Naimiṣāraṇya (Sanskrit: नैमिषारण्य), lit. 'Naimisha forest', also referred as Naimisha (Sanskrit: नैमिष) or Nimkhårvan is a sacred forest mentioned in Puranic literature, as well as both the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. It is regarded to be the place where the Puranas had been narrated for the first time, before a large gathering of sages. The ancient forest corresponds to modern day Nimsar, situated along the Gomati river in the Sitapur district of Uttar Pradesh, India.
நெஞ்சினால்,
நினைந்தும், வாயினால் மொழிந்தும் - நீதியல்லாதன செய்தும் .. ..
வந்துன்
திருவடியடைந்தேன் *நைமிசாரணியத்துள்*
எந்தாய் !!
Throughout
my life - thinking wickedly, speaking in harsh tones, doing many acts against
Dharma, have committed many sins – now am falling at your feet
O the Lord at Naimisaraniyam
Revered as a sacred Tapovanam, it is believed Sriman Narayana manifests here as the entire forest. It is the legendary site where 88,000 sages gathered and Sage Sutha narrated the Puranas. There are 9 tapovams. They are Dandakaranyam, Saindhavaranyam, Jambhukaranyam, Pushkararanyam, Utpalaranyam, Badrikaranyam, Gurujangalaranyam, Aruputharanyam and Naimisaranayam. Naimisaranyam is regarded as a holy forest – Emperuman himself is in the form of forest.
Naimisaranya is located at the junction of the roads from Sitapur and Khairabad, 32 km from Sitapur and 42 km from the Sandila railway station, 45 miles north of Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh. Naimisaranya is also known as Nimsar or Nimkhar and is located on the left bank of the river Gomati. The famous poet, Surdas resided here. Maharishi Suta, the author of 18 puranas is believed to have lived here and presented his sayings to the sages.
Pic
taken couple of years ago !
