Narmada Jayanti 2025: One of the holiest rivers of India, the Narmada River is particularly famous due to its inverted flowing. This river flows towards the west, while most rivers flow towards the east. The mythological significance of the Narmada River is a symbol of respect and reverence not only in India but around the world. Many stories and beliefs are attached to the flow of this river in the opposite direction, some of which are religious and some scientists.

Every year Narmada Jayanti is celebrated on the Shukla Paksha Saptami Tithi of Magh month, which is being celebrated on 4 February this year. Let us know why the Narmada River vomit and what are the interesting mythological and scientific stories hidden behind it.

Religious importance and mythology of Narmada River

The Narmada River is mentioned in many major Puranas, such as Ramayana, Mahabharata, Vayu Purana and Skanda Purana.

These texts have a detailed description of the origin and glory of Narmada. Narmada is also called 'Reva' and is also considered the daughter of Akash. The origin of the Narmada River is Amarkantak, and many holy devaslas are also situated on its sides.

An interesting story to Lord Shiva

According to religious beliefs, the origin of the Narmada River is considered from Lord Shiva. It is said that during the penance of Shiva, some sweat droplets fell from his body, which led to the construction of a lake and a beautiful girl named Narmada appeared from that lake.

Seeing this girl, the gods named her Narmada. The stones found on the banks of the Narmada River are Shivling shaped, which are called Banling, which are considered highly revered in Hinduism.

Why the Narmada River vomit

There is also a mythological story of the Narmada River inverted, which is not only interesting but also offers the story of sorrow and love. Once King Makal's daughter Narmada became married and the king announced that the flower of Gulbakavali will marry Narmada. Rajkumar Sonbhadra completed this challenge, and the marriage of Narmada and Sonbhadra was decided. But, one day Narmada expressed his desire to see the prince and sent a message to his friend Johila.

Johila looked like Narmada, and Sonbhadra proposed love as Narmada.

Johila accepted this proposal and started loving Sonbhadra. When Narmada came to know about this, she became very angry and pledged that she would never marry and remain virgin throughout his life. Due to this suffering and anger, the Narmada river started flowing in the opposite direction and went to the Arabian Sea. Since then the Narmada River is worshiped as a virgin river and its pebbles are considered as nervous Shivling.

Scientific cause of Narmada River flowing inverted

From a scientific point of view, the inverted flowing of the Narmada River is due to the rift valley. The rift Valley is a geophysical structure, in which the slope for the flow of the river occurs in the opposite direction. For this reason, the river flows in the same direction where there is a slope.

This is the reason that the Narmada River flows in the opposite direction and joins the Arabian Sea.