Trimbakeshwar Jyotirling

Trimbakeshwar - "Tri Ambakani Trimbaka" means The Lord who has Three eyes. Trimbakeshwar, which is 28 kms. (18 miles) from Nashik. It is a religious center having one of the twelve JYOTIRLINGA of the world. The extraordinary feature of the Jyotirlinga located here is that it has three faces embodying Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu & Lord Mahesh(Shiva). All other JYOTIRLINGA have Shiva as the main deity. The temple is known for its appealing architecture and sculpture and is at the foothills of a mountain called Brahmagiri. Godavari River originates on Bramhagiri mountain and meets to the sea near Raj Mahendri, AP.

Trimbakeshwar is one of the holy places of not only Maharashtra but the whole India is near Nashik. Trimbakeshwar is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas in India. The following verse shall explain the importance of this sacred place and the next one gives names of the Twelve Jyotirlingas in India. This says that anybody who visits Tryambakeshwar attains salvation. There is no sacred place like Tryambakeshwar, no river like Godavari, no mountain like Brahmagiri etc. The reasons for its being so sacred are Godavari river originates in this place, its a place of Tri-Sandhya Gayatri, the birth place of Lord Ganesha, a place of the first Nath of Nath Sampradaya consisting of Gorakhnath and others, a place where Nivrittinath was made to imbibe the holy knowledge by his Guru Gahininath, a place where Nivrittinath made his brothers and sister attain the self by his preaching. This is the holiest place to perform Shraddha ceremony. Nirnaya Sindhu - a religious book of Hindus, mentions that this place, where Sahyadri mountain and Godavari river exist is very purifying on the whole earth and is therefore very important for performing Shraddha ceremony.

It has been built as per the Indo Aryan style and has been beautifully adorned with idols and sculptures, comprising the figures of humans, animals as well as yakshas. Encircling the Trimbakeshwar Temple is a colossal wall, made out of stone. In the path that leads to the temple is a large statue of a bull and one enters the sanctum sanctorum, the marble idol of Nandi Bull, the vehicle of Lord Shiva, comes into view. The Jyotirlingam is situated right in the center of the garbagriha and from here, River Ganges trickles constantly throughout the year.

It is believed that Trimbakeshwar is the holiest place of Hindu mythology. River Godavari originates from here and anyone is believed to have acquired salvation, once he or she visits to Trimbakeshwar. The construction of Trimbakeshwar was started in 1755 by Balaji Bajirao. The magnificent work of architecture was completed in 31 years.

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.