Thiru Naimisaranyam - Sri Devaraja Perumal Temple

About the Temple & Location :

Naimisaranyam is located at the junction of the roads from Sitapur and Khairabad, 20 miles from Sitapur and 24 miles from the Sandila railway station. 45 miles north of Lucknow in Uttarpradesh. Naimisaranya is also known as "Nimsar" or "Nimkhar" and is located on the left bank of the river Gomati.

Specials:

1. This kshetram is said to be one of the 8 swayam Vyaktha kshetrams. The other swayam Vyaktha kshetram are Sri Rangam, Srimushnam, Salagramam, Thotadri (Vaanamamalai), Tirupathi, Pushkaram and Badri

2. This Naimisaranya kshetram is said to be regarded as "Tapovanam". There are 9 tapovams. They are Dandakaranyam, Saindhavaranyam, Jambhukaranyam, Pushkararanyam, Utpalaranyam, Badrikaranyam, Gurujangalaranyam, Aruputharanyam and Naimisaranayam. It is belived that the perumal is found in the form of forest. And this Naimisaranyam is regarded as a holy forest.

Sthalapuranam:

The Emperumaan of this sthalam is giving his seva as the entire form of the Vanam (forest).
In the old age, all the Maha Rishis along with Sownakar went towards Brahma devan and asked him which is the best place suited for doing Yagam and tapas. As the answer, Brahma devan took a dharbai grass and made it as a wheel shape and rolled the dharbai grass. Brahma devar said after he rolls the grass, the place where it stopped is said to be the ideal place for doing tapas and yagam. He rolled the wheel and it stops at a particular place in the Earth and that place is said to the place which is called as "Naimisaranyam".

Nemi means a Wheel and Naimisam means the place where the wheel landed. Aaranyam means forest. Since Nemi, the Chakkaram which landed on Aaranya the forest, the sthalam is called as "Naimisaranyam". This Naimisaranyam is said to be the place where most of the Rishis have done sacrifices, tapas and meditation and have explained the meaning of old puranas and veda.

The Lord Emperumaan gives his seva as in the form of Nature. This sthala emperumaan, gives his seva with the name as "Sri Hari" along with Sri Hari Lakshmi and gave his audiance (prathyaksham) to Devendran, Sudharma, Devarishis, Soodhapuranika and Vedavyasa.

Once, Balarama, the brother of Sri Krishna came to this kshetram. At that time, Soodhar was very busy creating puranas. He didn't notice the arrival of Balarama. On seeing this, Balarama got angry and hit him. He got into sin by committing this. To get out the sin, he went to lots of Punya kshetras for an year and finally he came back to this kshetram and help the rishis and yogis, who were suffering from the frightening of a arakkan (Demon) by named "Vilvalan". All the rishis and yogis thanked Balarama for making them to perform austerities, tapas in peace to reach the Emperumaan.

Gayasooran, an Asura did tapas in this sthalam. Sriman Narayanan gave His audiance to him as he was fulfilled by his tapas. Sriman Narayanan asked him what boon he wants as a result of complete tapas. But, Gayasooran answered the Almighty, that he didn't want any boon from him and he was so strong powerful than Sriman Narayana. On hearing this, Sriman Narayana sent his wheel (chakra) to kill the asura and his body was cut into 3 parts. The three parts are the Siro Gaya, (the head part), the Nambi Gaya (the middle part) and the Charana Gaya (the foot part). This sthalam, the Naimisaranyam is said to be the Nabhi Gaya. The Gaya Kshetram is said to be the Charana Gaya and Badri is said to be Siro Gaya. Offering prayers to departed souls in all these three sthalams is said to be so grateful.

The sthala viruksham, known as tree is Tapovanam and all the trees found in this sthalam are said to be sthala viruksham and because of this, the sthala viruksham is Tapovanam (Vanam means the entire forest).

The Pushkarani of this sthalam are Gomukhi Nadhi and Chakkara theertham. On the shore of Chakkara theertham, separate sannadhis for Chakarathalwar, Vinayaka, Sri Rama, Lakshmana and Seetha Piratti is located. On the way to Gomukhi Nadhi, a separate temple called as "Vyasa Ghat" is found. On the other side of this sthalam, a temple for Suka maharishi is situated, where Suka Bhagavan's e bronze statue lies.

Near to this Suka Maharishi temple, a temple for Hanuman on the top of the mountains which is known as the "Hanuman Ghat". He is in standing posture holding Sri Rama and Lakshmana in his two shoulders, in Vishwaroopa Kolam.

One of Ahobila Mutt Jeyer attained Paramapadham in this sthalam and as his rememberance, his sannadhi and a mutt of Ahobilam is opened in this sthalam. Ramanuja koodam, Vaanamamalai Jeeyar Mutt are also situated, helping the devotees who come to this sthalam to get the seva of this sthalam Emperumaan.

Thirumangai Alwar who is the only alwar who has done the Mangalasasanam on this sthala perumal explains about the life led by the human.

Moolavar:

The Moolavar of this Naimisaranyam Divyadesam is Devarajan. He is also named as "Sri Hari". Moolavar in standing posture (Nindra thirukkolam) facing east direction. Prathyaksham for Indiran, Sudharman, Devarishi, Soodhapuranikar and Vedavyasar.

Thaayar:

The thaayar of this Kshetram is Sri Hari Lakshmi. She is also named as "Pundareekavalli".

Mangalasasanam:

Thirumangai Alwar who is the only alwar who has done the Mangalasasanam on this sthala perumal explains about the life led by the human.

Pushkarani:

Chakkara Theertham
Gomuki Nadhi
Nemi Theertham and
Divya Visrantha Theertham
Sthala Vruksham:Tapovanam
Vimaanam:

Sri Hari Vimaanam

***************************

Personal experience in this Divyadesam: (30th March 2011)

It is believed that 60,000 sages are doing penance in the form of trees. Every leaf in this forest is considered very sacred. Got down near chakra theertham. We sprinkled water from Chakra Theertham on our heads.
STHALA PURANAM : Once all the rishis approached Brahma to find out as which was the best place to perform penance. Brahma took a nemi (grass) , made it round in shape (in the form of a wheel) and rolled it . He said that wherever the wheel stopped, that would be the best place for doing penance. The wheel rolled by Brahma reached this place. The rishis followed the wheel and arrived here. To clean the place, Lord Vishnu sent his Sudarshana Chakram to clean the place. The place where the Chakram landed became a deep pit and came to be known as Chakra Theertha. Whoever has bath in Chakra Theertham will be redeemed of all their sins. Perumal blessed the rishis that hereafter this place would be the best place for the rishis to do penance and attain the Lotus feet of the Lord. At the behest of the rishis, Perumal decided to stay there in Aaranya swaroopam. The rishis in due course got transformed into trees and are still doing penance.

From there we went to Vyasa Ghat. There is a very big.,5000 year old

Banyan tree is there at that site. We can have a look of Gomathi river behind the temple. Sri Suka maharshi and Sri vedavyas maharshi sannidis are here. Nearby we can find Chakrathazwar sannidi also. Theres a temple for Manu.

Then visited a temple for Suka maharishi, where we can find Suka Bhagavans bronze statue. We can find the 4 vedas and Puranas here.

Near to this temple, theres a Hanuman temple called Hanuman Ghat. Lord is in standing posture holding Sri Rama and Lakshmana in his two shoulders, in Vishwaroopam. We can also see Maayil Ravan who is being crushed by Lord Hanumans feet.

Then went to Devaraja perumal temple. This is our divyadesam temple. On the right side, we can find Goddess Lakshmi and on the left side Sri Ramanuja sannidhi. We performed vedaparayanam and recited the paasurams here.

Then we went to Ahobila Mutt in that place. Had darshan of Lord Lakshmi Narasimha. We asked the priest to prepare lunch for us and proceeded to have darshan of Lord Balaji. The temple was maintained so well. We could see wheat fields near the entrance.

Gomathi river was nearby and so went there. Since we had darshan of God, we couldn’t take bath here. Just sprinkled water on our heads. Gents did their sandhyavandanam. Spent good time near the river. Then returned back to Ahobila mutt. Had our lunch and again started our journey to Lucknow.