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Amarkantak Temple, Amarkantak Pilgrimage in Madhya Pradesh, Narmada kund, History of Amarkanta

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Jal Teerths - Amarkantak - Introduction

Introduction

Image: 
Introduction: 
   
The sacred land of Amarkantak is situated in the Anuppur district of Madhya Pradesh. It is popular as the land from where originate the Narmada River - the daughter of Shiv, as well as the Son River.
   
The local adivasis refer to the Narmada River as Rewa. The Gonds inhabit in this region in large numbers.
   
Many holy books have mentioned about Amarkantak as a Teerthraj in the form of a Jal- teerth.
   
The noted Nirgun saints, Kabir and Guru Nanakdev met at this place and exchanged their philosophies.
   
Ayurvedic herbs and wild products are obtained on a large scale from Amarkantak.
   
These days, the Narmada River has been a subject of controversies due to the massive Narmada Project. The project involves construction of 30 large, 135 medium and 3000 small dams across the Narmada and its tributaries.
 

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Mythological Beliefs

Mythological Beliefs: 
   
According to details from the Rewakhand of Skand Puran, Lord Shiv was pleased with the penance by Chandravanshi king Pururava and allowed Narmada to descend on Earth.
   
The religious beliefs suggest that a bath in the Narmada is equivalent to an Ashwamedh Yagna, while singing of kirtans (hymns) gets rid of the sins of 7 births.
   
According to Narmada Puran, one can get moksh by 1 bath in the Ganga, 3 baths in the Saraswati, 7 baths in the Yamuna. However, just the sight of the Narmada is enough to attain moksh.
   
According to local beliefs, when the Ganga gets full of sins, she too takes a dip in the Narmada and becomes pure and a giver of salvation.
   
A description in the Skand Puran states that the Narmada was born out of the white sweat of Shiva in meditation.
   
It is believed that Narmada was married to Purukuts - the son of Suryavanshi king, Mandhata.
   
Another existing belief is that when Lord Shiv blazed the Tripurs (3 cities), ashes of one of the cities fell here and formed millions of Shivlings.
 

Historical Facts

History: 
   
According to geologists, the Narmada and the Vindhyas are 150 million years older than the Ganga and the Himalayas.
   
Epics like Ramayan, Mahabharat, and Shatpath Brahman have referred to Amarkantak as Riksh Mountain where King Mandhata built a city.
   
Ashrams of sages like Kapil, Bhrigu, and Markandeya etc existed in the region. The Pandavas also spent some time here during their exile.
   
Aadi Shankaracharya visited here in the early years of the 9th century and established Pataleshwar Mahadev near the Suryakund.
   
In the 10th century, the region was under the Chedis who handed it over to the Kalchuris as dowry after getting defeated by them. Most of the temples here have been built by the kings of these dynasties.
   
The Narmada Udgam Temple was built by King Bhonsle of Nagpur in the 18th century.
   
After 1808 A.D., the region came under the control of the East India Company.
   
The current government of Manmohan Singh has planned a tribal university in Amarkantak.
 

Main Places To See

Main Places To See: 
   
Narmada kund and Temple:
 
The Narmada River is believed to originate from this kund (spring) which is surrounded by several temples like Narmada Udgam Temple, Shriram Janki Temple, Annapurna Temple, Radhakrishna Temple, Rudra Temple, Kartikeya Temple etc. The architecture of Pataleshwar Temple and Keshav Narayan Temple is the most beautiful of all.
   
Maa ki Bagiya:
 
About 1 km from the point of origin of the Narmada River, is a cluster of trees in the forest which is believed to be the area where Narmada would gather flowers from.
   
Sonmuda:
 
Situated at about 2 km from the point of origin of the Narmada River is the place where Son River is said to emerge from. The scenic view of the Vindhyas and the dense forests can be seen from here. Megasthenes writes in his book, Indica, that the river was named Son due to its golden sand.
   
Kabir Chaura:
 
It is at the meeting point of Madhya Pradesh and Chhatisgarh. It is believed to be the place where Kabir meditated and also met Guru Nanakdev. At some distance is situated the Kabir Waterfall.
   
Kapil Dhaara:
 
This is a fascinating waterfall, 5 km to the North-west of the Narmada kund. It is believed that here Kapilmuni penned the Sankhya Darshan. The natural beauty over here is worth a view.
   
Jwaleshwar Temple:
 
Just like Varanasi, this place is also famous as Maharudra-meru. The Juhila River originates from here. The Shivling in the temple was believed to have been established by Lord Shiv himself.
 

Main Festivals

Main Festivals: 
   
All the major festivals in India are celebrated here as well, like Mahashivratri, Holi, Makar Sankranti, Diwali, Ekadashi etc. Those from the Kabir sect celebrate Kabir Jayanti. The place resembles a fair during the times of solar and lunar eclipses.
 

Where To Stay

Where To Stay : 
   
Dharamshalas
 
Jain Dharmshala Near Jain Temple, Tel: 269450
Ramkrishna Kutir Near Temple, Tel: 269410
Barfani Dada Ashram In Bazar, Tel: 269422
Kalyan Seva Ashram On Main Road, Tel: 269444
   
Hotels:
 
Category
General
Name
Sarvoday Vishramgriha
Address
Amarkantak
Telephone
+91-7629-269517, 09425344065
   
 
Category
General
Name
Holiday Home, MPTDC
Address
Amarkantak
Telephone
+91-7629-269416
Fax +91-7629-269416
Email indiatravelite@vsnl.net
 

Location/Climate

Location/Climate: 
 
Location
 
Geographical  Location Height  Above  Sea Level Average Annual Rainfall
Latitude Longitude 1065 metres 1461 mm
22.6˚ N 81.7˚ E
   
 
Temperature

Temperature is given in degrees Celsius.
 
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Maximum
28
33
38
42
45
45
36
36
36
35
31
30
Minimum
24
27
33
38
41
41
31
31
32
32
30
25
   
 
Important Informations
Amarkantak is situated on the Maikal Hills, which is located at the meeting point of the Satpura and the Vindhya ranges.
The climate here is monsoon type where the temperature in the summer ranges between 11 and 37 degrees Centigrade while that in winter, between 9 and 23 degrees.
Most of the rain falls between July and September; however there is some rain in December and January too.
The ideal time for visiting Amarkantak is October, November and February to April.
 

General Information

General Information: 
 
STD Code
07629
Puja Timings 7.00 a.m. - 12.00 p.m., 4.00 - 9.00 p.m.
Police Assistance
 +91 - 7629 - 269 440
Hospital/Ambulance Chaurasia Hospital and Research Centre
Jail Road, Rewa - 486 001 (MP)
Tel: +91 - 7662 - 254 927
Currency  Exchange State Bank of India
Anuppur, MP PIN - 484 224
Tel: +91 - 7659 - 222 043
ATM Centre SBI, Main Road,
Anuppur - 484 224
Post Office
Shahdol, Pushpa - Rajgarh Taluka, Dist. Anuppur
Tel: +91 - 7629 - 269 439
Tourist Office
 M.P. Tourism, Gangotri Complex, 4th floor,
T .T. Nagar,
New Town, Bhopal - 462 003
Tel: +91 - 755 - 2778383
Shopping
Tourists can buy wild medicinal herbs and triba   products   while the devotees can buy a Shivling.
   
 
Food
There are no large hotels or restaurants here. Meals on thali basis are available at the local dhabas.
 

Travel Planner

Address (Click on "A" to locate): 
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PDF File: 
application/pdf iconamarkantak.pdf
Airports in the vicinity: 
Allhabad
Khajuraho
Satna
Jabalpur
Varanasi
Bilaspur
Railway: 
Main Railway Stations Station Code
Chitrakoot dham CKTD
Satna STA
Jabalpur JBP
Ambikapur ABKP
Maihar MYR
Allahabad ALD
Road Distance from Destinations: 
Chitrakoot Allahabad 218 km
Khajuraho 111 km
Satna 80 km
Jabalpur 274 km
Kanpur 191 km
Khajuraho

 

 Jabalpur 240 km
Maihar 129 km
Satna 110 km
Allahabad 247 km
Varanasi 375 km
Maihar devi Satna 39 km
Varanasi 284 km
Khajuraho 130 km
Allahabad 195 km
Jabalpur 155 km
Amarkantak Jabalpur 213 km
Bhopal 514 km
Bilaspur 868 km
Raipur 262 km
Varanasi 406 km

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