Trimbakeshwar Temple, Trimbak, Nashik – The Temple

Trimbakeshwar Temple, Trimbak, Nashik – The Temple

The temple is located between three hills namely Brahmagiri, Nilagiri and Kalagiri. The Temple has been built in local black basalt stone and inside a courtyard measuring 260 by 220 feet. The Temple is built in the Nagara style of architecture and is enclosed in a spacious courtyard. This temple has huge area with lot of small Shiva Lingas in the small shrines near the walls. The boundary is also covered with huge fort like wall to prevent it from Muslim kings.

Nandi, Bull vehicle of Lord Shiva has a separate different temple outside the Jyotirlinga Temple. Pilgrims first visit Nandi Temple and then they visit Lord Shiva’s temple. It is mandatory here to visit Nandi first. There is also a Theertha called Kushavarta Tirth, near this temple which contains water of Godavari river. The sanctum internally a square and externally a stellar structure. The sanctum is crowned with a graceful tower, embellished with a giant Amalaka and a golden kalasha.

The temple consists of three ardhamandapas, one gudhamandapa, antarala and sanctum. The ardhamandapas are at the three sides providing three entrances to the gudhamandapa. There are six exquisitely carved pillars in the gudhamandapa. Preceding the square sanctum is a rectangular antarala. The floor level of the sanctum is a little low than the antarala and the mandapa floors.

In the center of the sanctum floor, is a self-emanated Shivalinga, which is usually covered by a silver mask having one face depicted on it. On festive occasions, a golden mask with five faces is kept as a cover over the Linga. The Linga is crowned with a jewel studded crown believed to be from Pandavas. The crown is adorned with diamonds, emeralds, and many other types of precious stones. The Crown is displayed on every Monday in the evening 4 to 5 pm. 

The Jyotirlinga is little bit down below around three feet in the sanctum. One has to go down through steps from the door and reach there if he wants to touch the Linga. But in Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga, only a male who performs abishek along with pandits are allowed to touch the Linga. The unique feature of the Jyotirlinga located here is the Linga in the temple is in the form of a three faced signifying Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva.

The Shiva Lingam of the temple consisted of the world famous Nassak Diamond. It was appropriated by the British in the Third Anglo-Maratha War. The diamond presently lies with Edward J. Hand, a trucking firm executive from Greenwich, Connecticut, USA. On the exterior walls of the temple, images of various gods and goddesses are carved along with the depiction of Ashta Dikpalas, damsels and sages.

The doorways of the ardhamandapas are also carved beautiful. Stylistically these sculptures show a western Indian influence. But the as far as the architecture is concerned this is the only temple in Maharashtra that gives an exact idea of North Indian style of Shikhara with its existing and intact curvilinear tower. The shikhara or the spire is adorned with the replicas of its own and narrows at the top.

There are images of various deities, namely, Gangadevi, Jaleswara, Rameswara, Gautameswara, Kedarnatha, Rama, Krishna, Hanuman, Parasurama and Lakshmi Narayana. The temple has also several monasteries and samadhis of saints like Brahmanand Maharaj, Anandi Maharaj, Nivrittinath etc. There are also centers of several orders of sadhus here. Near the northern wall of the courtyard, there are thirty small shrines built in a row enshrining different deities.

Theerthas:

The temple tank is called Amritavarshini, measuring about 28 m (92 ft) by 30 m (98 ft). The water in this pond is used specifically and only for the abhisheka and snana of the deity. There are three other bodies of water, namely, Bilva Theertha, Viswanatha Theertha and Mukunda Theertha. Ganga dwara is the spot on the Brahmagiri where the Ganga emerged and is located to the west of the Trimbak village. It is a small tank from which a small stream of water is constantly flowing down from a stone Gomukha.

Kushavarta Tirth is referred as the major tirthas, where the water of the Godavari has been accumulated and secured with the grass by sage Gautama. The Tirth is a large rectangular reservoir measuring 94'' by 85'' and is situated in the midst of the village. It is believed that a dip in this tirtha washes all sins of the man and if taken on the Simhastha occasion it gives immense merit to the person.

Varaha Tirtha, is the place where Lord Vishnu is said to have taken bath, in the form of Varaha. Rama and Lakshman Kunds and a Rama temple have also been erected here. Several other tirthas and Kunds like Indra Tirth and Prayag Tirth are located in the area. Of these, Gangasagar and Gautamalya is the most notable for their size and utility. To the east of the village is a small streamlet called Ahalya and is considered as a highly sacred spot.