Amarkantak
by pritom ghosh
Situated at an altitude of 1000 m, Amarkantak is a well frequented Hindu pilgrimage center which is popularly known as ‘teerthraj’ or ‘the king of pilgrimages’. It is surrounded by three mountain ranges, Vindhya, Satpuras and Maikal. Bordered with lofty hills and dense forests, Amarkantak is very significant from ecological point of view.
The Adi-Khanda of Padma Purana mentions that one who goes to Amarkantak mountain will enjoy the fourteen worlds of thirty-seven thousand crores of years. Afterwards he will be born on earth as a king and reign as supreme emperor. A visit to Amarkantak has ten times the values of an Ashvamedha. If one has Shiva’s darshan there, one will attain the heaven. The books further mentions that at the time of an eclipse, all kinds of holy things converge towards Amarkantak.
Kalidasa is known to have visited Amarkantak and names the place Amrakoot after the beautiful mango groves that dotted this sacred land. Adi Shankaracharya is known to have come and resided by the river side and consecrated its banks, he also founded the Pataleshwar temple at Amarkantak from a clump of bamboo trees. This place is called Surajkund today.
