Story Of Narmada River: It is said that after being cheated by her lover Shonbhadra, Narmada decided to remain a virgin for life. But did she really remain a chirkuvanri in the fire of anger or did she think that the better way to punish her lover Shonbhadra was to attack herself while drinking the pain of self-exile. Narmada’s love story is found differently in folk songs and folklores. But the end of each story is more or less the same that due to Shonbhadra’s relationship with Narmada’s maid Juhila, Narmada turns her back and walks in the opposite direction. See the meeting of truth and fiction that the river Narmada appears to be flowing in the opposite direction only.
story 1
Narmada and Shonbhadra were about to get married. At the very last moment of sitting in the marriage hall, Narmada came to know that Shonbhadra is more interested in her maid Juhila (this tribal river flows near Mandla). Narmada of the prestigious clan could not tolerate this insult and left the pavilion and went in the opposite direction. When Shonbhadra realized his mistake, he also ran after Narmada pleading ‘Come back Narmada’…. But Narmada did not want to return, so she did not return.
Now you see the geographical truth of the story that Narmada really flows in the opposite direction from the two major rivers of the Indian peninsula, Ganga and Godavari. That is, from east to west. It is said that even today Narmada seems to be separated from Shonbhadra from a special point. The result of the story is that this is why Narmada has been called the virgin river and on a special combination of planets, the river Ganga itself also comes here to bathe. This river is considered holier than the Ganges.
In Matsyapurana, the glory of Narmada is described in this way, ‘Ganga is sacred in Kankhal region and Saraswati in Kurukshetra. But be it a village or a forest, Narmada is sacred everywhere. Yamuna’s water purifies in a week, Saraswati’s in three days, Ganga’s water on the same day and Narmada’s water at the same moment. In another ancient book, the praise of the seven rivers is like this.
Ganga and Yamuna and Godavari and Saraswati.
Narmada, Sindhu, Cauvery, make your presence in this water.
legend 2
In this legend, Narmada is known as Reva river and Shonbhadra as Sonbhadra. Nad means male form of river. (The Brahmaputra is also called ‘Nad’ and not a river.) However, this legend tells that Princess Narmada was the daughter of Raja Mekhal. Raja Mekhal decided for his very beautiful daughter that the prince who would bring the rare flowers of Gulbakavali for his daughter, he would get his daughter married to him. Prince Sonbhadra brought Gulbakavali flowers. Therefore, the marriage of Princess Narmada was fixed with him.
Narmada could not see Sonbhadra till now. But after listening to the stories of his beauty, youth and bravery, she also started loving him in her heart. Few days were left for the marriage to take place. But Narmada could not help but thought of sending a love message through the hands of her maid Juhila. Juhila got a sense of humour. She asked the princess for her clothes and ornaments and went to meet the prince. When she reached Sonbhadra, Prince Sonbhadra mistook her for Narmada. There was a mistake in Juhila’s intention as well. She could not turn down the love request of the prince. Here the dam of patience of Narmada started breaking. When there was a delay in the arrival of maid Juhila, she herself went to meet Sonbhadra.
On reaching there, seeing Sonbhadra and Juhila together, she got burnt in the fierce fire of humiliation. Immediately from there she started in the opposite direction never to return again. Sonbhadra kept repenting for his mistake. But Narmada, which became a symbol of self-respect and rebellion, did not turn back. Now look at the geographical truth of this legend that Juhila (this river is considered to be a polluted river, it is not included in the holy rivers) near Barha village of Jaisinghnagar, has a confluence with the Sonbhadra river at Dasaratha Ghat on the left side and the story In this, the angry princess Narmada is seen flowing in the opposite direction, virgin and alone. The story of changing the royal clothes of the queen and the maid is still prevalent in the eastern part of Allahabad.
legend 3
It was many thousands of years ago. Narmada ji was born as a river. Sonbhadra was born as a river. Both their houses were near. Both used to walk on their knees in the hills of Amarkant. teasing and teasing While laughing The childhood of both is over. Both became teenagers. The attachment started increasing. Sages and sages camped in caves and hills. Yagya-worship started happening all around. The atmosphere in the entire mountain started getting fragrant with the sacred offerings of Havan. Both grew young in this holy environment. They both took vows. To not leave each other’s side for life. Not to cheat each other.
One day suddenly on the way Sonbhadra came in front of Narmada’s Sakhi Juhila river. She was also a young girl with sixteen adornments, carrying the beauty of the forest. He also attracted Sonbhadra with his style. Sonbhadra forgot his childhood friend Narmada. Juhila also did not feel ashamed to put strings on the love of her friend. Narmada tried hard to convince Sonbhadra. But Sonbhadra had gone mad for Juhila.
Narmada decided in such an intolerable moment that it is better to leave him and go with such a cheater. It is said that since then Narmada has changed its direction. Sonbhadra and Juhila saw Narmada leaving. Sonbhadra felt sad. His childhood friend was leaving him. He called out – ‘N…R…M…Dar…Stop, come back Narmada.
But Narmada ji took a vow to remain a virgin forever. She became a sanyasini in her youth. Heavy hills came on the way. Green forests came. But she went on making way. Every day the noise of deceit and deceit kept increasing. Reached the tribal area of Mandla. It is said that even today in the parikrama of Narmada, the compassionate lamentation of Narmada is heard at some places. Narmada left the journey of Bengal Sea and ran towards Arabian Sea. Look at the geographical fact that all the major rivers of our country meet in the Bengal Sea. But due to anger, Narmada merged into the Arabian Sea.
The story of Narmada is prevalent in the public mind in many forms. But Chirkuwari Narmada’s pure beauty, characteristic sharpness and emotional upsurge is felt by every sensitive mind during Narmada Parikrama. To say that she is in the form of a river, but whether or not the devotees humanize her. The beautiful amalgamation of mythological legend and geographical truth of reality gives strength to this feeling of his and he rises. Namami Devi Narmade.
Source: newstrack.com”