HERITAGE WEEK: 18th to 24th November, 2021

Day-4: NAMAMI NARMADE, Origin of river Narmada

While writing this seven day blog, I am revisiting many of my collections and realising, how under-rated and not so known to many of us are the heritage places of India. Yesterday when I decided to write on the 'Narmada-Kund', the temple dedicated to origin of river Narmada in Amarkantak as part of heritage week write ups... I went in search of pics I took few years ago when I visited the place. In August 2017 when I went to Amarkantak for a conference, I took time to visit the amazing place of origin of river Narmada too. To my dismay I lost a lot of pics somewhere in my massive data storage around... The trouble of taking too many photos and then we not able to catalogue and classify them in our chaotic work schedules... made me cry. On serious note will now catalogue, classify and put all data :-) 

The place is serene and reverberates with mystic life of devotion and sacred strength.  Like river Ganges, people have huge respect for Naramada Udgam temple.

Narmada Kund temple

source facebook page: @Amarkantak

When we visit the temple, in the monsoon-winter season (August-October)a lot of pilgrims visit the place and it is believed. the river nourishes and gives blessings as one moves ahead for the Kartik months festivities. The living cultures of the temple traditions in Narmada kund, empower us with wisdom and connects us with cultural vibes inherent in people of India. While, I was moving around between Narmada Kund and Kalachuri temple and a huge Jain temple in making in these premises I was accompanied by an elderly couple. They came for their annual pilgrimage to the sacred place. While talking to them I got to know several aspects about the cultural legacy of the place. The pics below are of famous Jain Temple of  and Kalachuri temples of Amarkantak. (Images taken by me)

Besides these the Narmada temple, we have 11th century Kalachuri temple, patronized by Kalachuri King Laxmi-Karana (1041-1073 CE). One of the most famous king of Kalachuri dynasty from central India. The compound of Shaiva temples has one temple devoted to King Laxmi Karan himself. Legend says that; Adi Shankaracharya reinstated the venerable status to Pataleshwar and Narmada Udgam temple. He also laid the foundation of these temples. Later under patronage of the Kalachuri dynasty these temples gained massive following and enhanced sanctity got added to the place. To every person dedicated to understand and value of our Indian heritage, Amarkantak remains a place of devotion and learning.

So much to know...so little we could reach...

Text copyright: Bina Sengar

Images copyrights: Bina Sengar 

Image Credit: Facebook blogger @TravelManiac and @Amarkantak

Website: http://ruralsouthasia.org/

Blogger: https://draft.blogger.com/profile/00688098669082299426

Twitter: https://twitter.com/binasengar

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/binasengar/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/binasengar/

 

Reference links

https://rangandatta.wordpress.com/2016/07/20/ancient-temples-of-kalachuri-period-amarkantak/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amarkantak