Naimisha Kshetra (Naimisharanya) - Swayam Vyakta Kshetra where Sages performed Yagna and Suta narrated the Puranas

• Meditation:

आद्यं रङ्गमिति प्रोक्तं विमानं रङ्गसंज्ञितम् । श्रीमुष्णं वेङ्कटाद्रिं च साळग्रामं च नैमिशम् ।
तोयाद्रिं पुष्करं चैव नरनारायणाश्रमम् । अष्टौ मे मूर्तयः सन्ति स्वयंव्यक्ता महीतले ॥
- Swayam Vyakta Sthalams (Naimisharanya is a Swayam Vyakta Kshetra)

► Vishnu: I meditate on the ancient Naimisharanya forest where the Dharma Chakra sent by Lord Narayana halted.
► Sages: I meditate on the ancient Naimisharanya forest where thousands of sages congregated to perform a Yagna running for several years.
► Sages: I meditate on the ancient Naimisharanya forest where Suta narrated the Itihasas and Puranas to the sages during the interval of the Yagna.
► Devi: I meditate on the ancient Naimisharanya forest where Devi abides as Lingadharini.
► Gomati: I meditate on the sacred river Gomati (Adi Ganga) flowing through Naimisharanya. (Aarti)

• Sloka: Swayam Vyakta Sthalam (Srirangam is a Swayam Vyakta Kshetra)

(Sitapur district, Uttar Pradesh)

• Greatness:

• Naimisharanya is primarily a Vishnu Sthalam (Pilgrimage of Vishnu):
- Lord Vishnu abides in Naimisharanya which is a Swayam Vyakta Kshetra (Where Lord Vishnu is self-manifested) [Srirangam, Srimushnam, Venkatadri, Salagrama, Naimisha, Thoyadri or Thotadri, Pushkara, Nara Narayana Ashrama]
- Lord Vishnu abides in Naimisharanya which is also a Divya Desam (Glorified by Alvars) [Thiru Naimisharanyam Divya Desam]
- Naimisharanya is the place where the Dharma Chakra sent by Lord Narayana halted. The place became the famous Chakra Teertha.

• Naimisharanya is equally a Rishi Sthalam (Place of Rishis):
- Naimisharanya is the place where thousands of Sages performed a long-running Yagna (under sage Shaunaka) and where Sri Suta (disciple of sage Vyasa) narrated the Itihasas and Puranas to them.

• Naimisharanya is also a Devi Sthalam (Pilgrimage of Devi):
- Devi abides in Naimisharanya as Devi Lingadharini (as per Devi Bhagavatam).

• Naimisharanya is the place where the sacred river Gomati flows and Gomati Aarti is held on its bank. (Raj Ghat)

• Sacred Geography:

☸ Naimisharanya Forest (Puranic)
▬ River Gomati flows (Aarti)

• River Gomati Ghats:
- Raj Ghat (Gomati Aarti)

• Puranic Events:

1. Presence of Lord Narayana in Naimisharanya: (Padma Purana)
• Lord Narayana identified Naimisharanya (for sages to perform Yagna) by sending a Dharma Chakra.

2. Presence of Sages in Naimisharanya: (Various Puranas)
• Naimisharanya is the place where thousands of sages congregated to perform a Yagna running for several years.
• Naimisharanya is the place where Sri Suta, the disciple of sage Vyasa, narrated the Itihasas and Puranas to the sages during the interval of the Yagna.

3. Presence of Devi in Naimisharanya: (Devi Bhagavatam)
• Devi Bhagavatam mentions about various Devi Sthalams spreading throughout Bharatavarsha. In Naimisha, Devi abides as Lingadharini.

4. Presence of Saints in Naimisharanya:
• Anandamayi Maa: Devotees of Anandamayi Maa constructed the Puran Mandir where Vedas and Puranas are worshipped.

• Temples (Summary):

• Narayana:
- Chakra Tirtha and Sri Chakranarayana

• Shiva:
- Bhooteshwar Mahadev
- Gokarnanath Mahadev
- Vishwanath
- Dev Deveshwar Mahadev
- Mahamrityunjaya Siddhapith
- Rudravart Shiv Mandir

• Devi:
- Lalita Devi

• Rama:
- Hardoi Hatya Haran Teerth
- Siddheshwar Dham
- Sita Kund

• Hanuman:
- Hanuman Garhi
- Hardoi Hanuman

• Sages:
- Soot Gaddi
- Shaunak Gaddi
- Vyas Gaddi (Yagna Shala, Akshay Vat)
- Shringi Rishi Samadhi
- Mishrik Dadhichi Ashram

• Saints:
- Anandamayi Maa (Puran Mandir)

• Places to See (Puranic Places mapping):

Presence of Lord Narayana in Naimisharanya:
• Lord Narayana sent a Dharma Chakra to identify a holy place for the sages to perform Yagna. The sages performed a long-running Satra (Yagna) in Naimisha Kshetra by worshipping the Lord. (Padma Purana - Srishti Khanda - 1)
• Suta Romaharshana sent his son Suta Ugrashrava to Naimisharanya to narrate the Puranas which he had heard from sage Vyasa. Suta Ugrashrava narrated the Padma Purana. The sages headed by kulapati Shaunaka listened to the narration with rapt attention. (Padma Purana - Srishti Khanda - 1)
• Suta Romaharshana, the son of Suta Ugrashrava one day arrived at Naimisharanya when the twelve years' sacrifice of sages headed by kulapati Shaunaka was going on. When the sages enquired Suta Ugrashrava, he said that he visited many holy places and finally came to Samanta Panchaka (Kurukshetra), where the sons of Kuru and Pandu fought a great battle. From there he came to Naimisharanya. On the request of the sages, Suta Ugrashrava started narrating the Mahabharata. (Mahabharata - Adi Parva - 1)
► Naimisharanya - Chakra Tirtha (Sitapur district, Uttar Pradesh) Naimisharanya is identified with the holy place where the sages performed a long-running Yagna. The Chakra Tirtha of Naimisharanya is associated with the legend of the Dharma Chakra.

Presence of Devi in Naimisharanya:
• Devi Bhagavatam mentions about various Devi Sthalams spreading throughout Bharatavarsha. In Naimisha, Devi abides as Lingadharini. (Devi Bhagavatam - Skanda 7 - 38)
► Naimisharanya - Lalita Devi (Sitapur district, Uttar Pradesh) According to Devi Bhagavatam, Devi abides in Naimisharanya as Lingadharini. Devi Lalita temple at Naimisharanya is identified as Devi Lingadharini.

• Puranic References:

• Padma Purana (About Lord Narayana sending Dharma Chakra to identify Naimisharanya; Suta narrating the Padma Purana in Naimisharanya)
• Mahabharata (About Suta narrating the Mahabharata in Naimisharanya)

• Location:

• Naimisharanya is located in the Sitapur district of Uttar Pradesh.

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• Saints - Ramakrishna - Vivekananda - Ramana

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