Shivrinarayan

Shivrinarayan is a town and a nagar panchayat in Janjgir-Champa district in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh.

Shivrinarayan has a significant role in the life of Lord Rama. Lord Rama along with his wife Sita and his younger brother Lakshaman had started his Vanvas (exile) in the Bastar district (more precisely Dandakaranya region) of Chhattisgarh. They lived more than 10 years of their 14 years of Vanvas in different places of Chhattisgarh. One of the remarkable place is Shivrinarayan which is nearby Bilaspur district of Chhattisgarh. Shivrinarayan was named after an old lady Shabari. When Ram visited Shabari she said "I do not have anything to offer other than my heart, but here are some berry fruits. May it please you, my Lord." Saying so, Shabari offered the fruits she had meticulously collected to Rama. When Rama was tasting them, Lakshmana raised the concern that Shabari had already tasted them and therefore unworthy of eating. To this Rama said that of the many types of food he had tasted, "nothing could equal these berry fruits, offered with such devotion. You taste them, then alone will you know. Whomsoever offers a fruit, leaf, flower or some water with love, I partake it with great joy." More details at Shabari.

Geography

Shivrinarayan is located at . It has an average elevation of 235 m (771 ft).

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Shivrinarayan had a population of 8107. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Shivrinarayan has an average literacy rate of 63%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 73%, and female literacy is 53%. In Shivrinarayan, 18% of the population is under 6 years of age.