Day 8 – 30th January 2011

|| नर्मदे हर ||

Date : 30th January 2011

Start : Ujjain

End  : Nemawar

Distance :   178 km

Day for parents started at 2.30am , they went to attend the Bhaasmaarti (भस्मार्ती ) at the Mahakal temple. As per tradition during this aarti the Shivlinga is washed with milk , water , flower and by ash (भस्म). This was an mesmerizing experience for my mom dad :)

By 8.00am we hired a local Auto rickshaw for Ujjain site seeing.

First went to Bhartruhari (भर्तृहरी) caves. There are caves and a Navnath temple

Then went to Sandipani Rushi Aashram (सांदिपनी ऋषींचा आश्रम).

This is the place where Shri Krishna and his brother Balaram studied.There are nice idols of all of them.

Also this is the only place where you can find a standing Nandi (उभा नंदी). The story behind this is that Shri Krishna and Mahakal met in this place and hence The Nandi stood up in their honor.

Third place to visit was Siddhavateshwar (सिद्धवटेश्वर). There is a Pipal tree which is believed to be planted by Maa Parvati.

Then visited Kaalimata Mandir.Her carrier is a Lion.

After that visited Mangal Temple (मंगळ मंदिर). This is the only temple of mangal in whole world. The carrier of Mangal is a male goat.

Next was kalbhairav temple (कालभैरव) .His carrier is a black Dog. Strangely - Liquior is offered to this god.Kalbhairav is believed to be maha senapati of Lord Mahakaleshwar.

Then a quick visit to Ram ghat on Shipra river. Didn't find anything intresting at this place.

Then saw a big idol of king Vikramaditya who ruled Ujjain.

Also visited temple of Harshida Mata (its is shaktipith).

We left ujjain at around 12 noon for Namawar. The road was good.

Nemawar is considered the center (नाभी स्थान) of Narmada river. Here they have erected a red flag in between the river to depict the center.

This is a beautiful ghat. The temple is also very artistic. We spent a very pleasent evening on the banks of this river.

Also floated many floating lights in the river during the evening. It was a very beautiful site.

Here is also an aashram of Swami Chinmayananda who hails from Sangli region.

We got a stay at a Jaiin dharmashala which was very quite and peaceful.