Story of Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga

||त्र्यम्बकं गौतमीतटे||

Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga Temple

Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga is the 10th Jyotirlinga temple dedicated to the Hindu Deity Lord Shiva according to the Dwadash Jyotirlinga Strotam. Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga is situated in the town of Trimbak in the Nashik district of Maharashtra, 28 km from the city of Nashik and 40 km from the Nashik road. The origin of the sacred river Godavari (which is the second-longest river after the Ganges) is near to the temple. The temple is situated between three hills named Bhramagiri, Nilagiri and Kalagiri. 

A Hindu Genealogy Register at Haridwar

          In Trimbakeshwar the Hindu genealogy registers are kept. Genealogy is the study of families and family trees. The tradition of keeping these genealogy records has been in practice since centuries. These records played a crucial role during the Partition of India in 1947 by tracing the families based on their Gotra, marriages, family trees etc. These records in many cases can trace the family back to twenty generations spread over centuries! In several cases, the present descendants are Muslims, Sikhs and Christians. (Another proof that only Sanatan Dharma existed in ancient India.)

Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao (Nanasaheb)

The present temple was built by Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao (Nanasaheb). The Kusavarta kund in the temple premises was built by Shrimant Sardar Raosaheb Parnerkar, the Fadnavis of Indore. The temple is constructed in Hemadpanthi style of architecture which was native to the 13th century Maharashtra.

Do read 'An introduction to Jyotirlinga' to get yourself familiar with the Jyotirlingas and better understand their legends.

Legend of Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga:

Maharishi Dirghatamas, Father of Maharishi Gautama

The legend of Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga has a life-lesson for us all. The legend pertains to the second age- the Treta Yuga (about 21,65,121 years ago). There lived a rishi named Gautama. He was the son of Dirghatamas and belonged to the lineage of Maharishi Angira. Rishi Gautama and his wife Ahalya both were great devotees of Lord Shiva.

Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga Temple Entrance.

Once there was a severe famine in Trimbak. Everyone, the animals, humans, birds, insects were suffering because of this famine. Gautam Rishi was very kind so he did penance to please Varuna Deva (God of water element). Impressed by his penance the never ageing Lord Varuna appeared before him. He said, “Open your eyes Rishi Gautama! Your penance is now complete. Ask for a boon!” Rishi Gautama said, “Lord! The famine here in Trimbak has made everyone perish. Please give me the Akshaya Jal so that I may help everyone in this region and save their lives.” Lord Varun granted him his boon. Rishi Gautam constructed a pond and the Akshaya Jal was released into it. 

Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga Deepmala

Now things began returning to normal. Due to the efforts of Rishi Gautama, he became very popular among the villagers. This made the other ascetics jealous of him. They plotted to tarnish his image and throw him out of the ashram. The other ascetics poisoned the Akshay Jal and bought a very frail cow which was in a half-dead state and tied it to Rishi Gautama’s ashram. 

Trimbakeshwar Temple

The ever kind and pure soul Rishi Gautama when saw the cow, he immediately gave her rice to eat. But to his dismay, the cow died in front of him. Rishi Gautama was perplexed and shocked. “What have I done!? I have committed a sin of killing mother cow.” The conspirators were looking at the happenings. They condemned Rishi Gautama and drove him and his wife Ahalya from the ashram by hurling abuses and throwing stones at them.

Panch-Mukhi Trimbakraj Mukut of Lord Shiva

Rishi Gautama pleaded them to tell him a solution so that he could wash away his sin. The rishis said, “Only a bath in the waters of River Ganga will absolve you of your sins!” Hearing this, he went to the peak of Bhramagiri Mountain and began his penance to please Goddess Ganga.

The Scenic beauty of Trimbakeshwar Temple

 Ganga appeared before him, “Rishi Gautama! I am pleased by your devotion to me. Ask for a boon, O sage!” Rishi Gautama was ecstatic. He prayed, “Devi! I have committed the sin of killing a cow. Please establish yourself her so that I can wash off myself of my sins and all the people here face no problems.” Ganga said, “I will establish myself here only if Lord Shiva agrees to stay here too. Do a penance to please Lord Shiva.” Saying this Devi Ganga faded away. Rishi Gautama now began to pray to Lord Shiva.

Goddess Ganga doing Abhishek of Lord Shiva at Trimbak

After years of penance, Lord Shiva appeared before him. Rishi Gautam was pleased and relieved to see him before his own eyes. Lord Shiva with his ever-smiling face, said, “Gautam! I am deeply influenced and moved by your devotion to me. Ask for your boon!” Rishi Gautam’s tears were flowing down seeing Mahadev. He was ecstatic and deeply calm. Inhaling a deep breath, he said, “Lord! I have committed the sin of killing a cow. I want to wash off my sins as well as liberate this land from the famine. Therefore, I request you to please seat yourself here and let Devi Ganga herself do your Jalabhishek. After this may she flow here in the form of a river and I can wash off my sins as well as Trimbak will never face famine again.”

Kusavarta Kund, the origin point of River Godavari.

Lord Shiva declared, “So be it! I will be seated here and this tirtha isthaan will be known as Trimbakeshwar. Pilgrims coming here will be washed off their sins and I will always stay here in order to guide my devotees.” He established himself in the form of Trimbakeshwar and Devi Ganga began her course from the present Kusavarta kund in the form of Godavari.

Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga

Hence Maharishi Gautam was washed off his sin and attained moksha at Trimbakeshwar. The life-lesson for all of us from this legend is that no matter what we should always stand by Dharma. Even if it is the whole world v/s you alone. A person’s ethics and character are not tested in good times. It is only in bad times that a person shows how steadfast he is to his dharma.

Statue of Devi Godavari in Trimbak

Darshan and Aarti Timings at Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga:

Divya Shringaar of Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga

5:30 AM to 9:00 PM- Darshan

7:00 AM to 9:00 AM- Special Pooja

1:00 PM to 1:30 PM- Mid-day Pooja and Bhog Aarti

4:00 PM to 5:00 PM- Golden Crown Shirngaar

It is currently not possible to see Trimbakeshwar live darshan as the temple has not made arrangements for it.

How to reach Trimbkeshwar Jyotirlinga:

 

By Air:

Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai

The nearest international airport from Trimbakeshwar shiva temple is Chhatrapati Shivaji International airport in Mumbai which is 200 km away from Nashik. The nearest domestic airport is in Ozar which is 65 km from the temple. If you are travelling by air it is better to land in Mumbai because of its easy access to other cities.

By Train:

Nashik Road Railway Station

The nearest station to reach Trimbakeshwar is Nashik which is about 36 km away from the temple. Many trains ply from Pune, Mumbai and other big cities like Lucknow, Hyderabad, Chennai etc. Nashik is a prominent station under central railways.

By Road:

Bhramagiri Hills, Nashik

The distance between Nashik and Trimbakeshwar is 36 km by road. Pune to Trimbakeshwar distance is about 250 km. Taxis, buses etc are available from Mumbai, Pune and other major cities to reach Trimbakeshwar.