River Narmada

When King Puruva performed penances to please Lord Shiva and requested that Narmada be sent down to earth so that he could be absolved of his sins by bathing in her waters. When Shiva finally agreed, she flooded much of the world and the gods had to ask her to keep herself in check. The king bathed in the river and found liberation.  It is said that the sight of the Narmada absolves a man of all his sins. Some pilgrims travel on foot around the entire river.

Shri Sankara is also associated with the Narmada.  When he went in search of a guru and renounce the world he went to the Narmada and found her in flood.  He cleared the waters by gathering them in a pot. An ascetic saw this miracle and agreed to take Shri Sankara as a disciple.

One of the most sacred places on the river is Omkara island that is said to be shaped like the holy Aum.

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