River Mandakini (of Chitrakoot)

River Mandakini (of Chitrakoot) (50 km) (A tributary of river Yamuna)

(Madhya Pradesh)
1. Mandakini (of Chitrakoot) Udgam: Chitrakoot (Satna district) -- Originated from Atri-Anusuya Ashram of Chitrakoot due to the penance of Sati Anusuya
2. Mandakini (of Chitrakoot) flows: Chitrakoot (Chitrakoot district) -- River Mandakini flows through Chitrakoot

(Uttar Pradesh)
3. Mandakini (of Chitrakoot) - Yamuna Sangam: Rajapur (Chitrakoot district) -- Birthpace of Tulsidas

1. ► Chitrakoot (Shakti Peetha)
(Chitrakoot district, Uttar Pradesh)
(Satna district, Madhya Pradesh)

☗ Chitrakoota Mountain
☸ Chitrakoota Forest (Puranic)
▬ River Mandakini (Payaswini) flows
- Ram Ghat - Raghav Prayag Ghat - Bharat Ghat - Raj Ghat
(Bundelkhand)
(Baghelkhand)

(Valmiki Ramayana)
(Peetha Nirnaya Tantra)

• Rama: Sri Rama visited the hermitage of sage Valmiki while entering Chitrakoota.
- Sri Rama stayed in Chitrakoota during forest exile in a Parna Shala (Leaf Hut). During his stay in Chitrakoota, Sri Rama described the beauty of Chitrakoota Mountain and river Mandakini to Devi Sita.
- Sri Rama gave his Padukas to Bharata in Chitrakoota.
- Sri Rama visited the hermitage of sage Atri and Devi Anusuiya while leaving Chitrakoota.
- Ram Ghat
- Parna Kuti Mandir
- Janaki Kund
- Sphatik Shila
- Kamadgiri Hill
- Kamtanath Temple
- Lakshman Pahari
- Bharat Milap Temple
- Bharat Koop
- Sita Rasoi
- Gupta Godavari

• Hanuman: Bhakta Hanuman abides in Chitrakoota in Hanuman Dhara. It is said that after Hanuman set Lanka on fire, Sri Rama pacified his anger in Hanuman Dhara.
- Hanuman Dhara

• Devi: Devi abides in Chitrakoota as Ramagiri Shakti Peetha (identified with Kamadgiri Hill as well as Maihar Sharada).
- Kamadgiri Hill
- Maihar Sharada

• Sages: Sages associated with Chitrakoota:

○ Valmiki: Sage Valmiki had his hermitage in Chitrakoota where Sri Rama visited during forest exile (while entering Chitrakoota).
- Valmiki Ashrama

○ Atri: Sage Atri and Devi Anusuiya had their hermitage in Chitrakoota where Sri Rama visited during forest exile (while leaving Chitrakoota).
- Atri-Anusuiya Ashrama

• Saints: Saints associated with Chitrakoota:

○ Tulsidas (1532 - 1623 CE): Sri Tulsidas was born in Rajapur of Chitrakoota. Sri Tulsidas composed part of the Ramcharitmanas in Chitrakoota. Sri Tulsias also got the darshan of Totamukha Hanuman and Sri Rama in Ram Ghat of Chitrakoota.
- Rajapur
- Ram Ghat

चित्रकूटाद्रिनिकेतन राम् ॥ कैकेयीतनयार्थित राम् ॥
राम् राम् जय राजा राम् । राम् राम् जय सीता राम् ।
- Nama Ramayana - verses 30 and 32 (Sri Rama stayed in the Chitrakoota mountain-forest and met Bharata there)

विरचितनिजपितृकर्मक राम् ॥ भरतार्पितनिजपादुक राम् ॥
राम् राम् जय राजा राम् । राम् राम् जय सीता राम् ।
- Nama Ramayana - verses 33 and 34 (Sri Rama performed the last rites of his father in Chitrakoota and gave his padukas to Bharata)

शोणाख्या भद्रसेनस्तु नर्मदाख्ये नितम्बकः ।
रामगिरौ स्तनान्यञ्च शिवानी चण्डभैरवः ॥
- Shakti Peetha Stotram - verse 37 (Chitrakoot has the Ramagiri Shakti Peetha where the Stana of Devi had fallen)


(Valmiki Ramayana)

▬ Sri Rama visiting the Valmiki Ashrama while entering Chitrakoota
(Valmiki Ramayana - Ayodhya Kanda - 56)
▬ Sri Rama staying in Chitrakoota in a Parna-shala
(Valmiki Ramayana - Ayodhya Kanda - 56, 94, 95)
▬ Sri Rama meeting Bharata and giving his padukas in Chitrakoota
(Valmiki Ramayana - Ayodhya Kanda - 99 to 112)
▬ Sri Rama visiting the Atri-Anusuya Ashrama while leaving Chitrakoota
(Valmiki Ramayana - Ayodhya Kanda - 117 to 119)
▬ Ramagiri Shakti Peetha: I meditate on the Ramagiri Shakti Peetha where the Stana (Breast) of Devi had fallen. The Devi there is known as Shivani and the Bhairava is called Canda.
(Peetha Nirnaya Tantra - Shakti Peetha Stotram - verse 37)