Naimisharanya, Part Four

BY: SUN STAFF

Entrance to Veda Vyasa's Abode


Jan 08, CANADA (SUN) — A serial exploration of the sacred Tirtha at Naimisharanya.

Among the unlimited numbers of tirthas on earth, Naimisharanya is the foremost among them. The best among all tirthas, Naimisharanya is said to be ten times more important than any other. Thirty thousand tirthas live in the area of Naimisharanya at all times, and it is a favoured abode of the Trimurti: Brahma, Visnu and Shiva.

Naimisharanya has a particular importance in Satya Yuga, just as Pushkar has a special significance in Tretha Yuga, Kurukshetra in Dvapara Yuga, and Ganga has special significance during the Kali Yuga. A special place of yajna for the Lord and His associates, Naimisharanya is worshipped by all the Rishis. The Holy Gomati River and the Akshaya Paathra of the Sun always exists here. Likewise, all the rivers and seas of the earth exist here at every moment.


Praying at Aadi Ganga (Gomti)


When penance is done at Naimisharanya, the sins of seven janmas (births) will vanish. It is said that just by thinking of visiting this tirtha, half of one's sins vanish. By entering the Dhama, one's sins vanish fully. If penance is done at Naimisharanya for 12 years, one will enter into Brahmaloka.

One who takes bath here gets the benefit of bathing at all the tirthas, because all tirthas on earth simultaneously exist at Naimisharanya. Taking bath in Ganga, arriving at Varanasi, Dwaraka and Badarikasrama yield punya, but one gets such pious credits as soon as he leaves home to come to Sri Naimisharanya.

Taking bath in Naimisharanya is especially potent during Mahakumbha, when the Sun is in Mesha Raasi, every 12 years. It is believed that if pinda daan is done here, one's ancestors get a place in the heavenly planets. During Caturmasa especially, if charity is given at this tirtha, one's ancestors are believed to be satisfied until Kalpaparyant. One who hears the Vishnu Charithra for one or two days at Naimisharanya Tirtha secures a place in Vaikuntha.

The Pandavas visited Naimisharanya during their exile, and the Mahabharata states that 'anyone who fasts, prays, and attains perfection at Naimisharanya finds happiness in all the worlds'.


Photos courtesy of Naimish Trust and Flikr:gnsh2008.


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