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Shon Shakti Peeth (Narmada source, Amarkantak)

Narmada Udgam (source) temple, Amarkantak, Anuppur district, Madhya Pradesh

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Shon Shakti Peeth (Narmada source, Amarkantak)
Photo: Sonu monu, CC BY-SA 3.0

Traditions differ: Bharatkosh also records two other claimants for the Shon peeth: the Tarachandi temple at Sasaram in Bihar, where some believe the Devi's right eye fell, and a Devi temple near Dehri-on-Sone, close to the Son river.

About

The Shon or Shondesh Shakti Peeth is at Amarkantak in Anuppur district of Madhya Pradesh, where the holy Narmada river begins. Here the right hip of Devi Sati is believed to have fallen, and the temple at the Narmada's source is honoured as the peeth. The Devi is worshipped as Narmada, also called Shonakshi, with Bhadrasen as her Bhairav. Many temples stand around the Narmada Udgam Kund. The main Narmada temple is believed to have been built by the Kalachuri kings around the 12th century, and was later restored by the Bhonsle kings of Nagpur and by Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar.

The story

According to the Shakti Peeth tradition, after King Daksha's yagya Shiv ji wandered in grief carrying the body of Devi Sati. Vishnu ji's Sudarshan chakra then divided the body, and wherever a part or an ornament fell, a Shakti Peeth arose. Her right hip is believed to have fallen here. Amarkantak has its own sacred story as well. Devotees honour Maa Narmada as the daughter of Shiv ji, who flowed from his matted locks; that is why Shiv ji is called Jatashankar here. It is said that Maa Narmada used to pick flowers in a green garden nearby, known today as Mai ki Bagiya. The spring was once hidden in a clump of bamboo; a chief named Rewa Nayak built the first kund and temple, and his statue still stands near the bathing pool. Adi Shankaracharya is believed to have named this stream as the true source of the Narmada. Many generations later the Bhonsle kings of Nagpur gave the temple its shape, Maharani Ahilyabai restored it, and in 1939 Maharaja Gulab Singh of Rewa repaired the kund and the courtyard.

Visiting

October to March is the best time; winters are cold, so carry warm clothes. The nearest railway stations are Pendra Road (about 43 km) and Anuppur (about 75 km), and the nearest airport is Jabalpur. Nearby are Sonmuda, Mai ki Bagiya, the Kapildhara and Dudhdhara waterfalls, the Kalachuri-era temples and Kabir Chabutra.

Festivals

  • Narmada Jayanti (Magh Shukla Saptami)
  • Chaitra and Ashwin Navratri

51 Shakti Peeths

Sources