“Every Particle of Kabirdham Echoes with ‘Har Har Mahadev,’ from Amarkantak to Bhoramdev”

Tomorrow is the fourth Monday of the holy month of Shravan. In the entire month, from Kabirdham district of Chhattisgarh to Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh, Bol-Bam, Bam-Bol and Har-Har Mahadev have started resonating. A similar sight is being seen in the enthusiasm and excitement of the pilgrims and Kanwariyas coming from the border areas of the neighboring districts of Bemetara, Mungeli and Rajanandgaon. This time the number of Kanwariyas bringing water of Maa Narmada from Amarkantak has increased significantly. In view of the increasing number of Kanwariyas, on the initiative and instructions of Deputy Chief Minister Shri Vijay Sharma, the District Bol Bam Coordination Committee and the Kabirdham District Administration are providing basic facilities to the Kanwariyas, such as their accommodation, their primary health care and other basic facilities.

On the initiative and instructions of Deputy Chief Minister Shri Vijay Sharma, members of the District Bol Bam Coordination Committee, former Municipal Council President Shri Anil Thakur, Shri Dauwa Gupta, Shri Sudhir Kesharwani, Shri Nishant Jha are engaged in providing basic facilities to the devotees and Kanwariyas coming from Amarkantak to Kabirdham district in the month of Sawan. Members of the District Bol Bam Coordination Committee said that on the instructions of Deputy Chief Minister Shri Sharma, special arrangements have been made at more than 20 places for the rest of the Kanwariyas coming from Amarkantak. Apart from this, rest camps have been set up by setting up different social buildings and special water proof tents near the historic Bhoramdev temple of Kawardha. To provide basic facilities to the devotees and Kanwariyas, the District Bol Bam Coordination Committee, the entire staff of the district administration, from Kotwar to administrative officers, staff of urban bodies and other facilities including police personnel are engaged in making security and traffic arrangements. Health camps have been arranged at more than 15 places on the route from Amarkantak to Bhoramdev temple. Apart from this, health camps are being organized near Jaleshwar Mahadev Dongaria, Panchmukhi Budha Mahadev Temple in Kawardha and Bhoramdev Temple, in which the health department team has been put on special duty from stop nurses to dressers and doctors. Apart from this, all the health centers coming on this route are providing health facilities to the devotees and Kanwarias.

Till now more than 25 thousand Kanwariyas and devotees have taken free rest and food at Mrityunjay Ashram.
Under the supervision of Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister of the state, Shri Vijay Sharma, special arrangements have been made for Kanwariyas and devotees at Mrityunjay Ashram. On the initiative of Deputy Chief Minister Shri Vijay Sharma, arrangements for free stay and food are being made daily at Mrityunjay Ashram for Kanwariyas and devotees who perform Jalabhishek from Amarkantak to Kawardha in the holy month of Shravan. In this meal, from dal-rice-vegetables to sweets like kheer, puri and halwa are also being given free of cost to the Kanwarias.

More than 2 Lakh devotees arrived at Baba Bhoramdev Temple, thousands of Kanwarias performed Jalabhishek.
As soon as the name of Kabirdham Kawardha comes to the tongue, the image of Baba Bhoramdev Temple is visible. Surrounded by hills at the foot of Maikal mountain, the Shivalaya of Baba Bhoramdev Temple resounds with Har Har Mahadev throughout the year. But as soon as the holy month of Sawan begins, thousands of devotees and Kanwarias start coming here from the first Monday. Since the three Mondays of the month of Sawan, more than 02 lakh devotees have arrived at Baba Bhoramdev Temple till now. Thousands of Kanwarias have performed Jalabhishek of the Shiv Linga situated in the sanctum sanctorum of Baba Bhoramdev Temple. Kanwarias of different Bolbam committees of Kawardha take the holy water of Maa Narmada river in Kanwar from Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh and after travelling on foot for 180 kms through jungles, hills and rocky paths, they pass through Hanumant Khol of Kabirdham district and reach Jaleshwar Mahadev of the district. Here thousands of Kanwarias perform Jalabhishek at Jaleshwar Mahadev every year. The next stop of Bol-Bam pilgrims is at Baba Bhoramdev temple, 18 kms from Kawardha. After this, while travelling on foot, they reach the ancient Panchmukhi Budhamodha of Kawardha and perform Jalabhishek and worship of Shiv Linga with devotion. Here thousands of Kanwarias perform Jalabhishek of Lord Shiva, who is seated in Baba Bhoramdev temple, with the water of Maa Narmada river. 

Why is Kawardha called Chota Kashi?
It is said that Lord Shiva resides in every particle of Kashi. Perhaps this is why Kashi, the religious capital of the world, situated on the holy banks of Maa Ganga, is also called Mokshadayini. A glimpse of the similarity of Kashi can be seen in Kabirdham district of Chhattisgarh. The only sacred Panchmukhi Shiv Linga Budha Mahadev of the world is situated in Kawardha city of Kabirdham district. This is a self-created Shiv Linga. Such is the belief. Just 18 kilometers from Kawardha is the Shivalaya of the ancient and historical Baba Bhoramdev temple of the 11th century. The sacred Sakri river, which is the life-giving river of Kawardha, flows here for about 18 kilometers till you reach the ancient Bhoramdev temple. At the same time, village Dongaria is located just 26 kilometers from Kawardha. Dongaria is situated on the banks of the Phok river, a tributary of the Sakri river. In this river, since time immemorial, in the middle of the river resides the self-manifested Shiva, who is known as Jaleshwar Mahadev. Since time immemorial, Dandi sanyasis have been coming to Kawardha from other ashrams including the religious capital Kashi and special worship is also done by the Dandi sanyasis at the ancient and historical self-manifested Panchmukhi Shiv Linga of Kawardha. Like other divine Jyotirlingas of the country, Dandi Swamis bow down to this Panchmukhi Shiv Linga Budha Mahadev with a stick. According to legend, this is also why the Dandi sanyasis call Kawardha city as Chota Kashi.