Our Destination - Naimisharanya
Around hundred and fifteen kilometers, two hours away from Lucknow, tucked in a small hamlet in the district of Sitapur is a quaint town of Naimisharanya, also called Neemsar and Naimish. Naimisharanya is an important Hindu pilgrimage center. It is believed to be the place where ‘Vedas’ were written by legendary Sage Maharishi Ved Vyas who also authored the Hindu epic, ‘Mahabharata’.
According to a Hindu legend, Rishi (sage) Shaunak in quest of knowledge and to be safe from the adverse effects of Kalyuga (bad period) met the creator of mankind, Lord Brahma. Brahma asked Shaunak to visit Vishnu and gave him a Chakra (wheel) instructing him to spin it all the time and the place where the chakra stops, he should make it his abode to meditate for the entire Kalyuga period. It is said that the Chakra halted near the banks of the river Gomti and the place came to be known as Naimisharanya. It is believed that Rishi Saunak along with 88 thousand saints lived and meditated at this very place.
There is mention of Naimisharanya in both the Hindu epics of Ramayana and the Mahabharata. In the Ramanaya it is referred as ‘Naimish’ and in the Mahabharata it is mentioned as the place which was visited by Yudhisthir and Arjuna. This place also find mention of this place in Ain-e-Akbari of the Mughal Empire under Akbar written by Akbar’s court historian Abul Fazal in the 16th Century AD.
Chakra Tirth...
It is a circular water pond where the Chakra fell on Earth and with its weight a crater was created and filled with the holy water.
Lalita Devi Temple...
It is an important and ancient temple dedicated to Goddess Sati and one of the Shaktipeetha. It is believed to be the place where the heart of Goddess Sati had fallen.
Hanuman Garhi...
Pandav Quila...
Not very far from the Hanumana temple is the site called the Pandav Quila. In Mahabharata period, a fort was built by King Viraat and is said to have been visited by the five Pandavas. The Pandavas lived as well as severed King Viraat here. Statues of Lord Krishna and the Pandavas adorn the fort. During the Khilji dynasty, a Hindu minister of Ala-ud-Din Khilji built a temple here in the year 1305 AD.
VyasGaddi...
This is the site where Saint Vyas authored the Vedas and Purana.
Mishrikh...
Just about fifteen kilometers from Naimisharanya is Mishrikh. This place is known for its holy pond called Dadhichi Kund and is believed to be containing water from the scared rivers in it. It is believed; Indra the king of Devas (Gods) was defeated and driven out of Devalok (Home of Gods) by a demon named Vritasur. The demon had the blessing that he cannot be harmed by any weapon made of wood or metal. Vritasur was then killed by a weapon made of the bones of sage Dadhichi. Dadhichi is said to have taken the last holy dip in this holy pond before sacrificing his life to save humanity and to bring to peace in the world.