Trimbakeshwar Temple, Trimbak, Nashik – Religious Significance

Trimbakeshwar Temple, Trimbak, Nashik – Religious Significance

Jyotirlinga:

According to Shiva Mahapuraan, Brahma (The Creator) and Vishnu (The Preserver) once had a disagreement about which of them was supreme. To test them, Shiva pierced the three worlds as an immeasurable pillar of light, the Jyotirlinga. Vishnu and Brahma parted company to determine the extent of each end of the pillar. Brahma, who had set off upward, lied that he had discovered the upper end of the pillar, but Vishnu, who had gone in the direction of the base of the pillar, admitted that he had not. Shiva then appeared as a second Jyotirlinga and cursed Brahma, telling him that he would have no place in the ceremonies, though Vishnu would be worshipped until the 'end of eternity'.

The Jyotirlinga is the supreme indivisible reality from which Shiva appears. jyotirlinga shrines commemorate this time when Shiva appeared. It was believed that there were originally sixty-four Jyothirlingas. Twelve are considered to be especially auspicious and holy. Each of the twelve sites takes the name of the presiding deity and each is considered a separate manifestation of Shiva. At all these sites, the primary deity is a lingam representing the beginning less and endless Stambha pillar, symbolizing the Shiva's infinite nature.

The twelve jyotirlingas are;

·        Somnath in Gujarat,

·        Mallikarjuna at Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh, 

·        Mahakaleswar at Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh, 

·        Omkareshwar in Madhya Pradesh, 

·        Kedarnath in Uttarakhand, 

·        Bhimashankar in Maharashtra, 

·        Viswanath at Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, 

·        Triambakeshwar in Maharashtra, 

·        Vaidyanath at Deoghar in Jharkhand,

·        Nageshvara Jyotirlinga, 

·        Rameshwar at Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu,

·        Grishneshwar at Aurangabad in Maharashtra.

Genealogy Registers:

Hindu genealogy registers at Trimbakeshwar are the genealogy registers of pilgrims maintained here by pandas.

Jyotirlinga Abhishek:

One is not allowed to touch Trimbakeshwar jyotirlinga unless you book a pandit and perform Abhishek. Pandits are moving around the main temple pitching for Abhishek for pilgrims in the queue. If one wants to perform Abhishek of Trimbakeshwar he has to wear a new dhoti and then enter the garbhagriha and do Abhishek. So even if you want to touch the jyotirlinga you have to shell out money for Abhishek and new dhoti. Women are not allowed to enter the garbhagriha. This ritual of women not allowed in Garbhagriha is in most of the temples in Trimbak.

This place is famous for lots of religious rituals (vidhis). Narayan Nagbali, Kalsarpa Shanti, Tripindi vidhi are done here. Narayan Nagbali puja is performed at Trimbakeshwar only. This puja is performed in three days. This puja is performed on special dates. Some days are not suitable to perform this puja. This puja is performed for many reasons like to cure an illness, going through bad times, killing a Cobra (Nag), childless couples, financial crisis or you want to perform some religious puja to have everything.

Trimbakeshwar town has a large number of Brahmin households and is also a centre for Vedic Gurukuls (kind of boarding school). It also has ashrams and Mutts devoted to Ashtanga Yoga, the Hindu art of living.

Birth Place of Ganesha:

It is believed that it is the birth place of Lord Ganesha, known as place of Tri-Sandhya Gayatri.

Moksha Sthalam:

The Hindu belief is that those who visit Trimbakeshwar get salvation (Moksha). Trimbakeshwar is considered as the most sacred town India. There are many reasons for this belief.

Pradakshina (Ring Routes/ Pheri):

There are two pradakshinas (ring routes) in this kshetra - one round the Brahmagiri and the other one round Hariharagiri. Pilgrim has to go for pradakshina with holy garment early in the morning visiting and bathing in various tirthas. The tour is to be completed in either a day, three days.

Parihara Sthalam

This place is famous for lots of religious rituals. Tripindi Shraddha (Pitru Dosha), Kalsarpa Yoga Puja, Ganga Puja, Ganga Bhet, Deh Shuddhi Prayaschitta, Tarpan Shradha, Vayan, Dasha Dana, Mundana, Tirtha Shraddha and Gopradan rituals are done in Trimbakeshwar. All these rituals are performed for many reasons like to cure an illness, going through bad times, killing a Cobra (Nag), childless couples, financial crisis etc.

Narayan Nagbali Vidhi:

Narayan Nagbali consists of two different rituals. Narayan Bali is done to get rid of ancestral curse (Pitru dosh /Pitru Shaap) while Nag Bali is done to get rid of sin performed by killing snake, specially Cobra which is worshipped in India. It can be performed only at Trimbakeshwar. Narayan Bali ritual is done to fulfill the unsatisfied desires of the ancestral souls which are stuck in the world and trouble their progeny.

Narayan Bali consists of the same ritual as Hindu funeral. An artificial body mostly made of wheat flour is used. Mantras are used to invoke such souls who are having certain wishes remaining attached. The ritual makes them possess the body and the funeral frees them to another world. Nagbali ritual is done to get rid of sin of killing nag (Cobra). In this ritual also, the funeral is performed on the body of snake made with wheat though.