Amarkantak

Amarkantak is the origin of the holy river Narmada. Amarkantak is located on Mount Mekal in Anuppur district of Madhya Pradesh, along with it is also the source of Son river and Johila river. Amarkantak is also called Tirtha Raj . Amarkantak is famous for pilgrimage place and also famous for hill station .

It is believed that the holy river Narmada originated from the throat of Lord Shiva, that is why Narmada is called the daughter of Lord Shiva. The holy river Narmada is the only river in the world that is circumambulated. After leaving Amarkantak, Mother Narmada covers a distance of 1312 km and joins the Gulf of Khambhat . Hindus worship the holy river Narmada as a goddess. Mother Narmada protects her devotees from every crisis and has fulfilled every wish of her devotees.

Amarkantak temples and places of interest –

(1) Man Narmda Udgam Kund Amarkantak –

Amarkantak is the origin of the holy river Narmada. Narmada is also known as Mekalsuta due to its origin from Mount Mekal. There is a pool here, small streams keep coming out in it, these holy water streams collect in the pool and turn into the holy river Narmada. Inside the premises, a small stream of Mother Narmada flows from the main pool to another pool which is not visible. Two more ponds have been made on the lower side of the main point of origin, in which devotees can take a bath. Holy Narmada flows from these pools in the form of a small stream, which in turn assumes a huge form.

There are about twenty four temples around the Kund, in which Narmada Temple, Shiva Temple, Kartikeya Temple, Shri Ram Janaki Temple, Annapurna Temple, Durga Temple, Shri Suryanarayan Temple, Shri Radha Krishna Temple, Shiva Parivar, Eleven Rudra Temple and Rohini Mata Temple are prominent. Maa Narmada is considered one of the seven holy rivers of the country.

(2) Ancient Kalchuri Kalchuri Temple Amarkantak –

There are many temples to visit and visit Amarkantak, the main one being the Kalchuri Kalchuri Temples. It is known from the history of Kalchuri period that the Kalchuri ruler Gangeya Dev and King Karna were very majestic rulers of their time, during their reign Amarkantak must have been a very prosperous and religious area. Kalchuri King Karnadev had built many temples in Amarkantak between 1041-1073 AD. There is a group of temples of the Kalchuri period from 100 meters to the south of the Narmada Kund . Among which the main temples are -

(A) Karna Temple

(B) Shiva Temple

(C) Vishnu Temple

(D) Pataleshwar Temple

(E) Panchmatha Temple

(G) Suraj Kund –

(3) Mai ki Bagiya Amarkantak –

Mai ki Bagiya literally means garden for mother . Mai ki Bagiya is located in Amarkantak at a distance of 1 kilometer from Narmada Udgam Kund. There is also a small temple here. There is a pond in Mai ki Bagiya in which water is always filled, this pool is known as Charanodak Kund. Some people believe that this is the real origin of holy Narmada river. The water stream that emanated from here again emerges from the present Narmada origin pool. Another belief is that Lord Shiva's daughter Narmada used to come to this place in childhood to play with her friends and choose flowers for herself from here. Even today this place looks like a garden. Mango, Banana and many beautiful flowering trees and plants are planted here. Gulbakavali plants are found at this place. Medicines are made from the plants of Gulka Vali for eye diseases.

(4) Son Muda Amarkantak –

The origin of Son river is in Amarkantak. The origin of Bhadra is also near the source of Son river. A short distance away is the confluence of the two. This is the reason why it is called "Son-Bhadra". Son is said to be the Manas Putra of Bramhaji. This place is situated at a distance of 1.5 km from the origin of Narmada.

Near the kund there are small temples of Hanuman ji, Durga Mata and many other deities. There are stairs to go down from the pool. Here Son-Bhadra falls in the form of a waterfall from a hill of 100 feet. It is full of natural beauty of the place.

(5) Kapil Dhara Watterfall Amarkantak –

Kapil Dhara is the first waterfall of the holy Narmada river. This waterfall is 6 km away from Narmada Udgam Kund. Here the water of the holy Narmada falls from a height of 100 feet. While falling down at a very high speed, the water makes a loud sound and falls into the pool.

Kapil Muni's ashram and Kapileshwar temple are near Kapil Dhara. It is said that Kapil Muni had done severe penance here and composed the Sankhya philosophy at this place. This waterfall was named Kapil Dhara after the name of Kapil Muni.

(6) Doodh Dhara Waterfall Amarkantak –

Doodh Dhara waterfall is located about 1 kilometer from Kapil Dhara Falls,. This is the second waterfall situated on Maa Narmada. Its height is about 10-12 feet. Here the holy Narmada water appears as white as milk, that is why this waterfall is called Doodh-Dhara Falls. According to the legend, Durvasa Rishi did penance here. Earlier this waterfall was also called Durvasa Dhara but later people started knowing it as Doodh Dhara.

(7) Shri Jwaleshwar (Jaleshwar) Dham Temple-

Shri Jwaleshwar temple is 10 kms away from Amarkantak. From here the third river Johila of Amarkantak originated from a well. There is a beautiful temple of Lord Shiva here. It is believed that the Shivling situated here was established by Lord Shiva himself. It is believed that Lord Shiva killed a demon named Vanasura (Tripurasur) at this place and cut it into three pieces.

(8) Sri Yantra temple Amarkantak -

Sri Yantra temple located in Amarkantak has been made in 3D form of Sri Yantra. At the entrance of the temple, there are huge statues of 4 goddesses in the shape of faces representing Goddess Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kali and Bhuvaneshwari. On the lower side are the idols of 64 Yoginis. Idols of Ganesh ji and Kartikeya ji are also seated at the door. There is a main temple in the center of the round shape of Shri Yantra, in which center is the statue of Mother Tripura Sundari.

Apart from all these places, Amarkantak has Sarvodaya Jain Temple, Sant Kabir Chabutra, Bhrigu Kamandal, Chandika Gufa, Bahagad Nala Ganeshji, Durga Dhara and many other beautiful ashrams.