Samvad Etv Marathi (Raju Parulekar Interviews Suhas Limaye)

Narmada parikrama

Narmada Parikrama is one of the oldest tradition - almost 7000 years back Markandeya Rishi performed Narmada Parikrama. You will perhaps not believe that Markandeya Rishi performed Great Prakrima of Narmada River for 27 years. He did not cross stream of Narmada River also he did not crossed stream of any river - in all 999 rivers - merging Narmada. I have lot of information on this subject because I am one of lucky person, I could perform Narmada Parikrama covering 2700 kilometers of distance on foot. I have written a book 'Narmade Har | Har Narmade' detailing account of Narmada Parikrama which concluded in 123 days. Yes, This book is in Marathi language.This book hard/soft copy is available on bookganga.com

The importance of the Narmada River as sacred is testified by the fact that the pilgrims perform a holy pilgrimage of a Parikrama or Circumambulation of the river. The Narmada Parikrama, as it is called, is considered to be a meritorious act that a pilgrim can undertake. Many sadhus (saints) and pilgrims walk on foot from the Arabian Sea at Bharuch in Gujarat, along the river, to the source in Maikal Mountains (Amarkantak hills) in Madhya Pradesh and back along the opposite bank of the river. It is a 2,600-kilometre (1,600 mi) walk. The Parikrama is also performed along the southern bank from its source (Amarkantak hills) to the mouth (Bharuch) and returning along the northern bank, and it is considered to be of the highest religious efficacy.

During the Narmada Parikrama, devotees have to pass through a place called Shulpaneshwar ki Jhari, a religious place in Gujarat with links dating back to the Mahabharata epic story. The legend says that the Pandavas returning victorious from Kurukshetra war were intercepted at Shulpaneswar by Eklavya and his group of tribal Bhils and looted them (Pandvaas) of all their belongings. Since then it is a custom that pilgrims on a Narmada Parikrama, while passing through this place, expect to be stripped of all their belongings leaving them with the bare essentials to carry on till some philonthropists give them donations on the way to carry on. With construction of the Sardar Sarovar Dam in Gujarat on the Narmada River, the Shulpaneshwar Temple has submerged under the reservoir, necessitating the pilgrims to take a circuitous route to continue on their journey.