Story of our Sacred Rivers - Jeevadayini Narmada

 

# Story of our Sacred Rivers

Jeevadayini Narmada

Origin

Narmada is the 5^th longest in India. It flows mainly through the states of MadhyaPradesh and Gujarat and flows from east to west. It is called Jeevadayini as it provides the nourishment to the huge population living along its banks. It is believed that the river Narmada originated from the perspiration of Shiva when he was in deep meditation. That is why she is also called as the daughter of Shiva.

Narmada is also known by the name of Reva. The Narmada is described in the Reva khand of the Skandapuran. The name Reva comes from a peculiar sound of the flow of the Narmada that can be heard ten kilometres away.

Source:

While Amarkantak is generally believed to be the place of origin of Narmada, the actual origin is supposed to be Mai ki bhagiya 4 kms from Amarkantak. The river traverses 1312 kms from there mostly through two big states of India – MadhyaPradesh and Gujarat – and then joins the Arabian sea at Bharuch in Gujarat.

Why does the Narmada flow west?

Narmada originates from a height of 1057 metres in the Vindhyas and flows west. There is an interesting tale behind this.

Story of Princess Narmada

King Maikhal was a worried man. He had a beautiful and wise daughter who was very dear to him. She was of a marriageable age. As with all parents, Maikhal wanted to give his daughter in marriage to a handsome and suitable prince. He did not know what type of criterion to be used to select his prospective son in law.

Thankfully for the king, there was a learned minister who came to his rescue. The minister suggested to the king that they should perhaps choose a task that was difficult but not dangerous so that they can have a man accomplish it without getting killed in the process. After a lot of deliberation, they came to the conclusion that they would ask the bridegroom to get Gulbakavali flowers of a rare kind. The task required some effort and work but was not impossible. (Gulabkavali is a rare flower. Has medicinal properties and is used in Ayurvedic preparations.)

Many princes came and asked for the hands of Narmada. They all failed to get the flowers of the right variety that the king was looking for and returned disappointed. Finally, Prince Sonabhadra came. He was told of the condition to get the princess. He was a smart young man. He had already enquired what the condition was for marrying Princess Narmada. He had also put two of his trusted lieutenants on the job to get the flowers. Prince Sonabhadra thought if the king asked for the flowers it meant that they were growing in a select area within his kingdom. He had put his spies on the job and was able to locate the place where Gulabkali was grown. Sonabhadra came triumphantly to King Maikhal and gave him the Gulabkali flowers. The happy and relieved Maikhal promised his daughter Narmada to the Prince Sonbhadra.

The wedding was to take place on an auspicious day. In the meantime, the young prince was eager to meet his bride. He secretly sent word to Princess Narmada inviting her to his kingdom. In order to play a trick on Prince Sonabhadra, Princess Narmada sent one of her friends Juhila in her guise to Sonabhadra. Sonabhadra mistakes Juhila for the Princess. Juhila and Sonabhadra fall in love.

When Juhila does not return for a long time, Princess Narmada goes looking for her. She finds Juhila and Sonabhadra married and living as husband and wife. A sad and disappointed Narmada returns home never to go east again.

Narmada Parikrama

A story of Narmada is incomplete without talking about the Narmada Parikrama. Every year thousands of pilgrims undertake the Narmada parikrama which is circumambulating the Narmada covering a distance of over 2000 kms. It is believed that Markandeya Maharishi undertook the Narmada Parikrama first.

Mention is made in most of the Purāṇas about the river Narmadā which is one of the holy rivers of Bhārata. Once Nārada said to Yudhiṣṭhira about the river Narmadā as follows: "Gaṅgā has more divinity in Kanakhala and Sarasvatī has more divinity in Kurukṣetra. But Narmadā is a holy river everywhere, whether in the villages or in the forests. Sarasvatī purifies us in three days and Gaṅgā in one day. But the moment we see Narmadā we are purified."

Narmada Parikrama starts from Omkareshwar. There are many rules of the yatra. The yatris should not carry any money and should not have food for more than two days. The river should always be kept on the right side of the yatri. A person doing the parikrama should not jump into the river or be disrespectful.

There is a firm belief that all the Chiranjivis (immortals as per Hindu puranas) viz. Parasurama, Hanuman, Vibhishana, Ashwathama, Mahabali, Kripacharya and Vyasa are continuously doing the Narmada Parikrama and protecting the Parikramavasis.

It is believed that atleast once during the parikrama the person will get lost. And one of the Chiranjivis will come and show the correct way. The messenger normally comes in the form of a small boy.

The Narmada Parikrama gives the traveller a glimpse of the entire sub-continent. Every 20-25 kms one can see a change in life and people. It is said that the Mandala district  in Madhya Pradesh where Narmada originates, is the center of undivided Bharat.

The terrain across the Parikrama is rough and can be difficult in places. The river cuts across the Vindyachal and the Sahyadri hills In such places where the river cuts across the mountain, it reduces its width from 2-3 km from about 30 feet. In a few places it flows deep into the gorges. It is indeed a wonder that the river flows as a single water body across such a vast expanse over multiple terrains.

Narmada yatra is normally undertaken with a wish in mind. It is believed that if Narmada wants you to complete the yatra, it will get completed.