Green Message - Evergreen Messages of Spirituality, Sanskrit and Nature
Hermitages of Bharatavarsha
The Hermitages of the Sages were built amidst Nature and many of them were situated near the banks of the Rivers. A Hermitage is not a mere building but part of the greater ecosystem. Therefore, the Hermitages are given under the respective geographical regions. The ancient Hermitages were the greatest embodiments of the combination of Spirituality and Nature.
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Himalayas: Sage Vishwamitra had a hermitage in the Himalayas on the bank of river Kaushiki.
○ Sri Rama heard about sage Vishwamitra at Girivraja (Valmiki Ramayana)
○ Note: The hermitage was expected to be on the bank of river Koshi in the Himalayan region.
Himalayas: Sage Vishwamitra had a hermitage in the Himalayas on the bank of river Kaushiki.○ Sri Rama heard about sage Vishwamitra at Girivraja (Valmiki Ramayana)
○ Note: The hermitage was expected to be on the bank of river Koshi in the Himalayan region.
Uttarakhand Himalayas - Garhwal:
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Badrikashrama: Sage Vyasa had his hermitage in Badrikashrama on the bank of river Saraswati in a place called Samyaprasa. This is identified with the region of Vyas Gufa in Mana village of Badrinath. River Saraswati, a tributary of river Alakananda flows through that place.
○ Vyasa Avatara (Srimad Bhagavatam)
○ Badrinath - Vyas Gufa (Chamoli district, Uttarakhand)
Badrikashrama: Sage Vyasa had his hermitage in Badrikashrama on the bank of river Saraswati in a place called Samyaprasa. This is identified with the region of Vyas Gufa in Mana village of Badrinath. River Saraswati, a tributary of river Alakananda flows through that place.○ Vyasa Avatara (Srimad Bhagavatam)
○ Badrinath - Vyas Gufa (Chamoli district, Uttarakhand)
Uttarakhand Himalayas - Kumaon:
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Himalayas: Sage Kanva had his hermitage in the Himalayas on the bank of river Malini.
○ King Dushyanta met Shakuntala at the Kanva Ashrama (Mahabharata)
○ Kotdwar - Kanva Ashram (Pauri Garhwal district, Uttarakhand)
Himalayas: Sage Kanva had his hermitage in the Himalayas on the bank of river Malini.○ King Dushyanta met Shakuntala at the Kanva Ashrama (Mahabharata)
○ Kotdwar - Kanva Ashram (Pauri Garhwal district, Uttarakhand)
Upper Ganga Plain (Ayodhya to Prayagraj region):
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Ayodhya: Sage Vasishtha had his hermitage in Ayodhya (located on the bank of river Sarayu) being the kulaguru of the Ikshwaku dynasty.
○ Sage Vasishtha was the kulaguru of the Ikshwaku dynasty (Valmiki Ramayana)
○ Ayodhya - Vasishtha Kund (Ayodhya district, Uttar Pradesh)
Ayodhya: Sage Vasishtha had his hermitage in Ayodhya (located on the bank of river Sarayu) being the kulaguru of the Ikshwaku dynasty.○ Sage Vasishtha was the kulaguru of the Ikshwaku dynasty (Valmiki Ramayana)
○ Ayodhya - Vasishtha Kund (Ayodhya district, Uttar Pradesh)
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Ayodhya outskirts: Sage Valmiki had his hermitage on the outskrits of Ayodhya where river Tamasa flowed.
○ Sage Valmiki getting divine inspiration to compose Ramayana (Valmiki Ramayana)
○ Note: The hermitage is expected to be on the outskirts of Ayodhya since river Tamasa flowed along the southern boundary of Ayodhya in ancient times, and sage Valmiki got the divine inspiration to compose the Valmiki Ramayana on the bank of river Tamasa.
Ayodhya outskirts: Sage Valmiki had his hermitage on the outskrits of Ayodhya where river Tamasa flowed.○ Sage Valmiki getting divine inspiration to compose Ramayana (Valmiki Ramayana)
○ Note: The hermitage is expected to be on the outskirts of Ayodhya since river Tamasa flowed along the southern boundary of Ayodhya in ancient times, and sage Valmiki got the divine inspiration to compose the Valmiki Ramayana on the bank of river Tamasa.
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Anga outskirts: Sage Vibhandaka had his hermitage inside a forest where he stayed with son Rishyashringa totally cut of from the world.
○ King Romapada brought sage Rishyashringa to Anga (Valmiki Ramayana)
○ Note: The forest is expected to be on the outskirts of Anga kingdom.
Anga outskirts: Sage Vibhandaka had his hermitage inside a forest where he stayed with son Rishyashringa totally cut of from the world.○ King Romapada brought sage Rishyashringa to Anga (Valmiki Ramayana)
○ Note: The forest is expected to be on the outskirts of Anga kingdom.
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Anga: Sage Rishyashringa stayed in Anga with wife Shanta.
○ King Romapada married sage Rishyashringa to his daughter Shanta (Valmiki Ramayana)
○ Note: Sage Rishyashringa stayed in Anga after this
Anga: Sage Rishyashringa stayed in Anga with wife Shanta.○ King Romapada married sage Rishyashringa to his daughter Shanta (Valmiki Ramayana)
○ Note: Sage Rishyashringa stayed in Anga after this
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Anga: Lord Shiva's disciples had their hermitages in Anga where Lord Shiva burnt Kama deva and made him Ananga.
○ Sri Rama visited Anga and heard about Lord Shiva burning Kama deva (Valmiki Ramayana)
○ Anga - Ballia Kameshwar Dham (Ballia district, Uttar Pradesh)
Anga: Lord Shiva's disciples had their hermitages in Anga where Lord Shiva burnt Kama deva and made him Ananga.○ Sri Rama visited Anga and heard about Lord Shiva burning Kama deva (Valmiki Ramayana)
○ Anga - Ballia Kameshwar Dham (Ballia district, Uttar Pradesh)
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Vraja Bhoomi: Sage Garga had his hermitage in Vraja Bhoomi (located on the bank of river Yamuna).
○ Garga Muni performed the naming ceremony of Sri Krishna in Gokula (Srimad Bhagavatam)
○ Gokul - Gokul Nand Bhavan (Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh)
○ Gokul - Mahavan Nand Bhavan (Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh)
Vraja Bhoomi: Sage Garga had his hermitage in Vraja Bhoomi (located on the bank of river Yamuna).○ Garga Muni performed the naming ceremony of Sri Krishna in Gokula (Srimad Bhagavatam)
○ Gokul - Gokul Nand Bhavan (Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh)
○ Gokul - Mahavan Nand Bhavan (Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh)
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Prayaga: Sage Bharadwaja had his hermitage in Prayaga at the confluence of rivers Ganga and Yamuna.
○ Sri Rama visited the Bharadwaja Ashrama at Prayaga during forest exile (Valmiki Ramayana)
○ Sri Rama revisited the Bharadwaja Ashrama at Prayaga while returning from forest exile (Valmiki Ramayana)
○ Prayagraj - Bharadwaj Ashram (Prayagraj district, Uttar Pradesh)
Prayaga: Sage Bharadwaja had his hermitage in Prayaga at the confluence of rivers Ganga and Yamuna.○ Sri Rama visited the Bharadwaja Ashrama at Prayaga during forest exile (Valmiki Ramayana)
○ Sri Rama revisited the Bharadwaja Ashrama at Prayaga while returning from forest exile (Valmiki Ramayana)
○ Prayagraj - Bharadwaj Ashram (Prayagraj district, Uttar Pradesh)
Middle Ganga Plain (Vindhyachal, Kashi, Bihar region):
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Siddhashrama: Sage Vishwamitra had a hermitage in Siddhashrama.
○ Sri Rama protected the Yagna of sage Vishwamitra in Siddhashrama (Valmiki Ramayana)
○ Buxar - Buxar Vamaneshwar Dham (Siddhashrama) (Buxar district, Bihar)
Siddhashrama: Sage Vishwamitra had a hermitage in Siddhashrama.○ Sri Rama protected the Yagna of sage Vishwamitra in Siddhashrama (Valmiki Ramayana)
○ Buxar - Buxar Vamaneshwar Dham (Siddhashrama) (Buxar district, Bihar)
Nepal-Bihar Terai Region (Mithila region):
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Mithila: Sage Gautama had a hermitage on the outskirts of Mithila.
○ Sri Rama delivered Devi Ahalya in the Gautama Ashrama (Valmiki Ramayana)
○ Mithila Upavana - Darbhanga Ahilya Asthan (Darbhanga district, Bihar)
Mithila: Sage Gautama had a hermitage on the outskirts of Mithila.○ Sri Rama delivered Devi Ahalya in the Gautama Ashrama (Valmiki Ramayana)
○ Mithila Upavana - Darbhanga Ahilya Asthan (Darbhanga district, Bihar)
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Mithila: Sage Shatananda had his hermitage in Mithila being the kulaguru of king Janaka.
○ Sri Rama heard the story of sage Vishwamitra from sage Shatananda in Mithila (Valmiki Ramayana)
○ Mithila - Janakpur Janaki Temple (Dhanusha district, Nepal)
Mithila: Sage Shatananda had his hermitage in Mithila being the kulaguru of king Janaka.○ Sri Rama heard the story of sage Vishwamitra from sage Shatananda in Mithila (Valmiki Ramayana)
○ Mithila - Janakpur Janaki Temple (Dhanusha district, Nepal)
Malwa Plateau (Avanti region):
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Avanti: Sage Sandipani had his hermitage in Avanti (located on the bank of river Kshipra).
○ Sri Krishna became the disciple of Sandipani Muni and learned 64 arts in 64 days (Srimad Bhagavatam)
○ Avanti - Sandipani Ashram (Ujjain district, Madhya Pradesh)
Avanti: Sage Sandipani had his hermitage in Avanti (located on the bank of river Kshipra).○ Sri Krishna became the disciple of Sandipani Muni and learned 64 arts in 64 days (Srimad Bhagavatam)
○ Avanti - Sandipani Ashram (Ujjain district, Madhya Pradesh)
Baghelkhand (Chitrakoota region):
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Chitrakoota: Sage Valmiki had his hermitage in Chitrakoota (located on the bank of river Mandakini).
○ Sri Rama visited the Valmiki Ashrama while entering Chitrakoota (Valmiki Ramayana)
○ Chitrakoot - Valmiki Ashram (Chitrakoot district, Uttar Pradesh)
Chitrakoota: Sage Valmiki had his hermitage in Chitrakoota (located on the bank of river Mandakini).○ Sri Rama visited the Valmiki Ashrama while entering Chitrakoota (Valmiki Ramayana)
○ Chitrakoot - Valmiki Ashram (Chitrakoot district, Uttar Pradesh)
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Chitrakoota: Sri Rama stayed in the Chitrakoota forest in a Parnashala (located on the bank of river Mandakini).
○ Sri Rama stayed in the Chitrakoota forest for sometime during forest exile (Valmiki Ramayana)
○ Chitrakoot - Parna Kutir (Chitrakoot district, Uttar Pradesh) (Satna district, Madhya Pradesh)
Chitrakoota: Sri Rama stayed in the Chitrakoota forest in a Parnashala (located on the bank of river Mandakini).○ Sri Rama stayed in the Chitrakoota forest for sometime during forest exile (Valmiki Ramayana)
○ Chitrakoot - Parna Kutir (Chitrakoot district, Uttar Pradesh) (Satna district, Madhya Pradesh)
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Chitrakoota: Sage Atri had his hermitage in Chitrakoota (located on the bank of river Mandakini).
○ Sri Rama visited the Atri Ashrama while leaving Chitrakoota (Valmiki Ramayana)
○ Chitrakoot - Atri-Anusuiya Ashram (Satna district, Madhya Pradesh)
Chitrakoota: Sage Atri had his hermitage in Chitrakoota (located on the bank of river Mandakini).○ Sri Rama visited the Atri Ashrama while leaving Chitrakoota (Valmiki Ramayana)
○ Chitrakoot - Atri-Anusuiya Ashram (Satna district, Madhya Pradesh)
Baghelkhand (Between Chitrakoota and Dandakaranya):
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Dandakaranya: Dandakaranya was the place of hermitages of various sages.
○ Sri Rama entered the Dandakaranya forest and saw hermitages of various sages (Valmiki Ramayana)
○ Sri Rama stayed in the Dandakaranya forest in various hermitages for 10 years (Valmiki Ramayana).
○ Dandakaranya - Various hermitages (Satna district, Madhya Pradesh) (Chhattisgarh region)
Dandakaranya: Dandakaranya was the place of hermitages of various sages.○ Sri Rama entered the Dandakaranya forest and saw hermitages of various sages (Valmiki Ramayana)
○ Sri Rama stayed in the Dandakaranya forest in various hermitages for 10 years (Valmiki Ramayana).
○ Dandakaranya - Various hermitages (Satna district, Madhya Pradesh) (Chhattisgarh region)
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Dandakaranya: Sage Sharabhanga had his hermitage inside the Dandakaranya forest.
○ Sri Rama visited the Sharabhanga Ashrama in Dandakaranya forest (Valmiki Ramayana)
○ Dandakaranya - Sharbhang Ashram (Satna district, Madhya Pradesh)
Dandakaranya: Sage Sharabhanga had his hermitage inside the Dandakaranya forest.○ Sri Rama visited the Sharabhanga Ashrama in Dandakaranya forest (Valmiki Ramayana)
○ Dandakaranya - Sharbhang Ashram (Satna district, Madhya Pradesh)
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Dandakaranya: Sage Suteekshna had his hermitage inside the Dandakaranya forest.
○ Sri Rama visited the Suteekshna Ashrama in Dandakaranya forest (Valmiki Ramayana)
○ Sri Rama revisited the Suteekshna Ashrama in Dandakaranya forest after 10 years
(Valmiki Ramayana)
○ Dandakaranya - Suteekshna Ashram (Satna district, Madhya Pradesh)
Dandakaranya: Sage Suteekshna had his hermitage inside the Dandakaranya forest.○ Sri Rama visited the Suteekshna Ashrama in Dandakaranya forest (Valmiki Ramayana)
○ Sri Rama revisited the Suteekshna Ashrama in Dandakaranya forest after 10 years
(Valmiki Ramayana)
○ Dandakaranya - Suteekshna Ashram (Satna district, Madhya Pradesh)
Chhattisgarh Region (Dandakaranya region):
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Dandakaranya: Sage Mandakarni lived in the Panchapsara Lake inside the Dandakaranya forest.
○ Sri Rama heard the story of sage Mandakarni near the Panchapsara Lake (Valmiki Ramayana)
○ Note: This is expected to be somewhere within the Dandakaranya forest
Dandakaranya: Sage Mandakarni lived in the Panchapsara Lake inside the Dandakaranya forest.○ Sri Rama heard the story of sage Mandakarni near the Panchapsara Lake (Valmiki Ramayana)
○ Note: This is expected to be somewhere within the Dandakaranya forest
Maharashtra Plateau (Panchavati - Janasthana region):
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Dandakaranya: Sage Agastya's brother had his hermitage in the Dandakaranya forest outskirts near Panchavati.
○ Sri Rama visited the Agastya's brother's Ashrama near Panchavati (Valmiki Ramayana)
○ Note: This is expected to be somewhere within the Dandakaranya forest
Dandakaranya: Sage Agastya's brother had his hermitage in the Dandakaranya forest outskirts near Panchavati.○ Sri Rama visited the Agastya's brother's Ashrama near Panchavati (Valmiki Ramayana)
○ Note: This is expected to be somewhere within the Dandakaranya forest
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Dandakaranya: Sage Agastya had his hermitage in the Dandakaranya forest outskirts near Panchavati.
○ Sri Rama visited the Agastya Ashrama near Panchavati (Valmiki Ramayana)
○ Nashik Ankai - Agastya Ashram (Nashik district, Maharashtra)
Dandakaranya: Sage Agastya had his hermitage in the Dandakaranya forest outskirts near Panchavati.○ Sri Rama visited the Agastya Ashrama near Panchavati (Valmiki Ramayana)
○ Nashik Ankai - Agastya Ashram (Nashik district, Maharashtra)
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Panchavati: Sri Rama stayed in the Panchavati forest (located on the bank of river Godavari) in a Parnashala.
○ Sri Rama stayed the in the Panchavati forest during forest exile (Valmiki Ramayana)
○ Nashik Panchavati - Juni Parnakuti (Nashik district, Maharashtra)
Panchavati: Sri Rama stayed in the Panchavati forest (located on the bank of river Godavari) in a Parnashala.○ Sri Rama stayed the in the Panchavati forest during forest exile (Valmiki Ramayana)
○ Nashik Panchavati - Juni Parnakuti (Nashik district, Maharashtra)
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Riksha Cavity: Ascetic Swayamprabha stayed in the Riksha Cavity where the vanaras met her during their search for Devi Sita (through the Vindhya region).
○ Hanuman and vanaras met ascetic Swayamprabha in the Riksha Cavity (Valmiki Ramayana).
○ Note: Riksha Cavity is expected to be in the Vindhya region or outskirts.
Riksha Cavity: Ascetic Swayamprabha stayed in the Riksha Cavity where the vanaras met her during their search for Devi Sita (through the Vindhya region).○ Hanuman and vanaras met ascetic Swayamprabha in the Riksha Cavity (Valmiki Ramayana).
○ Note: Riksha Cavity is expected to be in the Vindhya region or outskirts.
Karnataka Plateau (Kishkindha region):
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Kishkindha: Sage Matanga and Shabari had their hermitage near Pampa Sarovar in the Kishkindha region.
○ Sri Rama visited the Matanga Ashrama and met Shabari (Valmiki Ramayana)
○ Kishkindha - Shabari Kolla (Belagavi district, Karnataka)
Kishkindha: Sage Matanga and Shabari had their hermitage near Pampa Sarovar in the Kishkindha region.○ Sri Rama visited the Matanga Ashrama and met Shabari (Valmiki Ramayana)
○ Kishkindha - Shabari Kolla (Belagavi district, Karnataka)
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Kishkindha: Sages Saptajana (seven sages) had their hermitage in the Kishkindha region.
○ Sri Rama visited the Saptajana Ashrama in Kishkindha (Valmiki Ramayana)
○ Note: The Saptajana Ashrama was located in the Kishkindha region.
Kishkindha: Sages Saptajana (seven sages) had their hermitage in the Kishkindha region.○ Sri Rama visited the Saptajana Ashrama in Kishkindha (Valmiki Ramayana)
○ Note: The Saptajana Ashrama was located in the Kishkindha region.
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Kishkindha: Sri Rama stayed in Kishkindha in Mount Prasravana during four months of the rainy season and thereafter till Hanuman returned with the news of Devi Sita.
○ Sri Rama stayed in Kishkindha in Mount Prasravana during the rainy season (Valmiki Ramayana)
○ Kishkindha - Malyavanta Raghunath Temple (Ballari district, Karnataka)
Kishkindha: Sri Rama stayed in Kishkindha in Mount Prasravana during four months of the rainy season and thereafter till Hanuman returned with the news of Devi Sita.○ Sri Rama stayed in Kishkindha in Mount Prasravana during the rainy season (Valmiki Ramayana)
○ Kishkindha - Malyavanta Raghunath Temple (Ballari district, Karnataka)
Bharatavarsha - The Land of Gods and Sages:
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• Sacred Geography - Mountains - Rivers
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• Bharatavarsha - Puranic History - Puranic Lineage