Shri Naimishnath Vishnu Temple

Getting there

• By train

  Sandila railway station is 42 km from the temple area.

• By road

  The town lies at a road junction on the roads from Sitapur and Khairabad, 32 km from Sitapur.

Why devotees come here

Shri Naimishnath Vishnu Temple stands in Naimisharanya town, Sitapur district, Uttar Pradesh. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams, the Vishnu temples revered in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham. It is also counted among the eight self-manifested Vishnu temples.

The temple is dedicated to Vishnu and Lakshmi. The legend says Indra did penance to Vishnu in the Naimish forest for 2000 years. Vishnu then revealed that only a weapon made from the bones of the sage Dadhichi would defeat Vritra. The temple is counted as one of the eight Vishnu temples that self-manifested, a Swayamvyaktha Kshetra.

The temple is believed to be very ancient, with contributions from different ruling kings over time. The ancient Naimish forest corresponds to modern Nimsar, situated along the Gomati river in Sitapur district. It is built in South Indian style, with a gopuram outside and North Indian features inside. In the sanctum, a golden Garuda pillar faces the standing Vishnu idol, which is carved from black stone.

Three sanctums sit side by side, for Vishnu, Lakshmi and Ramanujacharya. Pilgrims take a holy dip in the temple's tirthas during festive occasions.

Festivals

• Every new moon dayNew moon day

  A large number of devotees purify themselves with a dip in the holy well.

Tips for your visit

• Dadhichi Kund is about 12 km away in the Mishrikh region.
• Kaali Peeth, a well-known temple in Naimisharanya, is dedicated to Devi Kaali.
• Devpuri Temple is 1.5 km west of Chakratirth.

Questions people ask