Om! Gam! Ganapathaye! Namaha!

Om! Sri Raghavendraya Namaha!

Om! Namo! Bhagavathe! Vaasudevaya!
Om! Ham! Hanumathe! Sri Rama Doothaya! Namaha!

NAIMISHAARANYA
(A rare Pilgrimage)

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- animish - kshetre
meaning Naimish is the abode of Lord Vishnu called by his name Animish.
Sri Vishnu Sahasranama (sloka-23) described Lord Vishnu as Animisha,
means the one who is ever awake, ever alert, and ever vigilant. He is the
wisest of all.

!!GuruH-gurutamo dhaamaH satyaH-satya-parakramaH

Nimishho-animishhaH sragvee vaachaspatir-udaaradeeh!!

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 Nimeshaaranya.
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 NAIMISHARANYA

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 crore devathas,

3 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 disciple-
Maharishi 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 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 need to be made about this place in 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. It is said to be the center of the
universe. It is said that the large sweet-water spring that marks the location
of Chakra-Theertha 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 Chakra-Theertha 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.

MAHATMYA OF NAIMISHARANYA

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.
Thirty 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 Sathya Yuga, 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 (Naimishaaranya).

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 NAIMISHARANYA

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 NAIMISHARANYA?

By-Road
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.H. - 25, N.H. - 28 and N.H. - 56.

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 Development Corporation is running a
tourist bus on this route.

By-Rail
It is connected by train from Balaanaur, Dist. Hardoi on the Balaanaur-
Sitapur 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 Naimisharanya.

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 Naimisharanya.
Understand that there is a travelers bungalow at Naimisharanya. 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: 05865-251274 Mobile 09793158492 09452404404

(Purohit facilities are available) - Contact Persons: Sri Parasaram
Vikhanasacharyulu Mathaji (Contact No: 09415766122)

Other contacts at this place: Kaali Peeth Samsthan - Gopal

Shastry/Bhasker Shastry (Manager) 05865 251254, 251321, 251238 (R)
- Mobile: 94155-24983, 04503-73916, 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 Vishnu-roopaaya Vyaasa roopaaya Vishnave

Namo Vai Brahma Nidhaye Vaasisthaaya Namo namah!!

! May Lord Vedavyasa bestow on all of us the divine knowledge!

Sri Krishnaarpanamasthu

bhargavasarma
 Some of the pictures at Naimisharanya

(Hanuman Garhi) (Chakra Theertha)

(Vyasa Gaddhi) (Sri Lalitha Devi)