Nandikeśvara Tīrtha on the Narmadā

The Narmadā, also called Revā, is one of the most sacred rivers of Bhārata. Three chapters of the Koṭi Rudra Saṃhitā of the Śiva Purāṇa, Chapters 5 to 7, give her māhātmya (glory) and that of the tīrthas (holy places) on her banks. They give special attention to the Nandikeśvara tīrtha.

The Narmadā, the river of Bhagavān Śiva

The Gaṅgā is the best known river in the Vaishṇava tradition and in general. The Narmadā is joined most closely to Bhagavān Śiva. She came from the power of Bhagavān Śiva and flows into the world as a stream of his grace.

The Koṭi Rudra Saṃhitā says that the Narmadā purifies in these ways:

  • The darśana (sight) of the Narmadā removes pāpa (sin).
  • Sparśana (touching her waters) destroys stored karma.
  • Pāna (drinking her water) gives moksha.
  • The Gaṅgā purifies in seven days, the Yamunā in three, and the Narmadā purifies by sight alone.

Where the Narmadā comes from

The Narmadā came from the presence of Bhagavān Śiva, from the heat (tejas) of his great tapas, or from his divine form. She rises on the Amarakaṇṭaka mountain, in the eastern region of the Vindhya and Satpura hills. She crosses the high land of central India and enters the western sea, the Arabian Sea. She flows west, unlike most of the great rivers of India.

The tīrthas along the river

The Koṭi Rudra Saṃhitā lists many tīrthas on the banks of the Narmadā, and each has its own māhātmya. Among them are meetings with other rivers (saṅgamas), places where great ṛshis did tapas on her banks, and places where particular liṅgas appeared or were set up.

The Narmadā parikramā is the walk around the whole river. The pilgrim walks along one bank to the sea and returns along the other bank. It is held to be one of the great tīrtha journeys of Bhārata.

Nandikeśvara tīrtha

Nandikeśvara is a tīrtha on the Narmadā where Nandī is specially present. Nandī is the white bull of Bhagavān Śiva, his chief vāhana (vehicle), and the gate-guardian of Kailāsa. At this tīrtha Nandī is honoured together with Bhagavān Śiva. The place carries the power of Nandī’s devotion, his eternal service to Bhagavān Śiva with a single aim. It gives the devotee Nandī’s grace and nearness to Kailāsa.

The text says that the merit of bathing and of pūjā at Nandikeśvara is many times greater than at other tīrthas on the Narmadā.

Sources

  • Śiva Purāṇa, Koṭi Rudra Saṃhitā, Chapter 5 (the Narmadā as the river of Bhagavān Śiva; her power to purify; her origin and course)
  • Śiva Purāṇa, Koṭi Rudra Saṃhitā, Chapters 5–6 (the tīrthas along the Narmadā)
  • Śiva Purāṇa, Koṭi Rudra Saṃhitā, Chapters 6–7 (Nandikeśvara tīrtha)