Chhattisgarh - Pilgrimages and Temples

Religious Traditions of Chhattisgarh:

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1.

Rama Tradition of Chhattisgarh:
(Valmiki Ramayana)
(Ramcharitmanas)

• Dandakaranya → Sri Rama stayed in Dandakaranya forest during his forest exile (identified with Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh regions). Sri Rama visited the hermitages of sages Sharabhanga, Suteekshna and Agastya in Dandakaranya.

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2.

Devi Tradition of Chhattisgarh:

• Rajnandgaon → Devi abides in Rajnandgaon as Devi Bamleshwari.

• Dantewada → Devi abides in Dantewada as Devi Danteshwari.

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3.

Sages and Chhattisgarh:
(Valmiki Ramayana)
(Srimad Bhagavatam)
(Brahmanda Purana)

• Sharabhanga (Dandakaranya) → Sage Sharabhanga had his hermitage in Dandakaranya where Sri Rama visited during his forest exile.

• Suteekshna (Dandakaranya) → Sage Suteekshna had his hermitage in Dandakaranya where Sri Rama visited during his forest exile.

• Agastya's brother → Sage Agastya's brother had his hermitage in Dandakaranya near Panchavati where Sri Rama visited during his forest exile (before visiting the Agastya Ashrama).

• Agastya → Sage Agastya had his hermitage in Dandakaranya near Panchavati where Sri Rama visited during his forest exile. Sage Agastya suggested Sri Rama to live in Panchavati.

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4.

Sacred Geography of Chhattisgarh:

Forests:
☸ Dandakaranya Forest (Puranic) → Dandakaranya