Trimbakeshwar Shiva Temple

Introduction

Trimbakeshwar Shiva Temple at Trimbak, in Nashik district, Maharashtra, is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. It stands at the foot of the Brahmagiri hill in the Sahyadri range, where the sacred Godavari river – revered as the Ganga of the South (Dakshina Ganga) – has its source. Trimbak lies about 28 km from Nashik city, and the temple is one of the most important pilgrimage centres in western India.

Main Deity – The Three-Faced Lingam

The Jyotirlinga at Trimbakeshwar is unique. Instead of a single raised Lingam, the sanctum holds a small hollow in the floor containing three tiny Lingams, representing Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva – the Trimurti together. That is why the Lord is called Tryambakeshwar, the three-eyed Lord who embodies all three. Water continually wells up in the hollow, symbolising the sacred Godavari. On special occasions the Lingam is adorned with a jewelled golden crown (mukut), which devotees consider a great blessing to see.

Sthala Puranam (Legend)

According to tradition, the sage Gautama lived with his wife Ahalya on the Brahmagiri hill. By his penance he had been blessed with an inexhaustible store of grain, which made other sages jealous. They sent a cow into his granary, and when Gautama tried to drive it away with a blade of grass, the cow fell dead. To free himself from the sin of having caused the death of a cow, Gautama prayed to Lord Shiva to send the holy Ganga to earth.

Pleased with his devotion, Shiva released the Ganga here, and she flowed from Brahmagiri as the Godavari – also called Gautami after the sage. At the request of Gautama and the gods, Shiva agreed to remain here forever as the Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga.

The Source of the Godavari

The Godavari rises on Brahmagiri and is honoured in the town at the sacred tank Kushavarta Kund, where pilgrims bathe before darshan. From here the river flows nearly 1,500 km across Maharashtra, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh to the Bay of Bengal, nourishing countless temples and towns along its banks – among them the island shrine of Sri Veerabhadra Swamy Temple, Pattiseema and the Konaseema kshetram of Vadapalli Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple. For devotees in the Telugu lands, Trimbakeshwar is therefore the birthplace of their own beloved Godavari.

History and Architecture

The present temple was built in the 18th century under the Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao (Nanasaheb), in black basalt stone in the Nagara style. It is known for its graceful tower, finely carved walls and spacious courtyard enclosed by a high stone wall. The temple stands on the site of a much older shrine, and worship of Trimbakeshwar here is far more ancient than the present structure.

Special Rituals

Trimbakeshwar is renowned for rites performed for the welfare of ancestors and for relief from planetary afflictions. Rituals such as Narayan Nagbali, Kalasarpa Shanti and Tripindi Shraddha are performed here by traditional priests, and families come from all over India to have them done. These rituals are performed only on certain days, so they should be booked in advance with authorised priests.

Kumbh Mela

Nashik and Trimbakeshwar together host the Simhastha Kumbh Mela, one of the four Kumbh Melas of India. It is held about once every 12 years, when Jupiter enters the sign of Leo (Simha). The main holy bathing days fall around July–September, when sadhus of the Shaiva akharas take the royal bath (Shahi Snan) at Kushavarta Kund in Trimbak, and millions of pilgrims come to bathe in the Godavari.

Festivals

• Maha Shivaratri (February–March): the biggest regular festival at the temple, with worship through the night.
• Shravan month (July–August): the Mondays of Shravan are especially sacred, and many devotees walk the circuit around Brahmagiri hill.
• Karthika Purnima / Tripuri Purnima (October–November): lamps are lit and special pujas are offered.

Temple Timings

• The temple is generally open from early morning until night, with special pujas and abhishekam at set times.
• Timings and darshan arrangements change on festival days and during the Kumbh Mela. Please check locally before your visit.

How to Reach

By Road: Trimbak is about 28 km from Nashik and about 180 km from Mumbai. MSRTC buses run frequently from Nashik's central bus stand to Trimbakeshwar, and taxis are easily available.

By Train: the nearest major railway station is Nashik Road, about 40 km away, on the Mumbai–Delhi and Mumbai–Kolkata lines.

By Air: the nearest airport is Nashik Airport (ISK) at Ozar, about 55 km away. Mumbai has many more flights.

Visitor Information

• Dress code: traditional, modest clothing is recommended.
• Crowds: Mondays, Maha Shivaratri, the Shravan month and the Kumbh Mela draw very large crowds; arrive early.
• Rituals: book Narayan Nagbali and similar rites in advance, only with recognised priests.
• Best time to visit: the monsoon months make the hills green and beautiful; winter (October–February) is pleasant and comfortable.
• Nearby places: Kushavarta Kund, Brahmagiri hill and the Gangadwar shrine, Anjaneri hill (revered as Hanuman's birthplace), and the Ramkund and Panchavati temples of Nashik.