Location of Trimbakeshwar
About
38 kms away from Nashik Road Railway Station, it is connected by bus and taxi
service. There are modern Dharmashalas (caravansary) built by charitable
Gujarathi Community available for stay for three days to any individual. The
stay can be extended by written permission of the trustees. Besides, there are
big houses of Kshetropadhyes (the local priests), where lodging and boarding is
made available.
Getting there
By
Air :
|
Nearest
airport is Nashik 39 kms.
|
By
Rail :
|
Nearest
railhead is Nashik Road 44 kms on Central Railway.
|
By
Road :
|
Bombay - Trimbakeshwar 180 kms.
Nashik - Trimbakeshwar 28
kms.
State Transport buses ply
between Nashik - Trimbakeshwar
frequently.
|
Reservation
:
|
Bombay and Trimbakeshwar.
|
Checkout
Time :
|
12.00
noon.
|
Accommodation
:
|
Self
contained rooms [11 blocks], dormitories [2 blocks - 20 beds] and
tents.
|
Story associated with
Trimbakeshwar
At
the time of the marriage of Lord Shiva with Parvati, all the Devarshis gathered
together. Brahmadev, the creator of the Universe, seeing the beauty of Parvati,
had a discharge of semen. Lord Shiva observing this, offered him water of Ganges, the purest water and said, “You will wipe off
your sin by this water”. Brahmadev kept the holy water in his kamandalu (a
particular container made out of dried fruit carried by Sadhus) and was
purified by its bath.
Story related to Godavari river
Brahmadev
worshipped God Trivikram when he came to Satya Loka (on earth) with the same
holy water of the Ganges, to get the river Ganges held up by God Shankar on his
head, to flow. River Ganges in the form of a
woman was enjoying with God Shankar, which was noticed by Lord Shiva’s wife
Parvati. She planned to drive Ganges away from
her husband. Parvati and her son Ganesh came to live in Gautama’s
Ashrama with Parvati’s friend Jaya. There was a famine of 24 years and people
were affected by the pangs of hunger. However, Varun - the God of Rains,
pleased with Sage Gautama arranged rains every day in Gautam’s Ashrama
(dwelling place) which was in Trimbakeshwar. Gautama used to sow rice in the
surrounding fields of his Ashrama in the morning, reap the crop in the
afternoon and with it fed a large group of rishis, who took shelter in his
Ashrama on account of the famine. The blessings of the group of rishis
increased the merit (Punya) of Gautam. Lord Indra’s position became shaky
because of his increased merit. So Indra ordered clouds to rain all over
Trimbakeshwar, so that the famine will be over and Rishis will go back and the
increasing merits of Gautam will be weakened. Although the famine was over,
Gautam urged the Rishis to stay back and kept on feeding them and gaining
merit. Once he saw a cow grazing in the paddy field and he drove her away
by throwing Darbha (sharp, pointed grass). The slender cow died by this. It was
Jaya - Parvati’s friend, who had taken the form of a cow. This news upset the
Rishis and they refused to luncheon at his Ashram. Gautam requested Rishis to
show a way out of this sin. He was advised to approach Lord Shiva and request
him to release Ganges and a bath in the Ganges
would set him free of his sins. Gautam then practiced penance by going to the peak of Brahmagiri. Lord Shankara was pleased by
his worships and gave him the Ganges. However,
Ganges was not prepared to part with Lord
Shiva, which irritated him. He made Tandav Nrutya (dance) on the peak of Brahmagiri and dashed his jata
there. Frightened by this action, Ganges
appeared on Brahmagiri. Later on Ganges
appeared in the Trimbak Tirtha. Gautam praised her but she off and on appeared
on the mountain at various places and disappeared in anger. Gautama could not
bathe in her waters. Ganges then appeared in
Gangadwar, Varaha-tirtha, Rama-Laxman tirtha, Ganga Sagar tirtha. Still Gautama
could not bathe in her waters. The Gautama surrounded the river with
enchanted grass and put a vow to her. The flow stopped there and
the tirtha thus came to be called Kushavarta. It is from this Kushavarta
that the river Godavari flows up to the sea.
The sin of killing a cow by Gautama was wiped off here.
Its religious significance
Sinhastha
Mahatmya speaks of Lord Rama having made the Yatra at Trimbakeshwar. A shraddha
on the river Godavari gives great satisfaction
to the forefathers. If it is not done in this place, it is considered as a
religious sin. So Ganga Pujan, Ganga Bhet, Deh
Shuddhi Prayaschitta. Tarpan Shradha, Vayan, Dasha Dana, Gopradan etc. Rituals
are done in Trimbakeshwar. Mundana and Tirtha Shraddha are also performed
here.
Kushavarta
is called as Teertharaj, since it has six corners. After finishing the
tirtha-yatra at Kushavarta, a pilgrim should proceed by the northern bank of Godavari and visit Nilsangameshwar, Vivah Vinayak, Satya
Narayan, Dhaneshwar Mahadev, Tarangeshwar, Setupaleshwar etc.
The
Lord Shiva at Trimbakeshwar is worshipped by recitations of Rudra, Rudri, Laghu
Rudra, Maha Rudra or Ati Rudra puja. Actually Rudrashak is a religious fruit
which is said to be found in lord Shiva's neck in the form of Rudra garland.
Some of the trees of Rudrashak is also found in Trimbakeshwar. For more details
readRudraksha Mahima
When was the temple built and by whom ?
Kushavarta
was a large area. Shreemant Rao Sahib Parnekar has built up the banks with
stone pavement and with verandahs on all sides. Near Kushavarta is
Kanchan and Kankhala tirtha where , the it is said , that dead human bones
disappear. The flow of Godavari runs from this
place. There are temples at the four corners of Kushavarta. On the south east
conrner is the temple
of Kedareshwar Mahadev,
who in disguise of Kedarbhatta made Gautam to bathe in the waters and gave him
prayaschitta (repentance) for the sin of killing a cow. To the south-west is
Sakshi Vinayak , who is a witness to the yatra -vidhi of all pilgrims. To the
north-west is Kusheshwar Mahadev and to the north-east is the temple of Godavari.
It is said in Trimbak Mahatmya that Godavari
was pleased with Gautam and gave him her “Darshana” - appearance in person . At
this place the Godavari temple is built.
To
the rear of the temple
Gangamandir, Shrimant
Peshawa has built a big caravansary where Rama and Karpureshwar Mahadev are
enthroned. There is a separate temple
of Ashwini Kumar in front
of Gangamandir. There is a big Ashwattha Narayan tree in front of
Kushavarta tirtha. In addition, there are temples of Jwareshwar Mahadev and
Kanchaneshwar and statues of Dash Avatar and of thirty-three kinds of
deities. The old holy books say that by the order of Lord Shiv, all
deities stay here in person, during the period of Sinhastha Parva,
to wipe off their sins and to get themselves purified.
The
work of constructing the present temple
of Trimbakeshwar was
begun by Shrimant Balaji Bajirao alias Nanasahib Peshawe in 1755 in the
first half of the Margashirsha month (around December) and was completed in
1786. It took 31 years to construct the temple and the cost of 16 lacs then.
There are three “Linga” of the size of a thumb and they are called as Brahma,
Vishnu and Mahesh - the creator, the organizer and the destroyer. These lingas
are natural ( emerged naturally )Water of Ganges flows over the Linga of
Shiva. The grant of Rs. 1000.00 per month was given for performing puja
and offerings etc. The deity is worshipped here thrice a day and an
additional worship with flowers at pradosha time.
Brahmagiri
Original
Ganges and Trimbak Tirtha are on Brahmagiri
mountain adjacent to Trimbakeshwar temple. Brahmagiri is considered as a
huge form of Lord Shiva and hence the mountain climbing was considered as a
sin. However in 1908 Seth Lalchand Jashodanand Bhambhani of Karachi and Seth Ganeshdas built 500 steps of
stone at a cost of Rs. 40,000 then. This has facilitated easy access to
Brahmagiri. Godavari is flowing in three
directions on the mountain. The one flowing towards east is called Godavari,
one flowing towards the south is called Vaitarna and the one flowing towards
the west is called the west-flowing Ganga and meets Godavari
near Chakra Tirth. River Ahilya meets Godavari
in front of the Trimbakeshwar temple. Childless families worship at the Ahilya
sangam and it is believed that they do get a child
The
first peak of Sahyadri is called Brahmadri. The story
associated with this is that Shankar was pleased with Brahmadev and said “ I
shall be known by your name”. Hence it is called as Brahmagiri. The
mountain is 1800 feet high . Its height from sea level is 4248 feet. Five
peaks of this mountain are called Sadyo-Jata, Vamdev, Aghora, Ishana and
Tat-Purusha and are considered as five mouths of the Lord Shiva and they are
worshipped.
Gangadwar
Gangadwar
is half way to Brahmagiri mountain. There is a temple
of Ganga, now known as Godavari River. Ganga appears first time here,
after it vanishes from Brahmagiri
Mountain. Godavari comes to Gangadwar from Brahmadri. There are 750
steps to Gangadwar. These were built by Karamsi Ranamull of Village Maska. The
work was commenced on 1st of Chaitra in Samwat 1907 and was completed on 5th of
Chaitra Samwat 1918 by Seth Hansraj Karamsi. Gangadwar is one of the five
tirthas. There is an idol of Ganga and near her feet is a stone of the shape of
cow’s head through which Ganga water is
flowing drop by drop.
Other temples on Brahmagiri
Nearby
is Kolambika Devi, Varah tirtha further on is the cave of Gautam for practicing
penance where there are 108 Shivalingas. A little further on is Gorakh Gumpha,
a place where Gorakhnath practiced penance, the idol is worth seeing. After
descending a few steps, Ganga flows from the
roots of Audumbar tree. This is known as Rama-Laxman tirtha. Here Rama stopped
for a few days and did Shraddha ceremony in memory of Dasharatha. There
is Rama temple and Gopalrao Ghanekar built it at a cost of Rs. 25000.00 in
1857. Ganga Sagar is a big tank in the flow of river and is 300 x 400 ft.
Shrimant Rajebahadar built it about the year 1678. The Ganga Sagar water is
distributed in the village nearby.
Bilwa Tirtha
Bilwa
Tirtha is to the north of Nila mountain. It is one of the five tirthas. There
is a temple of Bilvakeshwar Mahadev built by Naro
Vinayak Gogte in 1738 at a cost of Rs. 25,000.00
Gautam Tirtha
Gautam
Tirtha is to the south of the Ganges and the
Trimbakeshwar temple. Varun being pleased with Gautam gave this tirtha as a
permanent source of water. To the north is Gautameshwar and to the south is
Rameshwar Mahadev. This tank is 600 x 400 ft and is built by Shrimant Pandit
Zashivale at a cost of Rs. 50,000.00
Indra Tirtha
Indra
Tirtha is to the east and near Kushavarta. This is known as Shakra-Kupa
for Indra wiped off his curse given by sage Gautam for enjoying Ahilya, by a
bath in this tirtha. This is built with cut stone in octagonal form by Vishnu
Mahadeo Gadre at a cost of Rs. 22000 in 1778. On the bank of the tirtha is a
beautiful temple
of Indreshwar Mahadev
with an idol of Indra seated on an Airavata elephant.
Besides
this there are Vishwanath tirtha, Nilambar tirtha or Moti-tank, Mukund tirtha,
Prayag tirtha and Veni-Madhav and other Mahadev temples on the bank of Prayag
tirtha. Here is a matha of Nirvana Sampradaya (sect) Nilganga tirtha and
nilsangameshwar Mahadev temple are on the north bank of Godavati.
Ahilya Sangam tirtha
To
force Gautam to give up his penance, a friend of Ganga
named Jatila took the form of Ahilya, Gautam’s wife. Gautam could make it out
and cursed her to be transformed into a river. Then she begged his pardon.
Gautam granted her pardon and said that she will be freed of her curse on her
joining with Godavari river. This is the
Ahilya-Sangam tirtha where Ganga and Godavari
join. There is a temple
of Sangmeshwar Mahadev.
Ashta tirtha yatra and pancha tirtha yatra
Two
yatras (pilgrimage) are performed here.
A) Ashta
tirtha yatra including Ballal tirtha, the sacred place of Gunesh Ganapati,
Varansi tirtha, Manakarnika tirtha, Ganga sagar, Rama-Laxman tirtha, Shali
tirtha, Kanchan tirtha and Ahilya-Sangam tirtha.
B) Pancha
tirtha yatra includes Gangadwar, Kushavarta, Bilwaka, Nilparavata and Kanakhala
tirtha. It is believed that one who takes a bath in the above is never
reborn.
To
Nil mountain, Shreemant Seth Kapol has built about 200 steps. On the summit is
the temple of Nilamba
Matamba Devi, further on is an ancient temple of Nilkantheshwar
Mahadev and an idol of Parashuram. There is an
old akhada or matha of the Gosavi sect and an ancient temple of Sadguru
Dattatreya.
Pradakshina
There
are two pradakshinas (ring routes) in this kshetra - one round the Brahmagiri
and the other one round Hariharagiri. Pilgrim has to go for pradakshina with
holy garment early in the morning visiting and bathing in various
tirthas. The tour is to be completed in either a day, three days or five
days.
Other facilities at Trimbakeshwar
The
public and religious institutions in the town are Veda shala, Sanskrit
Pathashala, Kirtan Sanstha, Pravachan Sanstha, two gymnasiums, Lokmanya Free
Reading Room, municipal office, post and telegraph office, dispensary and a
police sub-inspector’s office. Sanskrit Pathashala has produced a good many
disciples who have become Shastris and Pandits.
Nivritinath Temple - The elder brother and
Guru of Dnyaneshwara took Samadhi here . In his memory a temple is built.
Devotees come to visit this temple. There is a three days festival in this
temple in the month of Pausha - sometime in January.
Religious festivals at Trimbakeshwar
1. Sinhastha Kumbha Mela - Once in twelve years
when Bruhaspati or Jupiter is in Sinha Rashi (zodiac sign Leo)
2. Godavari day - In the month of Magha
(February) - the first twelve days of bright moon.
3.
Nivrutti Natha festival - three
days in Pausha - sometime in January.
4. Rathayatra of Trimbakeshwar - On the full moon day of the
month Kartika , called Tripuri Paurnima- sometime in November
5. Mahashivaratri - on
the 13th day of Krishna paksha of the month Magha
- some time in March.
