigilant. He is the wisest of all.
!!GuruHgurutamo dhaamaH satyaHsatyaparakramaH
NimishhoanimishhaH sragvee vaachaspatirudaaradeeh!!
Naimisharanya is also called as Nemisharanya. Nemi means the outer surface of the disc and the place where it fell called
in the name of Nemi as Nemisharanya or popularly called as Naimisharanya. The spot where the Nemi of the chakra fell
came to be known as Chakra Theertha (a holy bathing place in the shape of Chakra) and the surrounding forest area as
Naimisharanya.
It is believed and said that once upon a time Lord Maha Vishnu had killed the demons at this place within no time in a
nimish (nimish is a unit of time) and thence forth called as Nimesharanya.
Naimisharanya has a parikrama (circumambulation) path of 16 km, in which all the sacred places in India are believed to
be located. In every ancient literary composition (Grantha) starting from SriMadbhagvat to the present age of Sri Ram
Charita Manas, the site Naimisharanya has been mentioned and described in each one of them.
Mythology of Naimishaaranya
The rich mythology of Naimisharanya is believed to have existed with the onset of the universe. The truth and
significance of this sacred place was revealed to the saints and sages of that period and this divine knowledge got
percolated down through successive generations.
It is believed that Naimisharanya existed in Sathya Yuga and the first ever pilgrimage site to be laid out on earth.
It is said to be the eighth Aranya and Astama Vaikunta. 33 crores devathas, 3½ crore shrines, 88000 sages reside always
here. Therefore, it is considered as a pious land where every deed performed receives fruitful results. This land has
eternal meaning and its might is beyond the explanation in any possible words.
In the sacred and religious domain of Naimisharanya, there are several sites of mythological importance that display the
might of the “Almighty”. Every place has some significance that teaches the human race, some lessons to lead a
prosperous life with strong belief in God. The Bhagavath Purana says that there is no holy place on earth that compares
to this one.
There are several stories about Naimisharanya. It is the place where Lord Maha Vishnu killed a demon by name Durjaya
and his followers with his Sudarshana Chakra. It is also said that when Lord Maha Vishnu killed the demon Gayasura with
his Sudarshana Chakra his body was cut into three parts that fell at three places namely Paada Gaya (Gaya Kshetra in
Bihar),Naabhi Gaya in Naimisharanya and Kapali Gaya in Badari Kshetra. Hence Naimisharanya is also called Nabhi Gaya
Kshetra.
It is a place where Brahma Mano Maya Chakra struck the earth popularly known as Chakra Theertha.
Swayambhuva Manu and Satrupa performed yaga and rigorous penance for 23000 years at this place for begetting
Nirakara Para Brahma Lord SriMann Narayana as their son.
The whole episode related to Sage Dhadhichi donating his bones happened at Naimisharanya. He donated his bones to
Devathas at this place to make weapons and defeat the demons.
It is believed that Lord Sri Rama performed Aswamedha yaga at this place after killing Ravana. It is also said that this is
the place where Goddess Sita Devi was accepted by Mother Earth. After Luv and Kush sons of Lord SriRama got united
with their father she vanished here.
Hanuman Garhi in Naimisharanya is the place where Lord Hanuman after getting released Sri Rama and Laxmana from
the clutches of AhiRavan, bought them on his shoulders from Pathal.
It is the land of Naimisharanya where Lord Vedavyasa composed 4 Vedas, 6 Shastras and 18 Puranas and preached
Samaveda to his beloved discipleMaharishi Gemini. This is where the Srimad Bhagavatam was spoken.
Knowledge regarding the benediction of humans was imparted here along with the simplest and easiest methods of
pooja (worship) and importance of Sri Sathyanarayana Vratha Katha. Place of Origin for Lord Sri Sathyanarayana Vratha
Katha.
Pandavas visited this place during their exile and Lord Balarama visited this place during his pilgrimage. In the
Mahabharata it is said, “Anyone who fasts, prays, and attains perfection at Naimisharanya finds happiness in all the
worlds.”
Tulasidas wrote Sri Rama Charitha Manas here.
Chakra Theertha
(A special mention has to be made about this place at Naimisharanya)
With the onset of the universe, 88,000 Saints and Sages went to Lord Brahma and prayed him with the notion to know
the ideal place for uninterrupted meditation, a place which will liberate one from all the difficulties and sins, a place
where one can get divine knowledge and for performing spiritual rites for the welfare of the humanity.
After hearing their prayers Lord Brahma told them that he would send his disc (called Manomaya Chakra) and it will
direct them to the sacred spot. He also said that wherever its axis will fall, that particular place will be the focal point of
their sacred place for meditation. Having said this, He released his Chakra and all the Saints followed its path.
After completing several revolutions around the universe, finally the Chakra settled at a deserted place and addressed the
Saints 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 sacred place will give beneficial results. There is no other holy place, as this one in this entire
universe.
Saying this, the Chakra fell into the Yagyashala. Due to its powerful fall with thunderous speed the underworlds broke
down and huge gushes of water sprouted from underneath. Lord Brahma requested AdiShakti (divine power) Goddess Sri
Lalitha Devi to stop the "Brahma Manomaya Chakra''. The divine power stopped that chakra and thence forth settled at
this place as Lingadhaarini.
Since then, this place where the axis of Brahma Manomaya Chakra (Nemi) fell surrounded by the forest came to be
known as Nemisharanya or Naimisharanya, and it became the central place for performing meditation by all the Saints
and Sages. The spot where the Chakra struck the earth and water spring came out became known as Chakra Theertha.
ChakraTheertha is said to be the center of the universe. It is said that the large sweetwater spring that marks the
location of ChakraTheertha has no bottom. It seems The British wanted to disprove this as mythology, so they brought a
cable and attempted to find the bottom. After more than 1000 meters they ran out of cable and gave up.
It is said that if you bathe in ChakraTheertha and make an offering to the presiding deity, SriLalitha Devi, on a full
Moon/new Moon day that falls on a Monday, you will wash away all the sins committed in a lifetime. Shakthi Peeth is
situated here and Goddess Sri Lalitha Devi is being worshipped here as the female presiding deity of Naimisharanya.
Chakra Theertha is holy and destroyer of all kinds of sins and top most among the Theerthas. It is said that by taking bath
in Chakra Theertha, Graha Peeda will vanish and the sins of 10 earlier generations and 10 future generations will also
vanish. This place is ideal to provide complete satisfaction and salvation to the ancestors.
Almost all puranas talk of Naimisharanya its significance and importance. The gist of all is said as follows.
There are unlimited numbers of Theerthas on earth but this is the first among them. Naimisharanya is the most sacred
and best among all the Theerthas. The importance of this Theertha is 10 times than that of any other Theertha. This is an
important Theertha which offers Bhoga and Moksha both. This is a holy place where Siddhi can be attained quickly. 30
Thousand Theerthas always live in this area.
This Theertha is very famous in Trilokas as sins destroyer and a favourable place of Trimurthi (Brahma, Vishnu and
Maheswara). There is importance of Naimisha Theertha in Satyayuga, Pushkara in Thretha Yuga, Kurukshetra in Dwapara
Yuga and Ganga in Kaliyuga. Naimisharanya is the Yagna place of Gods, worshipped by Rishis. Holy Gomati River,
Akshaya Paathra of Sun always exists here.
When penance is done here, the sins of seven janmas (births) will vanish. One who think of visiting this Theertha, half of
the sins vanish and by entering Theertha sins vanish fully. One who penance here attains heaven. If penance is done here
for 12 years, one gets the power to enter into Brahmalok.
One who takes a bath here will have a place in heaven. Worldly problems are solved on taking bath in this Theertha. All
the Theerthas, Rivers, Seas of the Earth exist every moment here. One who takes bath here gets the benefit of bathing at
all the Theerthas. Taking bath in Ganga, arriving at Varanasi, Dwaraka and Badarikasrama, yield punya but one gets
punya as soon as he leaves his/her house for this Theertha. Lot of importance and significance is given for taking bath in
Naimisharanya during Mahakumbha when Sun is in Mesha Raasi which happens once in 12 years
One who dies in Naimisharanya does not face any problem. If Pitru Sraaddha (Pinda daan) is done here, ancestors get
place in Vaikunta. During Chaturmasa especially during Pitru Paksha if charity is given at this Theertha, ancestors get
satisfied till Kalpa paryant. This is a Punyadaayak as well as a Muktidayak Kshetra
One who hears the Vishnu Charithra for one or two days at this Theertha, secures a place in Vaikunta. On residing in this
Theertha for a month and offering Jala arghya, people get the benefit of Yagna.
Holy Places to be seen at Naimishaaranya
Chakra Theertha
Sri Lalitha Devi Temple (presiding female deity of Naimisharanya)
Vyasa Gaddhi/Vyasa Vatika/Vyasa Dham
Manu Satrupa Tapasthala
Hanuman Garhi(18 feet self manifested Lord Hanuman)
Gomathi River (AdiGanga)
Balaji Temple (Lord Venkateswara)
Suta Gaddhi where Suta Mahamuni sat while instructing the sages 5,000 years ago
Sri Narada Temple
What can be done here?
Taking bath in Chakra Theertha and River Gomathi
Pithru Cermonies (Pinda Daana, Thila Tharpana)
Charity can be given in the form Cow (Godana), Vruksha Dana (Tree), Sayya Dana (Bedding), Vasthra Dana (clothes)
and Wheat. It is said that charity given here in the name of forefathers, their Pithruganas in whichever world they
might be, will get free of all sins and can attain divinity and salvation.
Parayana of sacred Puranas especially Sri Mad Bhagavatha, Bhagavath Geetha parayana of Sri Vishnu Sahasranama,
Purusha Sooktha, Narayana Upanishad at Vyasa Gaddhi.
Sri Sathyanarayana Pooja (Facilities are available for performing the same at Sri Balaji Mandir)
How to reach Naimishaaranya?
ByRoad
Lucknow can be easily reached from Delhi, Kanpur, Agra, and Allahabad. Highways from all these places connect them
with Lucknow. The major highways passing through Lucknow are N.H25, N.H28 and N.H56.
From Lucknow the route is Hardoi Road Sandila Venigunj Naimisharanya. (Distance from Lucknow is 100 km).
There is also another route via Sitapur.
Regular bus facilities are available from Lucknow, Hardoi, and Sitapur
It could be a good idea to take a taxi to Naimisharanya from Lucknow.
Understand that U.P.Tourism is running a tourist bus on this route.
ByRail
It is connected by train from Balaanaur, Dist. Hardoi on the BalaanaurSitapur Branch Line on the Lucknow Delhi
main line of Northern Railway.
The train is available from Balaanaur to Sitapur and Naimisharanya is situated on the way.
From Kanpur, by picking Kanpur to Balaanaur passenger train.
Delhi, where trains are available at regular intervals for Moradabad, a near by place to Hardoi
One can also take a passenger train from Lucknow to Sitapur, and then get a bus to Naimisharanya from there.
By Air
The nearest airport for Naimisharanya is in Amousi (Lucknow), which is at a distance of about 100 kms from Sitapur.
From Lucknow Airport one has to take road route to reach Naimishaaranya.
Where to stay?
Normally people come here for a day trip from either Lucknow or Sitapur. Right now not many facilities are available for
stay/food at Naimishaaranya. Understand that there is a traveler’s bungalow at Naimishaaranya. Some religious trusts
located here are providing shelter to the pilgrims. Dormitory facilities are available at Sri Balaji Mandir being organized
by Sri Vikhanasa Samajam (Sri Vaishnava). They are also providing Anna danam to the tourists. Orthodox persons have
to go prepared to make their own food arrangements.
Contact Details
Balaji Mandir: 05865251274 – Mobile 09793158492 – 09452404404 (Purohit facilities are available) Contact Persons:
Sri Parasaram Vikhanasacharyulu and Mathaji (Contact No: 09415766122)
Other contacts
Kaali Peeth Samsthan Gopal Shastry/Bhasker Shastry (Manager) – 05865 – 251254, 251321, 251238 (R) Mobile:
9415524983, 0450373916, 94503 73915
Naimisharanya is now a bustling place of pilgrimage which attracts lacs of pilgrims. It is said that a pilgrimage to
Badrinath and Kedarnath is incomplete without a visit to Naimisharanya.
!!Vyasaaya Vishnuroopaaya Vyaasa roopaaya Vishnave
Namo Vai Brahma Nidhaye Vaasisthaaya Namo namah!!
! May Lord Vedavyasa bestow on all of us the divine knowledge!