6. The river Narmadā in the Purāṇas

The Narmadā is a famous river in India. In the Purāṇa, another name of this river is found as Revā.^[1] Narmadā is a very sacred river, glorified in various Purāṇas next to Gaṅgā. This is a highly meritorious river goddess, resorted to by Devas and Gandharvas, and is famous in the world. It is a river that is the most sacred of all holy rivers. It is auspicious and destructive of all sins.^[2]

In the Matyasapurāṇa, it is stated that the Narmadā is the most excellent of all rivers, it flowed out of Rudra’s body. It shall redeem all living beings-mobile and immobile.^[3]

The river Narmadā is considered as an auspicious river. Gaṅgā is auspicious in Kanakhala and Sarasvatī is meritorious in Kurukṣetra. But whether in the village or in the forest, Narmadā is meritorious everywhere.^[4]

The holy water of Sarasvatī sanctifies one in three days; the water of Yamunā sanctifies one in seven days; the water of Gaṅgā sanctifies immediately; but the water of Narmadā sanctifies one at its very sight.^[5] It has its source in the western half of Kaliṅga, on the Mountain Amarakaṇṭaka. It is very holy. It is the most beautiful and charming in the three worlds. Leading king, Devas, Asurus, Gandharvas, Saints and the ascetics have attained the highest Siddhi by performing penance on her banks.^[6] The same description of Narmadā is also found in the Kūrmapurāṇa^[7] also. On the southern bank of Narmadā, there is a great river named Kapila. It is stationed not very far and covered by juicy Arjuna trees.^[8]

A second holy river is the blessed and auspicious Viśalyakaraṇī. A man taking bath in that holy river becomes free from pains, sins and grief.^[9] Kapila and Viśalaya are heard as the two excellent rivers mentioned by Đsvara formerly with a desire for the well being of the worlds.^[10]

On sprinkling the head with the holy and sacred water of Narmadā along with its foam, one is relieved of all sins. Narmadā is holy everywhere. It dispels sins of Brāhmaṇa-slaughter. By observing fast for a day and a night, one is absolved of the sin of Brāhmaṇa slaughter.^[11]

The river Kāverī is well known as the destructive of sins. One should take bath there and worship the bull-bannered Mahādeva. One who takes bath at the confluence of Narmadā is honoured in the Rudraloka. This Kāverī is the northern branch of the Narmadā.^[12] Those who stay on the banks of Narmadā river go to the heaven just like the saintly men of good activities when they die.^[13]

Besides these, Ikṣu is a meritorious and well known river in the three worlds. It is stated that Śiva is present there. On taking bath in the river Ikṣu, a man shall obtain the chieftain-ship of Gaṅgā’s.^[14] One who takes bath in the melting point of Narmadā and the ocean obtain three times the benefit of a horse–sacrifice.^[15]

Moreover, Narmadā is the most excellent of all rivers. It is the beloved of Mahādeva. There is no doubt that he who mentally remembers Narmadā, obtains the benefit of a hundred Cāndrāyaṇa rites, or even more.^[16]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

bhīmātīre saṃsthitasyāpi viṣṇoaḥ sudurlabhaṃ darśanaṃ cāhurāryāḥ || revātīre saṃsthitasyāpi viṣṇorgayākṣetre viṣṇupādasya caiva || Ibid.,19.45

[2]:

Agni Purāṇa, 113. Nāradīya Purāṇa,2.77, Padma Purāṇa, svarga-khaṇḍ, ch.,13

[3]:

narmadā saritāṃ śresthā rudradehād viniḥsrtā | tarayet sarvabhūtāni sthāvarāṇi caraṇi ca || Matsya Purāṇa,190.17

[4]:

dharmaśītā jitakrodhā nirmama niyātendriyāḥ | dhyānayogaparāḥ sidhiṃ gacchanti paramāvyayām || Ibid.,185.10

[5]:

yogino yogasidhāśca yogamokṣapradāṃ vibhum | upāsnate bhaktiyuktāḥ śāntā yogagatiṅgattāḥ || Ibid.,185.11

[6]:

sthānaṃ guhyaṃ śmaśānānāṃ sarvesāmetadu-cyati | na hi yogādṛte mokṣaḥ prāpyate bhuvi mānavaiḥ || Ibid.,185.12

[7]:

Kūrma Purāṇa,ch.,40&41

[8]:

sā tu puṇyā mahābhāgā triṣu lokesu viśrutā | tatra kotiśataṃ sāgaraṃ tīrthānāntu yudhiṣṭhira || Ibid.,40.25;Matsya Purāṇa,185.53

[9]:

dvitīyā tu mahābhāgā viśalyakaraṇī śubhā | tatra tīrthe naraḥ snātvā viśalyo bhavati kṣaṇāt || Kūrma Purāṇa,40.27; Matsya Purāṇa,185.54-55

[10]:

kapilā ca viśalyā ca śruyete sariduttame | īśvareṇa purā prokte lokānāṃ hitakāmyayā || Kūrma Purāṇa, 40.28

[11]:

narmadāyaṃ jalaṃ punyaṃ phenormi saphalikṛtam | pavitraṃ śirsā dhṛtvā sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate || narmadā sarvataḥ puṇyā brahmahatyāpahārinī | ahoratropavāsenāmucyate brahmahatyayā || Ibid.,40.33-34

[12]:

kāverī nāmā vikhyātā nadī kalmaṣanāśinī | tatra snātvā mahādevamarccayed vṛṣabhadhvajam || saṃgame narmadāyāstu rudraloke mahīyate || Ibid., 40.40

[13]:

narmadātatamāśritya ye ca tisthanti mānavāḥ | te mṛtaḥ svargamāyānti santaḥ sukṛtino yathā || tato dīpteśvaraṃ gacchedvyāsatīrthaṃ tapovanam || Ibid.,41.24-25

[14]:

tato gaccheta rajendra ikṣunadyāstu saṃgamam | trilokyaviśrutaṃ puṇyaṃ tatra sannihitaḥ śivaḥ || tatra snātvā naro rājan gāṇapatyamavāpnuyāt | skandatīrthaṃ tato gacchet sarvapāpapraṇāśanam || Ibid.,41.28-29

[15]:

tatra snātvā naro rājannarmadodadhisaṃgame | trigunañcāśvamedasya phalaṃ prāpnoti mānavaḥ || Ibid., 42.34

[16]:

eṣā pavitrā vipulā nadī trailokyaviśrutā | na śakyā vistarādvāktum saṃkhyā tīrtheṣu pāṇḍava || Ibid.,42.39-41