Trimbakeshwar
Jyotirlinga Tour
Shri Trimbakeshwar Temple is located at
a distance of about 30-km from Nasik in Maharashtra near the
mountain named Brahmagiri from which the river Godavari flows.
Trimbakeshwar Temple is revered as one of the 12 Jyotirlinga
shrines of Shiva and as the source of the river Godavari.
Just as Ganga is known as Bhagirathi and is one of the most
important river in North India, in the same way, Godavari
is also known as Gautami Ganga and is the most sacred river
in South India.
According to Shiv Purana, it is because
of the earnest request of Godavari, Gautam Rishi and other
gods that Lord Shiva agreed to reside here and assumed the
famous name Trimbakeshwar. Interestingly, locals refer to
the river here as Ganga and not as Godavari. All the heavenly
Gods promised to come down to Nasik, once in twelve years,
when Jupiter resides in the zodiac sign of Leo. On this a
grand fair is organized at this place. Devotees take a holy
bath in the Gautami Ganga and then seek the blessings of Trimbakeshwar.
Legend Behind Trimbakeshwar Temple
Legend goes that a sage name Gautam Muni resided on the Brahmagiri
hill with his wife Ahilya. By virtue of his devotion, the
sage received from Varuna, a bottomless pit from which he
received an inexhaustible supply of grains and food. The other
rishis, jealous of his fortune, arranged for a cow to enter
his granary and caused it to die as Gowtam Rishi attempted
to ward it off with a bunch of Darbha grass.
Gautam Rishi, therefore, worshipped Lord
Shiva to bring the Ganga down to his hermitage to purify the
premises. Pleased with devotion, Shiva requested Ganga to
flow down and make Sage Gautam pure. After that Ganga flowed
down. Lord Shiva told Ganga to stay there eternally for the
good of everyone. All the Gods started singing the praises
of Gautam Rishi, Ganga and Lord Shiva. On the request of all
the Gods, Lord Shiva resided by the river Gautami by the name
Trimbakeshwar (one of the Jyotirlingas). Hindus believe that
Trimbak Jyotirlinga is one, which fulfills everyone’s
desires. It emancipates all from their sins and miseries.
Another popular legend behind Trimbakeshwar Temple is the
legend of Lingodbhava manifestation of Shiva. It says once
Brahma and Vishnu searched in vain to discover the origin
of Shiva who manifested himself as a cosmic column of fire.
Brahma lied that he had seen the top of the column of fire
and was hence cursed that he would not be worshipped on earth.
In turn Brahma cursed Shiva that he would be pushed underground.
Accordingly, Shiva came down under the Brahmagiri hill in
the form of Tryambakeshwar. Trimbakeshwar Temple is the only
place where Shivlinga is not out but it’s inside the
floor.
Some scholars say that Goddess Parvati also came down along
Lord Shiva and Ganga. The place is therefore called Tryambakeshwa
(three lords). Others believe that the place is so called
because of the presence of three Shivlinga of Brahma, Vishnu
and Mahesh. The Shivlinga of Lord Mahesh has always-flowing
water among the three Shivlingas.
Structure of Trimbakeshwar Temple
Trimbakeshwar Temple is an ancient shrine, however the current
structure is a result of the reconstruction efforts undertaken
by the Peshwa Balaji Bajirao in mid 18th century. The temple
is built of black stone in the Nagara style of architecture
and is enclosed in a spacious courtyard. The sanctum internally
a square and externally a stellar structure houses a small
Shivalingam - Tryambaka. The sanctum is crowned with a graceful
tower, embellished with a giant Amalaka and a golden kalasha.
In front of the garbagriha and the antarala is a mandap with
doors on all four sides. Three of these doorways are covered
with porches and the openings of these porches are ornamented
with pillars and arches. Curvilinear slabs rising in steps
form roof of the mandapam. The entire structure is ornamented
with sculptural work featuring running scrolls, floral designs,
and figures of gods, yakshas, humans and animals
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