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Fixed a typo found with Wikipedia:Typo_Team/moss.

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'''Naimiṣāraṇya''' (<small>[[Devanagari]]:</small> '''नैमिषारण्य'''), also referred as '''Naimisha''' is a sacred forest frequently mentioned in [[Puranas|Puranic]] literature as well as both the [[Ramayana]] and the [[Mahabharata]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d1JJCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT158&dq=naimisaranya|title=Seeing Spiritual India: A Guide to Temples, Holy Sites, Festivals and Traditions|last=Knapp|first=Stephen|date=2008-05-29|publisher=iUniverse|isbn=9780595614523|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft|title=Puranic encyclopaedia : a comprehensive dictionary with special reference to the epic and Puranic literature|last=Mani|first=Vettam|date=1975|publisher=Delhi : Motilal Banarsidass|others=Robarts - University of Toronto|pages=[https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft/page/517 517]}}</ref> It is the place where [[Puranas]] had been narrated for the first time before a large gathering of sages.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Mio5DwAAQBAJ&pg=PT35&dq=naimisharanya#q=naimisharanya|title=Punya Bhoomi Bharat|last=Sharma|first=Jugal Kishor|date=1993|publisher=Suruchi Prakashan|isbn=9789381500095|language=en}}</ref> The place proper was undoubtedly of much religious efficacy as it was the abode of sixty-thousand [[rishi|Ṛṣis]].

The ancient forest corresponds to modern day [[Misrikh Neemsar|Nimsar]] situated along the [[Gomti River|Gomti]] River in [[Sitapur district|Sitapur]] district of [[Uttar Pradesh]], India.<ref name=":0" />

== Etymology ==
The [[Brahmana|Brahmanas]] derive the name Naimiṣāraṇya from 'nimiṣā', "a twinkling of the eye"; hence Naimiṣāraṇya means "a forest or pool where in the twinkling of an eye sage Gauramukha destroyed an army of [[Asuras]]." Naimiṣīyā figure for the first time in the Brāhmaṇas and the [[Upanishads|Upaniṣadic]] Literature. These words denote the dwellers in the Naimiṣa forest. They are mentioned in the Kāthaka-Saṃhitā and Brāhmaṇas being clearly of special sanctity.

In the [[Varaha Purana]], it has been described as the region where [[Daitya|Daityas]] (demons) were slain within a ''nimiśa (''smallest unit of time) and the place was made a abode of peace''.<ref name=":1" />''

== Legend ==

=== Ramayana ===
According to the [[Ramayana|Rāmāyaṇa]], Naimiṣa was situated along the Gomati River. The sanctity attached to the place was such that [[Rama|Rāma]] desired to celebrate ''Aśvamedha'' sacrifice in this forest, and accordingly, placing his younger brother [[Lakshmana|Lakṣmana]] assisted by the priests in charge of the steed, himself went to the forest. It was during the sacrifice that [[Valmiki]] with his disciples came there and constructed some comfortable huts at a distance. Then Lava and Kuśa recited the whole Ramayana which convinced Rama that they were the twin sons of [[Sita|Sītā]]. Ultimately, Mother Earth appeared at Sita's invocation and, proving her innocence, accompanied her into the bowels of the earth.

=== Mahabharata ===
In the [[Adi Parva]] of the [[Mahabharata]], the forest is mentioned as situated towards east (''prācīm diśam'') of the mountain regions of Himavat which contained many sacred spots. In the epic, there are frequent references to Ṛṣis living in Naimiṣāraṇya and performing sacrifices extending for years.

Here [[Shaunaka|Śaunaka]] had performed a twelve years sacrifice which was attended by a large number of seers, of whom the most prominent and distinguished was [[Ugrashravas|Ugraśrava-Sauti]], the son of Lomaharṣaṇa. His personality attracts the attention of all the scholars of Indian culture. He is described as well-versed in the [[Puranas|Purāṇas]] which he cultivated with meticulous devotion. Sauti's father Lomaharṣaṇa who was a disciple of the great [[Vyasa|Kṛṣṇa-Dvaipāyana Vyāsa]], had once narrated the story of Āstīka before the inhabitants of the forest at the latter's request.

It is also believed that the river [[Sarasvati River|Sarasvatī]] had turned her course towards the east to see the great ''Ṛṣis'' (sages) dwelling in the forest.

== See also ==
* [[Naimisaranya]], a temple located at the purported site of Naimisha forest

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Bibliography ==

* Pandeya, Rajendra Bihari. “[https://www.jstor.org/stable/596777 Naimiṣāraṇya in Literature].” ''Journal of the American Oriental Society'', vol. 84, no. 4, 1964, pp. 405–408. ''JSTOR''.

==External links==
*[http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=27.3424945&lon=80.491333&z=10&l=3&m=h Wikimapia.org] (location)
*[https://www.flickr.com/photos/vijaynandula/8175659895/in/photostream/ Gomati River - Adi Ganga]

[[Category:Ancient Indian forests]]
[[Category:Ramayana]]
[[Category:Mahabharata]]
[[Category:Sitapur district]]

Naimiṣāraṇya (forest) - Revision history

imported>Ira Leviton: Fixed a typo found with Wikipedia:Typo_Team/moss.