Narmada is one of the holiest rivers in India that flows through the Central and Western parts of the country. There are many famous places of pilgrimage all through the river shore of Narmada.
One of the most and the holy place at the shore of river Narmada is the temple of Maha Kali Mandir, which is one form of Devi Adi Shakthi. This temple is very ancient and is said to be in presence of “Satya Yuga”.
This temple is situated at the village of Karnali, near the famous town of Chanod. Chanod is located near Dabhoi in the Vadodara district in Gujarat State in India. It is around 60 Kms away from city of Vadodara. There are regular buses plying from Vadodara for this “Maha Kali Mandir” temple.
There is a mythological story about this temple. Shkanda Puran & Markandeya Puran are Mentioned the Holiness of temple by the following story.
Lord Shiva was passing once through the thick forest around the shore of river Narmada with goddess Parvati. Goddess Parvati felt hungry and thirsty due to long walk in the hot sun. She requested Lord Shiva for some food and water. As the food and water was nowhere available nearby, also the place is thick jungle at that time. The adivasis who lived there suffering from drought in summer and by floods of Sri Narmada Ji in monsoons. The local people were difficult to lead their life and theirs life suffer from their debts to local rulers & Lord's.
Lord Shiva thought that it would be proper if he himself stays there in the form of food and water so that all the locals & pilgrims can have food and holy water of river Narmada in this thick and remote place. Lord Shiva stayed there adopting the name of Runs Mukteswar Mahadev, who is considered to be the god of food, water & all debts clearer in the form of “Runa Mukteswar Mahadev“ .And Devi Parvati stayed with him here.
During the period of Ramayan , fearing his younger brother RAAVAN, Kuber came here as a refugee to Lord Shiva. From this temple 400 ft upwards he stayed and did tapasya, by pleased his tapasya Lord Shiva disguised himself in the form of Kuber Bhandari. After Lord Shiva, took the form of “Kuber Bhandari”, Devi decided to took the form of “ Maha Kali” in order to protect the Devotees from evil forces & bless them with prosperity & good health.
So people who visit Kuber Bhandari, first visit “ Maha Kali Mandir “ and Darshan Maha Kali, Run Mukteshwar than only visit Kuber Bhandari .
From ancient times people visit Maha Kali temple first before visit Kuber Bhandari temple.
Maharishi Arvind of Aurobindo Ashram of Pondicherry, during his Parivaraja life spent some time in this temple. He did tapasya in a gufa where Run Mukteshwar Mahadev & Narmada Ji temple present. Now this gufa modified with good structure for the convenience of Devotees.
This lovely temple is situated at a height of around 400 feet above at the coast of river Narmada. There are around 100 steps to get down reaching to the river Narmada. River Narmada flows in all its glory here very quietly. There is a lot of importance of taking a bath here at this spot in the river prior to going for the darshanas of Lord Kuber Bhandari. However, you must be very careful while taking a bath here in the river as the water is quiet deep here with lot of crocodiles moving in the river. The atmosphere of the temple is so peaceful that you can really experience the divine peace here. Most of the visitors perform dhyan and pranayama activities here at the temple.
