Excerpts from the book of Vivek ji: Narmada Parikrama -Walking the 3,000 kilometres of sacred Riverbanks of holy Narmada
According to the Sanatana Legend, during the Dwapara Yuga, the merging of Saraswati or Brahmi with Mother Narmada took place at this very location. Here is where Manknak Rishi undertook his austerities, and in due time, he was bestowed with a divine blessing, granting him a vision of the entire universe. With a powerful vision in mind, he was consumed by intense emotions and began to move with a mesmerising dance. His movements were so captivating that they caused a seismic shift in the three worlds. The pantheon of deities approached Lord Shiva with a plea to intervene in the ecstatic dance of Manknak rishi, lest the entire world be consumed by the fervour of his movements and join in his rapturous celebration. Lord Shiva approached the revered Rishi and inquired as to the reason for his fervent dancing. The Rishi, lost in the rhythm of his movements, explained that he had beheld the entirety of the cosmos within himself and was thus moved to dance. At that very moment, the saint was bestowed with the divine touch of Lord Shiva, who gently brushed his finger against the Rishi's body, causing ashes to emanate from it. As the ashes spilled from his mortal form, the Rishi steadfastly continued with his sacred ritual, performing the Puja of Lord Shiva and consecrating the divine presence of Mankneshwar Mahadev. Reva Khanda suggests that the performance of religious acts here can foster a sense of inner stability.
Another story of the place says that once upon a time, in the ancient land of Veda Sangam, there existed a sacred site known as Markat Teertha. Legend has it that during the Treta Yuga, a king named Stayasena ruled over this land with his wife, the stunningly beautiful Shrungaarvallavi. However, despite her physical beauty,her face bore a striking resemblance to that of a monkey. Once, the monarch and his consort ventured to this region for a hunting excursion. As the king set out on his hunting expedition, the queen opted to explore the surrounding area. As she wandered along the banks of the Narmada, memories of a past life flooded her mind. In that previous existence, she had been a monkey who had met her demise at this very spot. Though her body had been carried away by the waters of the sacred river, her head had remained ensnared in the thorny underbrush. She arrived at the location and retrieved the remaining bones of the head, which were still lodged, before casting them into the sacred waters of Mother Narmada. In due time, her countenance underwent a transformation, assuming the appearance of a human visage replete with alluring qualities.
As the king returned, he beheld the subtle transformations that had taken hold of the queen's countenance. Puzzled by this metamorphosis, he inquired as to its cause. The queen, in turn, revealed the tale of her life and the actions she had taken. Upon hearing this, the entire group proceeded to perform the puja at the location, which subsequently became known as Markat Teertha. As per the Sanatana legend, those who make a pilgrimage to Teertha and engage in tapasya or immerse themselves in the holy Sangam are bestowed with the blessings equivalent to those received from observing the Chandrayana Vrat. Furthermore, it is believed that any endeavour undertaken here is met with success upon the performance of charitable acts.
Excerpts from the book of Vivek ji: Narmada Parikrama -Walking the 3,000 kilometres of sacred Riverbanks of holy Narmada
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