Narmada River

Story & Trivia

The Holiest among the Holy
Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Cauvery and Narmada are the five holy rivers of India. Narmada is the

holiest. She is also called Reva and Purvaganga. It is said that a view of the river cleanses our sins. Interestingly, legend goes that when Ganga feels polluted thanks to her worshippers who take a dip, she comes in the form of a black cow to have a purifying bath in the Narmada!

In mythological times, Shiva the lord of destruction sat meditating. His intense concentration made him break out in a sweat. As it rolled down, it got collected in a tank. Eventually this overflowed as the Narmada or Shankari, Shankar’s daughter. Every pebble on the riverbed is supposed to take the shape of a Shivalinga.

Think of Narmada and you are safe from snake venom
According to a Puranic story, the 60 million Gandharvas, defeated the Nagas and took over their kingdom and treasures. The Nagas went to Vishnu for help. He asked them to get Purukutsa’s help. They sent Narmada their sister, to ask for Purukutsa’s help. He agreed and she led him into the neither world of the Nagas. Empowered by Vishnu, Purukutsa fought against the Gandharvas, ultimately defeating them.

The Nagas then declared that whoever remembers this story of Narmada leading Purukutsa, would not be affected by the venom of snakes. Narmada went on to marry Purukutsa.

A Bhil Creation Song
The Bhils are tribals who have lived on the banks of the Narmada for centuries. The song they sing starts off with God’s sudden idea to create a world. The woodsman, Relu Kabadi is sent to fetch wood from the jungle. Slowly and lovingly every creature of the forest, plant, tree and other things we see in the World, was carved out of the wood. Lastly the Narmada and Tapti were created. They started the flow to meet the ocean Dudu Hamad. This was to be a marriage and so on this wonderful journey, the villages, valleys and hills were created.

Emperor Sahasrarjun

Maheshwar on the banks of the Narmada was capital of King Sahasrarjun. One day the King and his 500 wives went to the river for a picnic. When the wives wanted a vast play area, the King stopped the mighty river Narmada with his 1000 arms!

While they were all enjoying themselves, Ravana flew by in his Pushpak Vimana. Downstream, when he saw the dry river bed, he thought it was an ideal place to pray to Lord Shiva. He made a shivalinga out of sand and started his prayers.

When Sahasrajuna’s wives were done and they stepped out of the river bed, he let the waters flow. The voluminous river flowed down sweeping Ravana’s shivalinga along, messing up his prayers. Furious, Ravana tracked Sahasrajuna and challenged him. Armed to the hilt the mighty Ravana was in for a huge surprise. The mighty Sahasrarjuna with the 1000 arms pinned Ravana to the ground. Then he placed 10 lamps on his heads and one on his hand.

After tying up Ravana, Sahasrarjuna dragged him home and tied him up to the cradle pole of his son. A humiliated Ravana stayed prisoner until his release was secured.

Even today, the Sahasrarjun temple at Maheshwar lights 11 lamps in memory of the event.

Narmada’s flow to the West
It is said that the Narmada and Son were born as two teardrops of Brahma. Others say an official proposal of marriage from Son was made to Mekala, Narmada’s father. Yet others say the Son wooed the mighty Narmada and she agreed to marry him.

Anyways, when Son was coming towards his bride’s place in a slow procession (baraat in Hindi), the curious and impatient Narmada sent her hairdresser Johilla to check out the groom. Son got chatting with Johilla and found her rather enchanting. When Narmada realized that her groom-to-be was enjoying Johilla’s company, she stormed out of the house and flowed westwards. The rejected Son too flowed off the Amarkantak to go in an easterly direction. Eventually the Johilla stream, formed of her tears, flows eastwards to join the Son.

The Son is an important tributary of Ganga.

Reference:  http://www.prabhupada.de/Books/SB/09/07.html

Trivia