Narmada Pushkaralu Snana Yatra

Narmada Pushkaram

Narmada Pushkaram or Narmada River Pushkaralu comes once in every twelve years time. The 12-day Pushkaras are very auspicious for Narmada snan and other holy rituals.

Narmada River originated at Amarkantak of Madhya Pradesh and flows in western direction through Maharashtra and Gujarat and then merges in the Arabian Sea. Amarkantak and Omkareshwara Jyothirlinga Temple are the best places to perform Narmada Pushkara Snana and other sacred rituals. Omkareswar is the fifth Jyothirlingas among Dwadash Jyothirlinga Temples. Omkareswar is located at distance of 77 kms from Indore.

It is to note that Ujjain Mahakali Temple Shakti Peetha and Ujjain Mahakaleshwar Jyothirlingam Temple are located in Ujjain city, which is on Kshipra River banks, but not on Narmada River banks.

As per the shruthi “Brahma Vishnuscha rudrascha indradya sarva devataa pitharo rusha yasstchiava thatraiva nivasanti hee”, performing yearly Pinda daan, Pitru Tharpan, and many other pithru karmas during Pushkar time is highly meritorious.

Pushkaram is a festival of rivers pertains to 12 important rivers in India which occurs once in 12 years for each river. The river for each year festival is based on the presence of Jupiter on which Zodiac sign by that time.

It is believed that Pushkarudu, also known as pushkar God who is powerful to make any river holy will travel with Jupiter, as Jupiter travels from one Zodiac sign to another Zodiac sign.

Ujjain

Ujjain is ancient and historical city that is 5000 years old. It is described as the best city in Adi Brahma Puran and it is called mokshda and bhukti-mukti in AgniPuran and Garuda Puran. There was a time when this city had been a capital of a big empire.

This city has a glorious history. As per religious books this city has never seen destruction for the god of destruction Mahakal himself resides here. As per Garuda Puran there seven cities that can provide salvation and out of them Avantika city is considered the best as the importance of Ujjain is little bit more than other cities.

Ayodhya Mathura, Maya, Kashi Kanchi Avantika |
Puri, dwaravatiChev Saptetaha: Mokshadayika: ||

This city has a Jyotirling out of 12 Jyotirlings, one city out of seven salvation providing cities, Gadhkalika and Harsiddhi, the two Shakti Peeths, and sacred Kumbh that takes place in four cities of India. The cave of king Bhartari is found here and it is believed that Ujjain has foot prints of God Vishnu.

” Vishnaw: Padamvantika ”

God Rama himself performed his father’s last rites after his death at Ujjain and therefore the place where the ritual took place called ‘RamGhat’. The ‘Shahi Bath’of Simhasta takes place on this RamGhat.

As per Purans, Ujjain has many names 1. Ujjaini, 2. Pratikalpa, 3. Padmavati, 4. Avantika, 5. Bhogwati, 6. Amravati, 7. Kumudwati, 8. Vishala, 9 Kushasthati etc. There was a time when this city became the capital of Avanti Janpada and therefore it is known as Avantikapuri.

Great Scholars of varied fields like Kaalidas, Varahmihir, Banabhatta, Rajashekera, Pushpadanta, Shankaracharya, Vallabhacharya, Bhartahari, Diwakar, Kattayayan and Bhas had their association with Ujjain. Mughal emperor Akbar made this city his regional capital. Marathas ruled over here prior to 18th century. Sindhiya Dynasty rulers worked for the promotion of Hindu religion. In 1235, Iltutmish invaded and plundered this city. King Vikramaditya made this city his capital the great scholar od Sanskrut Kaalidas was in this court. In the years 1810, Sindhia shifted their capital from Ujjain to Gwalior. In this city itself king Bhartari took the “Vairaagya Diksha”. In Naatha Tradition of religious sect through his teacher Guru Gorakshnaath. For centuries, Ujjain has been a center of religion for Hindu, Jain and Buddha religion.

“Div: Kantivat Khandmekam”

Ujjain is described at length in SkandPurana and is considered the place of origination of Mangal Griha. As per AgniPuran, Ujjain is salvation giving city. It is a city of gods. As per SkandPurana, Ujjain has 84 Mahadevs, 64 YOGINIS, 8 Bhairavs and 6 Vinayakas. Great Poet Kaalidas praises the beauty of Ujjain and according to him Ujjain is a fallen part of heaven.