Bhimeswar Dham, Guwahati – Legends

Bhimeswar Dham, Guwahati – Legends

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.

The exact location of Dakini is a debated subject. The Shiva Purana and the Koti Rudra Samhita refer to Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga on Dakini hill. Bhimeswar Dham at Pamohi is interpreted by the devotees to be the same Dwadasa Jyotirlinga. Bhimashankar Dham of Pune is also referred by some people as the Dwadasa Jyotirlinga.

Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga is situated in the north of Pune, on the Sahyadri, by the banks of the river Bhima. It is from here that the Bhima River flows. It is believed that Lord Shiva was pleased by the devotion of a king named Bhimak of the sun Dynasty and is called the Jyotirlinga in the place. But according to the Shiv Purana the Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga is situated on the Mountain Brahmapur, district Kamrup of Assam. 

Bhimashankar:

According to Shiva Purana, Kumbhakarna (brother of Lanka king Ravana) was in love with Karkati, daughter of King of Patal Lok. When Ravana came to invite Karkati’s father and Kumbhakarna to fight with Rama, Kumbhakarna refused to come until Ravana allowed him to marry Karkati. At last on the advice of Narada, Ravana agreed and Kumbhakarna married Karkati. After marriage Kumbhakarna left Karkati to participate in the war. After Kumbhakarna’s death, Karkati gave birth to Kumbhakarna’s son; who was named as Bhimasura.

Bhimasura did penance to get boon from Lord Brahma. He later challenged Lord Vishnu to fight with him. Lord Vishnu agreed and lost the war to keep Lord Brahma’s boon. This made Bhimasura very arrogant and he started conquering various kingdoms. He imprisoned the king Priyadharman (also called Kamrupeshwar) and his wife Dakshinadevi of Kamrupa. King Priyadharman and his wife were worshiping Lord Shiva even in prison. When Bhimasura sent his army to stop King worshiping, they were destroyed by rage of Lord Shiva.

Bhimasura wanted to kill king Kamrupeshwar. When Bhimasura attacked the king busy in worship at this place, his sword fell on the Linga instead of the king. Instantly Lord Shiva appeared and killed Bhimasura. The sweat from his body formed a river, said to be the same steam which is running over the Jyotirlinga now. The place where king was worshiping Lord Shiva was named after this episode as Bhimeswar. On the request of the gods, sages and devotees, Lord Shiva agreed to reside there eternally by the name of Bhimashankar.

Bhimarathi River:

This temple is closely associated with the legend of Shiva slaying the demon Tripurasura associated with the invincible flying citadels Tripuras. Shiva is said to have taken abode in the Bhima form, upon the request of the Gods, on the crest of the Sahyadri hills, and the sweat that poured forth from his body after the battle is said to have formed the Bhimarathi river.