Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga: Temple History and Godavari Origin

A Jyotirlinga is a shrine where, according to the Shiva Purana, Shiva revealed himself as an endless column of light. The story tells of Brahma and Vishnu disputing which of them was greater. Shiva appeared as a pillar with no visible end and set them to find its limits. Vishnu admitted that he could not, while Brahma falsely claimed to have succeeded.

Twelve such shrines are honoured across India, from Somnath in Gujarat to Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu. Trimbakeshwar is one of them, along with Bhimashankar and Grishneshwar elsewhere in Maharashtra. What sets the Trimbakeshwar temple in Nashik district apart is the form of the lingam itself.

This is the feature visitors ask about most. The lingam has three faces, understood to represent Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, which is why the shrine is closely linked with the worship of the three deities together. Constant water offerings have worn the stone over time, so the form may look less distinct than you expect.

A jewelled crown set with diamonds and emeralds is placed over a gold mask of the three deities. Tradition dates the crown to the age of the Pandavas, though that is a matter of belief rather than a documented date. It is reported to be shown to devotees on Mondays between 4 and 5 pm [TO VERIFY].

The Godavari is India's second-longest river. It runs about 1,465 km eastward to the Bay of Bengal and is often called the Dakshina Ganga, or Ganga of the South. It rises on Brahmagiri, the hill above the temple.

You will hear three places named when people speak of the Godavari origin:

• Brahmagiri: the hill where the river rises.
• Gangadwar: a cave shrine on the hill, described as the point where the water first becomes visible.
• Kushavarta Kund: a sacred tank close to the temple [TO VERIFY], regarded as the river's source and used by pilgrims for a bath before darshan.

The traditional story centres on the sage Gautama and his wife Ahalya, who lived on Brahmagiri. Envious sages are said to have tricked Gautama into causing a cow's death. To atone, he prayed to Shiva, who sent the Ganga down as the Godavari and remained here as the three-faced Jyotirlinga.

The temple you see today dates from the 18th century, when Peshwa Balaji Baji Rao, also known as Nanasaheb, had it built in black basalt. An earlier temple on the site is said to have been destroyed under the Mughal ruler Aurangzeb. The building is classed in the Hemadpanthi style and sits among the Brahmagiri, Nilagiri and Kalagiri hills.

Within the complex you will find the Amritavarshini tank and images of deities such as Ganga, Rama, Krishna and Parashurama. The lingam was once adorned with the Nassak Diamond, which passed to the British during the Third Anglo-Maratha War. Registers recording the genealogy of pilgrim families are also kept in Trimbak, a sign of how long families have been coming to the town for their rites.

Many families come to Trimbakeshwar for rites such as Kaal Sarp puja and Narayan Nagbali puja. Before you travel, check the temple timings and how to reach Trimbakeshwar, since queues and road conditions vary through the year.

If you would like Guruji to perform a puja for your family, you can send your dates and questions through the contact page.