Historical Period7c CE
Puranic period attested; documented by Xuanzang (7th c.), Al-Biruni (11th c.), Ibn Battuta (14th c.); Narmada Parikrama 20th–21st c.
3000 BCE7th century CEPresent
Sacred Facts · At a Glance
Mantra
Tradition-specific
- Gender
- female
- Element
- water
- Sacred Colours
- tradition-specific
- Sacred Offerings
- tradition-specific
Primary Scriptures
1 source- Hindu primary textsscriptural/oral
Narmadā source at Amarkantak
Tradition
Hindu / Shakta
Location
- Amarkantak, Anuppur, Madhya Pradesh (22.65°N, 81.75°E)
Sacred Narrative
Amarkantak (1,065m) in the Vindhya range is the source of the Narmadā — the only major Indian river flowing west (not east like Ganges, Godavari, Kaveri). The source spring is the Narmadā Kund; Son Kund (source of the Son river) adjoins. Tradition: Narmadā is a virgin — never married — hence ritually purer than the Ganges. Pilgrims perform the Narmadā Parikramā (3-year, 3,350-km pilgrimage around the entire river). The source-shrines are Shaiva.
Wisdom Graph: Divine Associations
MantraTradition-specific
- Offerings
- tradition-specific
- Sacred colours
- tradition-specific
🪔 Worship Procedures
- Daily rites
- • tradition-specific
🛕 Principal Temples
- Main shrine of Narmadā source at AmarkantakVaries📍 Amarkantak, Anuppur, Madhya Pradesh, IndiaFestivals: Annual festivalNarmadā — "virgin"-river source at Amarkantak
🎊 Festivals
- Annual Narmadā source at Amarkantak festivalSeasonally · 1–10 days
📜 Primary Scriptural Sources
Sources & provenance
🎓 1 Scholarly📖 1 Tertiary
- 🎓Scholarly sourceBookHindu tradition sources
- 📖Supporting referenceGazetteerAnuppur District Gazetteer