Maa Narmada Temple / Shona Shaktipeeth
Shondesh Shakti Peeth is prominent as one of
51 Shakti Peethas. It is nestled in Anuppur District at Amarkantak, Madhya
Pradesh in India. Inside the main temple, the deity of Goddess Sati is called
as ‘Narmada’ and lord Shiva is worshipped in the form of ‘Bhadrasen’. Narmada
Devi Shondesh Shakthi Peeth is one of the ancient temples and is 6000 years
old. The temple complex has a beautiful garden- Narmada Udgam and a temple
associated with the garden- Narmada Udgam temple. It is also famous as the
origin point of River Narmada and this garden temple. There is a belief that
Amarkantak is an abode of Gods and whoever dies here gets place in heaven for
sure.
Old legends hold it during Daksha yagna and
Sati self-immolation, the Right Buttock
of Maa Sati fell here, when lord Vishnu in order to relieve lord Shiva from the
grief of losing his wife Sati, used his ‘Sudarshan Chakra’ to incise maa Sati’s
Body. However, Amarkantak means amar – immortal and kantak – obstruction in
Sanskrit language.
On Mahashivratri, umpteen devotees throng
the temple with prayers on their mind and offering on their hands. People come
from various places to get Shiva’s Blessings and they observe a holy vibe
surrounding in this auspicious occasion.
Fairs have been organised and people often fast on the night of Shivratri
and sing hymns and praises in the name of Lord Shiva. Large carcades are
carried out within the city with people thronging the streets to catch a glance
of the venerate idol of Mahadeva.
