Shrikshetra Kavanai is an ancient village situated at about 47 kms from Nasik. This holy place is found in many religious and historical references. It may be mentioned that ‘Simhastha-Parva’ used to be held at this place from the era of ‘Satya-Yuga’, till the year 1770. Shri. Falahari Baba from Kavanai gave this information to Shri. Shailesh Pote, a representative of ‘Dainik Sanatan Prabhat’. He also gave other useful information about Kavanai. On 6th September, ‘Shahi (Raj Yogi) snan’ will be performed here in the morning and a procession will be taken out of ‘Sadhus – Saints’ coming here for ‘Shahi-snan’. On this occasion, Sanatan Sanstha and Hindu Janajagruti Samiti will welcome the procession with gratitude ‘bhava’. In the background of the ‘Raj Yogi Snan’, let us find out importance and other information of this holy place in brief.
Significance of Kavanai !
- During the ‘Samudra-manthan (churning of ocean)’ undertaken by Gods and Demons, Gods found ‘Amrut-Kumbh (pot of nectar)’. Gods drank the nectar at this place.
- ‘Simhastha-Parva’ used to be held at this place from ‘Satya-Yuga’ till the year 1770; in fact, Kavanai is the main place of ‘Simhastha-Parva’.
- Saint Dnyaneshwar had given life to a dead child by giving ‘teertha’ from this place, 700 years ago.
- Out of 24 incarnations of God, one is of Sage ‘Mahamuni’ Kapil who was born here and when he was 5 years old, he had enlightened his mother Devahuti on Statistics.
- There is a place called ‘Kapil-Teertha’ here where flow of water comes out of a ‘Gou-mukh’ from this ‘Teertha’ and considered as a holy place. On the South of Kapil-Teertha in Kavanai, there was an ashram of ‘Shukracharya’ who was the Guru of demons. Thousands of years ago, ‘Dandakaraya’ had become a barren land due to a curse; but during the exile period of Shriram, He came here and the land became fertile.
- During the period of ‘Ramayana’, Lakshman was once hit by an arrow and had become unconscious. Shri. Hanuman, who then had gone on the mission of obtaining ‘Sanjivani’ herbs, had slain a demon called ‘Kalnemi’ on a high hill at this place.
- Maharshi Durvasa had brought cursed crocodile back to original form of ‘Gandharva’.
- About 1800 years ago, Huen Tsang of China, during his Indian expedition, visited ‘Sankhya-Yoga’ Gurukula at Kapil-Teertha and he was so impressed that he translated the Gurukul-education system in Chinese language.
- Shri. Samartha Ramdas swami had taken penance at the same Kapil-Teertha.
- Shri. Gajanan Maharaj also took penance in one of the caves here for 12 years and acquired supernatural powers and cured many people with ‘Teertha’ from this place.
- At such holy place, Simhastha Kumbh-Mela is held from ancient times. Persons visiting this place are blessed with bliss, and have experiences of being in that period; owing to the blessings of Kapil Muni.
Source : Dainik Sanatan Prabhat
