Sacred river · Madhya Pradesh · Maharashtra · Gujarat
Narmada (नर्मदा)
नर्मदा
Presiding goddess: Goddess Narmada (Rewa)
Origin
Amarkantak plateau, Maikal Range, Madhya Pradesh (1,048 m)
Mouth
Gulf of Khambhat, Arabian Sea (near Bharuch, Gujarat)
Length
1,312 km
Best pilgrim season
November–February (parikrama season); Narmada Jayanti on Magha Shukla Saptami
Sacred ghats
Major tirthas on this river
Legend & origin story
Born of Shiva’s perspiration during his Tandava on Mount Maikal, hence Shankari. She is the only river in Bharat that flows westward against the prevailing easterly grade, having refused marriage to the Sonbhadra river out of pride in her independence. Every stone (bana-linga) lifted from her bed is considered a swayambhu Shivalinga requiring no pran-pratishtha.
Spiritual significance
Narmada parikrama — the 2,600 km circumambulation of the entire river, taken on foot over 3 years 3 months and 13 days — is the supreme penance in Sanatana Dharma, said to grant moksha equal to ten Kashi visits. A mere darshan grants what bathing in Ganga gives after seven days, what Yamuna gives after three. "Ganga snanat phalam yat tu, Narmada darshanat tat" (Skanda Purana).