Naimisharanya Temple: History, Timings, and Darshan

Naimisharanya Temple: History, Timings, and Darshan. It is one of the 108 holy abodes of Lord Vishnu.

It is said that Lord Shiva told Parvati about this location’s Sthala Mahatmyam. It is reported that Sounaka and other Maharishis once asked Brahma where the ideal location was to practice yaga, dhana, and tapas. Then Brahma picked up a darba grass that was close by, rolled it into a wheel, and released it. He claimed that the best location for Yaga performances would be where this wheel travels and stops. It is said that the wheel rolled onto Earth and arrived at what is today known as Naimisaranyam. Nemi is the root word for chakra. Since the Nemi, or chakra, landed in this aranya (forest), the site was named Naimisaranyam. Thus, the kshetra’s original name was Naimism. There was a deep pit there when the chakra collapsed. Water flowed out of the pit, which later became the sacred tank known as Chakra Theertha because the chakra, or wheel, lay there. It is thought that bathing in this kshetra will confer the same benefits as bathing in Kurukshetra during the eclipse period.

This eclipse symbolizes the next phase of the Mahabharata conflict. As is well known, during the Mahabharata war, Lord Krishna performed a little Leela by momentarily concealing the face of the sun with His disc, giving Jayadratha the impression that the sun had set when it had not. This allowed Arjuna to find and kill Jayadratha before dusk. When Jayadratha emerged from hiding and Krishna remembered the disc, Arjuna shot Jayadratha with the arrow, killing her. Moksha is guaranteed by taking a bath in this chakra theertha.
Furthermore, it is said that bathing in this chakra tirth for 30 days is the same as bathing in all 108 of Divya Desa’s theerthas.

Naimisharanya Temple Significance

Gayasooran is said to have performed tapas here during the Krita yuga. It is said that Mahavishnu then appeared before him and requested the demon to select a boon in answer to his prayers. With a disdainful reply, Gayasooran said that his tapas were the reason he was so powerful and that he didn’t need any blessings from Vishnu. However, he added that, with his meditation power, he would be able to grant the Lord’s requests! To teach him a lesson, the lord replied that the only blessing He desired was for Vishnu to be the reason behind Gayasooran’s death, and he begged the asura to grant Him that boon. The asura gave the boon. As soon as the Lord released His chakra, the asura was split into three pieces. The names of the three sections were Siro gaya (head), Nabhi gaya (navel), and Charana gaya (foot).
Charana gaya is the name given to the Gaya kshetra. Nabhi gaya is the name given to Naimisaranya Kshetra. The name Sirogaya refers to Badariksramam. It is thought to be extremely beneficial to pray to one’s ancestors in each of these three locations. The pindas for the ancestors are offered at the feet of the Lord, Vishnupadha, at Gaya Kshetra (Charana Gaya). At Badariksrama, often referred to as Sirogaya, individuals present offerings to their ancestors at Brahma Kapalam. Similar offerings are presented to the ancestors at Naimisaranyam as well, and it is thought that doing so will bestow great blessings on the devotees.

Lord Rama and Balaram at Naimisharanya Temple

Once upon a time, Balarama, Krishna’s brother, also visited this kshetra. As soon as the maharishis saw him, Romaharshana, one of them, said in Balarama’s hearing that he was someone who frequently took a non-compromising stance and that he did not yet have complete control over his senses. Balarama struck that rishi with a piece of dharba grass out of rage, which is an unforgivable offense. He decided to embark on a year-long trip in an attempt to atone for that transgression. One year later, he went back to Naimisaranyam. Vilvalan, a demon who was oppressing the Maharishis at the time, was preventing them from engaging in the yagas and praying to the Almighty. The Maharishis approached Balarama with their grievances and asked for his assistance in driving out the demon. Balarama became enraged at the devil. |He killed Vilvalan after a battle. The Maharishis seemed ecstatic. They gave Balarama a crown.

Additionally, it is thought that Sri Rama carried out eleven asvameda yagas here.