Narmada River where the Shiva Lingams originate

A "cradle" with the natural Shiva Lingams
polished over centuries by the waters of Narmada river
 

Stones or Shiva Lingams?
 

Narmada River Shiva Lingams

The sacred Shiva Lingams from Narmada River

It is in the areas 300 km northeast of Mumbay that you find the sacred Narmada River Shiva Lingams. The Lingams are sold as far away as in Varanasi, where shops specialize in these particular Shiva Lingams. The Lingams are considered Swayambhu (selfgrown/made) but seems to a large extend to be polished and refined to a perfect oval shape. The naturally smooth formed stones are also known as "Banas". They are made of cryptocrystalline quarts and the rare unique markings on them are regarded very auspicious in the Shaivite tradition - the tradition worshipping Lord Shiva. The Brihadeeswara Temple in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu has one of the largest Bana Shiva Linga in India.

A variety of Shiva Lingams in a shop at the Omkareswara Jyotir Lingam Temple

Huge Narmada Shiva Lingam in the Shankaracharya Temple, Srinagar, Kashmir

The Somnatha Jyotir Shiva Lingam a black stone variety

 

Small Shiva Lingams after being sanctified by the waters in the Narmada River
at the Sangama of Omkareswara.
The rare unique markings on them are regarded very auspicious.

Narmada Shiva Lingam which has touched all the twelve Joytir Lingams in India,
sanctified in the water at the Sangama in Narmada River at Omkareswara

 

Narmada River

Narmada River is, according to Hindu mythology, one of the seven most sacred rivers of India*. It was born out of Lord Shiva's sweat when he performed his cosmic Tandava dance**.  Narmada means - "One who endows with bliss". The Narmada is believed to be embodiment of purity and a legend tells that every year the polluted Ganges comes in the guise of a dark woman and takes a purifying dip in the Narmada. Narmada's waters absolves man from all his sins and by the mere sight of the river he is purified . Rising in the Amarkantak plateau, where the Vindhya and Saptura Mountain ranges meet, the Narmada flows westward for 1247 km across the state of Madhya Pradesh and lastly to Gujarat before it enters into the Arabian Sea aprox. 50km north of Surat, Gujarat. The banks of Narmada are lined with temples and bathing Ghatts. It flows through beautifull landscapes, holy cities, from Amarkantak ("Neck of Shiva"), which is the source of the river through Mandla, Dhuandar Falls (the river drops 25m at this place), Bhedaghat (marble rocks), Hoshangabad, Omkareshwar (OM-shaped island with two of the famous Jyotir Lingam temples, Omkareswara and Amaleswara) and Maheshwara. Sugarcane, cotton and bananas grow along the river. See also: www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narmada_river

* The seven most holy rivers of India are: Ganga, Narmada, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Sindhu & Kaveri

** Lord Shiva in the aspect of Nataraja, the Cosmic Danser performs the Tandava dance, which symbolises natures cycle of evolution and transmutation.

 

Narmada flowing through Omkareswara.
The white tempeltower is a very famous and sacred Shiva Temple,
housing the Omkareswara Jyotir Lingam.

Life on the Ghatts

Ghatts along the river

Boat rent

"Omkara" on the slopes

Pilgrim shelters along the banks
 

Narmada River Parikrama

The Narmada Parikrama (circunambulation) is most meritorious act that a pilgrim can undertake. Many sadhus and pilgrims walk on foot from the Arabian Sea at Bharonch, along the river, to the source in Maikal Mountains and back along the opposite bank of the river. It's a 2.600km walk and it takes about two, three years.

Sadhus on Parikrama

 

 

Life at the Sangama

 

The Sangama at Omkareswara
 

Offerings and ritual baths at the Sangama between Narmada and a tributary
 

Drying petticoats ...

... saris after the ritual bath
 

The Narmada River Raksha ritual

The Raksha (thread) connecting the island of Omkareswara to the mainland

Raksha coming from the bank of Omkareswara ...

... and going to the mainland

All kinds of boats pass under the Raksha

The Narmada Dam controversy

Since mid 1980's an ambitious scheme to dam the Narmada has been embroiled in controversy. The Narmada Valley Authority claim that the "Sardar Sarovar Dam" will bring irrigation and drinking water to millions of people. Environmental activists opposing the dam, says that the dam will inundate some 37.000 ha of forest, and displace more than 200.000 villagers, most of them poor tribal people whose distinctive culture and means of livelihood will be wiped out along with their lands. The Supreme Court of India has recently ruled that work on the dam can continue. When completed, it will be the second largest in the world, after the "Three Gorges Dam" in China. See also: www.narmada.org

The river at Omkareswara in its natural flow

POSTED BY : VIPUL KOUL

EDITED BY : ASHOK KOUL