Trimbakeshwar is one of the Dwadasa Jyotirlingas. It is located in Western India, near the mountain named Brahmagiri. The source of the Godavari River, which is considered as holy as the Ganga, is at Trimbakeshwar. A water tank, known as Kusavarta, symbolizes the source of the river Godavari, and is looked upon as a sacred bathing place. The tank is surrounded by kusa grass and hence the name. Anjaneri mountain, the birthplace of Hanuman is 7 km from Trimbakeshwar.
Trimbakeshwar is the only Jyotirlinga where the lingam is in a depression on the floor and does not project out. The lingam is normally covered with a silver mask and on special occasions with a golden one. Another unique feature about the lingam is that it has three faces embodying Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, hence the name Trimbakeshwar.
The temple of black stone is built in the Nagara architectural style. The garbhagriha is in the shape of a square from the inside though externally it is shaped like a star. The porches of the temple are decorated with pillars and arches. The structure itself contains intricate sculptural work in the form of running scrolls, floral designs, and figures of gods and deities.
Three worship services are performed daily. During the night worship the silver mask is removed and placed in a bed in the hall of mirrors. Every Monday the silver mask is taken to the Kusavarta tank and given a holy ablution there. A similar ritual with the gold mask takes place on all Shivratris and on the full moon day in the month of Kartik.
During Simhasta Parvani, which occurs once every 12 years when Jupiter enters the zodiac sign of Leo, it is believed that all sacred waters gather in the Kusavarta tank. This is a time of great festivity at Trimbakeshwar.
The Legend
The sage Gautam lived in his ashram on Brahmagiri with his wife Ahalya. Varun Deva had gifted a bottomless pit to the couple. The pit produced an inexhaustible supply of food and catered to the needs of everyone around the ashram. This made some other sages jealous and they decided to desecrate the pit. They sent a cow toward the pit. Though Gautam tried to prevent the cow from falling into the pit, he failed and the cow died. He then prayed to Shiva to request him to send Ganga to purify his ashram. Ganga descended as Godavari and sanctified sage Gautam’s hermitage. This is why the people of this region see no difference between the Ganga and the Godavari. The Devas then requested Shiva to reside permanently at the ashram. Shiva took the form of Trimbakeshwar and acceded to their request.
The History
The Marathi poet-saints have eulogized Trimbakeshwar. The Peshwa rulers have patronized this shrine. Peshwa Balaji Bajirao reconstructed the ancient temple in mid 18th century. Raoji Abaji Parnekar of the Holkar family of Indore constructed the structure around the Kusavarta tank in late 18th century.
The religious community around Trimbakeshwar has developed special skills over the centuries. The place has become renowned for certain complicated rituals such as Narayan-Nagbali, Kalsarpa Shanti and Tripindi. In fact Narayan-Nagbali is performed only at Trimbakeshwar. This ritual was originally carried out for killing a cobra. It was believed that if a person kills a cobra its mate would eventually take revenge. The ritual was performed to abort the revenge. Trimbakeshwar is also famous for the Ashtanga school of Yoga.
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