Amarkantaka Kshetra (Amarkantak) - Source of river Narmada and Narmada Shakti Peetha

• Meditation:

• Meditation:
- River Narmada: I meditate on the holy river Narmada originating from Amarkantaka.
- Devi: I meditate on Devi abiding in Amarkantaka as Narmada Shakti Peetha.
- Sages and Saints: I meditate on the Sages and Saints meditating in the Amarkantaka Kshetra.

शोणाख्या भद्रसेनस्तु नर्मदाख्ये नितम्बकः ।
रामगिरौ स्तनान्यञ्च शिवानी चण्डभैरवः ॥
- Shakti Peetha Stotram - verse 37 (Amarkantak has the Narmada Shakti Peetha where the Nitamba of Devi had fallen)

सबिन्दुसिन्धुसुस्खलत्तरङ्गभङ्गरञ्जितं द्विषत्सु पापजातजातकारिवारिसंयुतम् ।
कृतान्तदूतकालभूतभीतिहारिवर्मदे त्वदीयपादपङ्कजं नमामि देवि नर्मदे ॥
- Narmadashtakam - verse 1 (River Narmada originates from Amarkantak)

• Amarkantak: (Anuppur district, Madhya Pradesh)

• Greatness:

• Amarkantak is a Devi Sthalam (Pilgrimage of Devi):
- Devi abides in Amarkantak as a Shakti Peetha (Seat of Shakti) [Narmada Shakti Peetha] (Devi Narmada) (Devi Shonakshi).

• Amarkantak is a Narmada Sthalam (Pilgrimage of Narmada):
- Amarkantak is the source of river Narmada.
- Devi Narmada Aarti is held in Amarkantak at the Udgam Sthal. (Narmada Udgam Mandir).

- Amarkantak is a place of great natural beauty. It is a place where the sages meditated.

• Sacred Geography:

☗ Maikal Range
► River Narmada Udgam (Source) (Narmada Aarti)
► River Shona Udgam (Source)
► River Johila Udgam (Source)

• Temples and Places:

Temples and Places of Devi in Amarkantak:
• Narmada Shakti Peetha: The Nitamba (Buttocks) of Devi had fallen here. The Devi is known as Shona and the Bhairava is called Bhadrasena. (Peetha Nirnaya Tantra)
► Amarkantak - Devi Narmada Temple (Anuppur district, Madhya Pradesh) Devi Narmada Temple and Narmada Kund of Amarkantak, from where river Narmada originates, is identified with the Narmada Shakti Peetha mentioned in the Peetha Nirnaya Tantra. The Narmada Aarti is held here every evening.
► Amarkantak - Devi Sonakshi Temple (Anuppur district, Madhya Pradesh) Devi Sonakshi Temple near the origin of river Son is also identified with the Narmada Shakti Peetha mentioned in the Peetha Nirnaya Tantra. Sonemuda is the place of origin of the river Son. It is around 1.5 km from the Narmada Kund.
► Amarkantak - Mai ki Bagiya (Anuppur district, Madhya Pradesh) Mai ki Bagiya or the garden of the mother lies around 1 km from Narmada Kund, within a densely forested area. It is believed that Devi Narmada used to pluck flowers in this garden. An Akhanda Dhuni of Devi Narmada keeps burning here.
► Amarkantak - Mai ka Mandap (Anuppur district, Madhya Pradesh) Mai ka Mandap or Mai ka Gupha is a cave of Devi Narmada located around 20 km from Amarkantak. It is believed to be the place where the marriage of river Narmada with river Sonbhadra was supposed to take place (which did not finally happen due to various reasons). River Amaravati flows through this place.

Temples and Places of Lord Shiva in Amarkantak:
► Amarkantak - Jwaleshwar Mahadev (Anuppur district, Madhya Pradesh) Jwaleshwar Mahadev Temple is around 8 km from Amarkantak and is the origin of river Johila (or Johilla). The Shiva temple is deep within the forest.

Temples and Places of Sages in Amarkantak:
► Amarkantak - Markandeya Ashram (Anuppur district, Madhya Pradesh) The Markandeya Ashram is close to the Narmada Kund. It is said that sage Markandeya performed penance here worshipping Lord Shiva.
► Amarkantak - Kapildhara (Anuppur district, Madhya Pradesh) At a distance of around 8 km from the origin of river Narmada, the river falls at a height of 100 feet creating a waterfall known as Kapildhara. It is believed that sage Kapila used to meditate here.
► Amarkantak - Bhrigukamandal (Anuppur district, Madhya Pradesh) Around 3 km from Amarkantak is a place within a forest known as Bhrigukamandal. It is believed that Rishi Bhrigu used to meditate here.

Temples and Places of Saints in Amarkantak:
► Amarkantak - Kabir Chabutra (Anuppur district, Madhya Pradesh) At the meeting point of three districts - Anuppur of Madhya Pradesh, Dindori of Madhya Pradesh and Bilaspur of Chhattisgarh is a place known as Kabir Chabutra (Platform). It is believed that Sant Kabir used to meditate here. There is a waterfall nearby known as Kabir waterfall.

Other Temples and Places in Amarkantak:
► Amarkantak - Dudhdhara (Anuppur district, Madhya Pradesh) Around 1 km from Amarkantak is a waterfall on river Narmada known as Dudhdhara.
► Amarkantak - Durgadhara (Anuppur district, Madhya Pradesh) Deep within the forest near Amarkantak are is a waterfalls known as Durgadhara.
► Amarkantak - Shambhudhara (Anuppur district, Madhya Pradesh) Deep within the forest near Amarkantak are is a waterfalls known as Shambhudhara.

• Temples (Summary):

• Narmada:
- Devi Narmada Temple
- Mai ki Bagiya
- Mai ka Mandap

• Shona:
- Devi Shonakshi Temple

• Shiva:
- Jwaleshwar Mahadev Temple

• Sages:
- Markandeya Ashram
- Kapildhara
- Bhrigukamandal

• Falls:
- Dudhdhara
- Durgadhara
- Shambhudhara

• Saints:
- Kabir Chabutra

• Puranic Events:

1. Presence of river Narmada in Amarkantak:
• Amarkantak is the source of holy river Narmada.

2. Presence of Devi in Amarkantak:
• Narmada Shakti Peetha: Amarkantak is identified with 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.

3. Presence of Sages in Amarkantak:
• Sage Markandeya: Sage Markandeya had his hermitage in Amarkantak.

4. Presence of Saints in Amarkantak:
• Sant Kabir: Sant Kabir meditated in Amarkantak.

• 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)

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