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Naimisharanya

Naimishe animisha-kshetreRishayah s'aunakdayahSatram svargya lokyaSahasra-samam sata

(Srimad Bhagavatam 1.1.4)

(naimishe--in the forest known as Naimishranya; animisha-kshetre--the spot which is especiallya favorite of Vishnu (who does not close His eyelids); rishayah--sages; s'aunaka-dayah--headedby the sage S'aunaka; satram--sacrifice; svargya--the Lord who is glorified in heaven; lokya--and for the devotees who are always in touch with the Lord; sahasra--one thousand;samam--years; sata--performed.)

The Legend of Naimisharanya: Naimisharanya is the Holy forest where Vedavyasa taught theVedas and all the Puranas to his disciples. Later it is in this very holy place that Romaharshana(alternatively Lomaharshana), Vedavyasas disciple, narrated the Puranas to several Rishis. It isalso the blessed place where Ugrasrava (Suta Gosvami), the son of Romaharsana, narrated the

story of Shreemad Bhagavatam to several Rishis.

According to legend, in the Satya Yuga, the 1st of the four yugas, the Rishis wanted to performuninterrupted yagyas for the benefit of mankind and asked Lord Brahma for a suitable place. LordBrahma created a huge wheel (called Manomaya chakra) released it and instructed the sages tofollow it. He also told them that the place where it broke down would be very auspicious for doingpenance. The sages followed the Manomaya chakra, which after traveling for a long time felldown on a large segment of land and its circumference (Nemi) broke down as predicted by lordBrahma. This segment of land became famous as Naimisharanya.

As soon as it got destroyed, from the spot a huge gush of water sprouted up in the form of aShiva-linga. As the water was flooding the place, the Rishis prayed and Mother Shakti appearedand absorbed and stopped the flow of water. Hence Naimisharanya is also a Shakti Peetha and

has a famous ancient Lalita (Devi) temple. She is also called Linga-Dharini Shakti.

Lalita - Lingadharini Shakti

There is a huge pond at the place called Chakra-Kunda, meaning the pond of the wheel.

Chakra Kunda

The sages performed a Yagya at that sacred place. This way, the very place sitting where lordBrahma did creations all the sages commenced their Yagya, which continued for ten thousandyears. On the completion of Yagya, the deity arrived and blessed them.

Other places of interest are :

Vyasa Peetha - where Vedavyasa Taught the Vedas & Puranas.

Dadheechi Kund - associated with Rishi Dadheechi.

Seeta Kund - where Mother earth opened up and took Sita into her fold. (As per her request, afterthe unification of Lava & Kusha with Lord Rama)

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How to reach Naimisharanya

Naimishararanya is in the Sitapur Dist of U.P. and 89 km away from Lucknow, on the banks of theriver Gomati. From Sitapur Cantt one can get to Naimisharanya by train. Bus, autos and taxis arealso going there from Lucknow. There are trains leaving from Sitapur at 13-20 and 17-20 hrs forNaimisharanya. You can also reach by getting down at Hardoi station before Lucknow which is 20

KM. from Naimisharanya. It is a small village but there are several ashrams and dharmashalaswhere you can stay.

There is a famous Balaji (Venkateswara) temple at Naimisharanya and the priests are conductinga 4 day yagya-festival at Naimisharanya, which includes Sri Sukta Homam, Deeparadhana,Maha-Abhishekam of Lord Venkateswara, Srinivasa Kalyanam, Vishnusahasranama Paath,Pavitra Mala Samarpan, etc. It is performed twice every year - once in March and once inSeptember. There is no fees and all are free to attend it.