Pilgrimages and Temples of Madhya Pradesh

1. Avanti or Avantika Kshetra (Mahakaleshwara Jyotirlinga) (Ujjain):

Puranic Avanti or Avantika Kshetra is identified with:

Ujjain (Avantika) (Ujjain district, Madhya Pradesh):
▬ River Shipra (Kshipra) flows (Aarti)

Shiva: Mahakaleshwar
Devi: Devi Harsiddhi, Devi Gadh-Kalika

◍ Greatness:

1. Moksha Puri: Ujjain is one of the seven Moksha Puris, a sacred place bestowing liberation (Ayodhya, Mathura, Maya, Kashi, Kanchi, Avantika, Dwaravati).

2. Jyotirlinga: Ujjain Mahakaleshwar is identified with the Mahakaleshwara Jyotirlinga. Where Lord Shiva protected devotee brahmin Veda Priya and brahmanas from the atrocities of demon Dushana.

3. Lord Shiva residing in Mahakala Vana: Lord Shiva in the form of Rudra resided in Mahakala Vana.

4. Shakti Peetha: Ujjain Harsiddhi is identified with the Ujjayini Shakti Peetha. Where the Kurpara (Elbow) of Devi had fallen. The Devi there is known as Mangala Chandika and the Bhairava is called Kapilambara.

5. Shakti Peetha: Ujjain Gadh-Kalika is identified with the Bhairava Parvata Shakti Peetha. Where the Ossttha (Upper Lip) of Devi had fallen. The Devi there is known as Avanti and the Bhairava is called Lambakarna.

6. Sri Krishna in Sandipani Ashram (Ankapada): Sri Krishna took lessons from guru Sandipani in the Sandipani Ashram of Avanti.

◍ Puranic References:
• Skanda Purana - Avanti Khanda (About the greatness of Mahakala Vana)
• Shiva Purana - Koti Rudra Samhita - 16 to 17 (About Mahakaleshwara Jyotirlinga)
• Peetha Nirnaya Tantra - Shakti Peetha Stotram - verse 16 (About Ujjayini Shakti Peetha)
• Peetha Nirnaya Tantra - Shakti Peetha Stotram - verse 44 (About Bhairava Parvata Shakti Peetha)
• Srimad Bhagavatam (About Sri Krishna taking lessons in the Sandipani Ashram of Avanti)
• Sapta Mokshapuri Sloka

2. Omkareshwara Jyotirlinga (Omkareshwar):

Puranic Omkareshwara Jyotirlinga Kshetra is identified with:

Omkareshwar (Khandwa district, Madhya Pradesh):
▬ River Narmada flows

Shiva: Omkareshwar Temple

◍ Greatness:

1. Jyotirlinga: Omkareshwar is identified with the Omkareshwara Jyotirlinga. Where Lord Shiva granted boon to the Vindhya mountain.

◍ Puranic References:
• Shiva Purana - Koti Rudra Samhita - 18 (About Omkareshwara Jyotirlinga)

3. Maheshwar:

Maheshwar (Khargone district, Madhya Pradesh):
▬ River Narmada flows

Shiva: Ahilyeshwar Temple, Raj Rajeshwar Temple, Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Baneshwar Temple, Kaleshwar Temple, Jaleshwar Temple
Dattatreya: Ek Mukhi Datta Temple
Krishna: Pandharinath Temple

◍ Greatness:

1. Mahishmati: Maheshwar is the ancient Mahishmati. This was the Puranic capital of Kartavirya Arjuna (or Sahasrarjuna).

2. Ahilyabai Holkar: Maheshwar was the capital of Ahilyabai Holkar. This is a land of Shiva Temples.

◍ Puranic References:

1. Ujjayini Shakti Peetha:

► उज्जयिनी शक्ति_पीठ (Ujjayini Shakti Peetha)

• Ujjayini Shakti Peetha: I meditate on the Ujjayini Shakti Peetha where the Kurpara (Elbow) of Devi had fallen. The Devi there is known as Mangala Chandika and the Bhairava is called Kapilambara.
(Peetha Nirnaya Tantra - Shakti Peetha Stotram - verse 16)

- Ujjayini Shakti Peetha
- Ujjayini Devi Harsiddhi (Kshipra (Shipra)) (Ujjain district, Madhya Pradesh)

2. Bhairava Parvata Shakti Peetha:

► भैरवपर्वत शक्ति_पीठ (Bhairava Parvata Shakti Peetha)

• Bhairava Parvata Shakti Peetha: I meditate on the Bhairava Parvata Shakti Peetha where the Ossttha (Upper Lip) of Devi had fallen. The Devi there is known as Avanti and the Bhairava is called Lambakarna.
(Peetha Nirnaya Tantra - Shakti Peetha Stotram - verse 44)

- Bhairava Parvata Shakti Peetha
- Ujjain Devi Gadh-Kalika (Ujjain district, Madhya Pradesh)

3. Ramagiri Shakti Peetha:

► रामगिरि शक्ति_पीठ (Ramagiri Shakti Peetha)

• Ramagiri Shakti Peetha: I meditate on the Ramagiri Shakti Peetha where the Stana (Breast) of Devi had fallen. The Devi there is known as Shivani and the Bhairava is called Canda.
(Peetha Nirnaya Tantra - Shakti Peetha Stotram - verse 37)

- Ramagiri Shakti Peetha
- Ramagiri Shakti Peetha is identified with multiple places:
1. Chitrakoot Devi Shivani (Chitrakoot district, Uttar Pradesh).
2. Maihar Devi Sharada (Satna district, Madhya Pradesh)

4. Narmada Shakti Peetha:

► नर्मदा शक्ति_पीठ (Narmada Shakti Peetha)

• Narmada Shakti Peetha: I meditate on the Narmada Shakti Peetha where the Nitamba (Buttocks) of Devi had fallen. The Devi there is known as Shona and the Bhairava is called Bhadrasena.
(Peetha Nirnaya Tantra - Shakti Peetha Stotram - verse 37)

- Narmada Shakti Peetha
- Amarkantak Devi Shona (Anuppur district, Madhya Pradesh)

1. Chitrakoota Kshetra (Chitrakoot):

Puranic Chitrakoota Kshetra spreads across Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh:

Chitrakoot (Chitrakoota) (Chitrakoot district, Uttar Pradesh) (Satna district, Madhya Pradesh):
☗ Chitrakoota Mountain
☸ Chitrakoota Forest (Puranic)
▬ River Mandakini flows
▬ Rivers Payaswini flows

Mandakini Ghats: Ram Ghat, Raghav Prayag Ghat
Rama: Kamtanath, Sphatik Shila, Janki Kund, Sita Rasoi, Lakshman Pahari, Bharat Milap, Bharat Koop
Hanuman: Hanuman Dhara
Others: Gupta Godavari
Devi: Maihar Sharada (outskirts)
Sages: Valmiki Ashram, Atri-Anusuya Ashram, Sharabhanga Ashram, Suteekshna Ashram, Markandeya Ashram (outskirts)
Saints: Rajapur Tulsidas birthplace (outskirts)

◍ Greatness:

1. Attributes:
• Shakti Peetha: Chitrakoota is identified with the Ramagiri Shakti Peetha. (Kamadgiri Hill) (Maihar Sharada)
- Where the Stana (Breast) of Devi had fallen.
- The Devi there is known as Shivani and the Bhairava is called Canda.

2. Presence of Sri Rama in Chitrakoota:
(1) Sri Rama visited the Valmiki Ashrama while entering Chitrakoota. (Valmiki Ashrama)
(2) Sri Rama stayed in Chitrakoota during his forest exile and described its beauty to Devi Sita. (Ram Ghat) (Janki Kund) (Sphatik Shila) (Kamadgiri Hill) (Kamtanath Temple) (Lakshman Pahari) (Sita Rasoi)
(3) Sri Rama met Bharata in Chitrakoota and gave his padukas to him. (Raghav Prayag Ghat) (Bharat Milap Temple) (Bharat Koop)
(4) Sri Rama visited the Atri-Anusuiya Ashrama while leaving Chitrakoota. (Atri-Anusuiya Ashram)

3. Presence of Devi in Chitrakoota:
• Chitrakoota is identified with the Ramagiri Shakti Peetha. (Kamadgiri Hill) (Maihar Sharada)

◍ Sages:
• Sage Valmiki had his ashrama in Chitrakoota where Sri Rama visited. (Valmiki Ashram)
• Sage Atri had his ashrama in Chitrakoota where Sri Rama visited. (Atri-Anusuiya Ashram)

◍ Saints:
• Sri Tulsidas (1532 - 1623 CE):
- Sri Tulsidas was born in Chitrakoota. (Rajapur)
- Sri Tulsidas got the darshan of Sri Rama in Chitrakoota. (Ram Ghat)
- Sri Tulsidas composed part of the Ramcharitmanas in Chitrakoota.

◍ Puranic References:
• Valmiki Ramayana:
- Ayodhya Kanda - 56, 94, 95 (About Sri Rama staying in Chitrakoota during forest exile)
- Ayodhya Kanda - 99 to 112 (About Sri Rama meeting Bharata in Chitrakoota during forest exile)
• Peetha Nirnaya Tantra - Shakti Peetha Stotram - verse 37 (About Ramagiri Shakti Peetha)

2. Dandakaranya Kshetra:

Puranic Dandakaranya Kshetra is identified with regions speading across Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and adjoining areas:
(Panchavati forest which is on the outskirts of Dandakaranya is treated separately)

Dandakaranya (Satna district, Madhya Pradesh) (Panna district, Madhya Pradesh) (Bastar division, Chhattisgarh):
☸ Dandakaranya Forest

Madhya Pradesh:
Rama: Viradh Kund (near Amravati Ashram) -- (Satna district)
Sages: Sharbhang Ashram (16 km from Jaitwar), Suteekshna Ashram (4 km from Sharbhang Ashram) -- (Satna district)
Sages: Agastya Ashram (Siddhanath Temple / Ashram) -- (Panna district)

Chhattisgarh:
Rama: Sitamarhi Harchauka, Sitamarhi Ghaghra, Sitamarhi Chataora -- (Korea district)

◍ Greatness:

1. Sri Rama staying in Dandakaranya: Sri Rama stayed in various hermitages of the Dandakaranya forest for ten years.

2. Sri Rama visiting various hermitages of sages: Sri Rama visited various hermitages of the sages in Dandakaranya like Sharabhanga Ashram, Suteekshna Ashram, Pancha Apsara Lake, Agastya brother Ashram, Agastya Ashram etc.

3. Sri Rama vanquishing demon Viradha: Sri Rama vanquished demon Viradha in the Dandakaranya forest.

4. Sri Rama assuring protection to the sages: Sri Rama assured protection to the sages from demons in the Dandakaranya forest.

5. Sri Rama meeting Jatayu: Sri Rama met Jatayu while going to Panchavati.

◍ Sages:
• Sage Sharabhanga: Sage Sharabhanga had a hermitage in Dandakaranya where Sri Rama met him during forest exile. (VR-ArK-5)
• Sage Suteekshna: Sage Suteekshna had a hermitage in Dandakaranya where Sri Rama met him during forest exile (twice). (VR-ArK-6,9-10)
• Sage Mandakarni: Sage Mandakarni lived within the Pancha Apsara Lake in Dandakaranya and Sri Rama heard about his story during forest exile. (VR-ArK-11)
• Sage Agastya's brother: Sage Agastya's brother had a hermitage in Dandakaranya where Sri Rama met him during forest exile. (VR-ArK-11)
• Sage Agastya: Sage Agastya had a hermitage in Dandakaranya where Sri Rama met him during forest exile. (VR-ArK-11-13)

◍ Puranic References:
• Valmiki Ramayana - Aranya Kanda - 1 to 14 (About Sri Rama's stay in the Dandakaranya forest)

3. Orchha:

Orchha (Niwari district, Madhya Pradesh):
▬ River Betwa flows

Rama: Ram Raja Temple
Vishnu: Chaturbhuj Temple

◍ Greatness:

1. Sri Rama as king: Lord Rama is regarded as the King of Orchha (like Ayodhya). Queen Kunwar Ganesh (of Orchha king Madhukar Shah) brought the Image of Sri Rama from Ayodhya.

◍ Puranic References:

1. Amarkantaka Kshetra (Amarkantak):

Amarkantak (Anuppur district, Madhya Pradesh):
☗ Maikal Range
► River Narmada Udgam (Source)
► River Shona Udgam (Source)
► River Johila Udgam (Source)

Narmada: Devi Narmada Temple, Mai ki Bagiya, Mai ka Mandap
Falls: Dudhdhara, Durgadhara, Shambhudhara
Son: Devi Sonakshi Temple
Shiva: Jwaleshwar Mahadev Temple
Sages: Markandeya Ashram, Kapildhara, Bhrigukamandal
Saints: Kabir Chabutra

◍ Greatness:

1. Source of river Narmada: Amarkantak is the source of holy river Narmada.

2. Shakti Peetha: Amarkantak is identified with the Naramada Shakti Peetha. Where the Nitamba (Buttocks) of Devi had fallen. The Devi there is known as Shona and the Bhairava is called Bhadrasena.

◍ Puranic References:
• Skanda Purana - Reva Khanda (About the greatness of river Narmada)
• Matsya Purana (About the greatness of river Narmada)
• Peetha Nirnaya Tantra - Shakti Peetha Stotram - verse 37 (About Narmada Shakti Peetha)