ART-0517 Naimisharanya

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Naimisharanya is perhaps the most famous of the sacred forests. It is connected with Lord Brahma (Teachers’ Book, pages 34,48). For information on circumambulation see page 59, and for information on Vyasa and the Vedas, see pages 30,124.

Naimisharanya is the spot where the Bhagavat Purana was spoken by Suta Goswami at Suta Gaddi. It is said that a pilgrimage to Badrinath and Kedamath is incomplete without a visit to Naimisharanya. In the Mahabharata it is stated that, ‘Anyone who fasts, prays and attains perfection at Naimisharanya finds happiness in all the worlds’. According to the Varaha Purana, by performance of yajna (sacrifice) at this place, the strength of demonic people is curtailed. Therefore brahmanas prefer Naimisharanya for such sacrificial performances.

Vedic histories tell us that sacrifices performed at this holy place can counteract the negative influences of the present age of Kali. At the junction of Dvapara-yuga and Kali–yuga, some 5000 years ago, 80,000 sages headed by Shaunaka Rishi wanted to perform a sacrifice to counteract the negative effects of the approaching age of Kali. They asked Lord Brahma, the creator of the universe, where they should hold the sacrifice. He told them that he would send his disc to the earth and that they should perform the sacrifice where it hit. It struck the earth at Naimisharanya. The disc passed through the earth at this spot, Chakra-Tirtha.

The Bhagavat Purana says there is no holy place on earth that compares to Naimisharanya. Chakra-Tirtha is said to be the centre of the universe and the large sweet water spring (Chakra Tirtha Kunda) that marks the location of Chakra-Tirtha is reputed to be so deep that it has no bottom.

It is said that if one bathes in Chakra-Tirtha Kunda and makes an offering to the presiding deity Lalita on specific days, one washes away all the sins that one that has committed in a lifetime. About 10,000 people come here on these days. Lalita Devi, the presiding female deity of Naimisharanya is said to grant fulfilment of desires.

Naimisharanya has a parikrama (circumambulation) path of 10 miles, in which all the sacred places in India are believed to be located. Nearby is Vyasa Gaddi where Vyasadeva divided the Vedas into four parts and wrote the Puranas. Situated there is a large 5000 year old banyan tree. At Hanuman Gaddi, there is an 18-foot self-manifested deity of Hanuman, the monkey servant of Lord Rama.

Naimisharanya is located 80 miles south-east of Mathura.