Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga

The Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga Temple is located in the Trimbak village of the Nashik district in Maharashtra. Let's explore the significance of the Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga and the religious story of its origin.

The Story of the Origin of the Trimbak Jyotirlinga:

In the sacred land of the Brahma Giri Mountains in southern India, there resided a great sage named Gautama and his devoted wife, Ahalya. The echoes of Sage Gautama's penance and dedication to righteousness reached far and wide, and Ahalya was also renowned for her purity and sense of duty.

Once, a severe drought struck the region, and there wasn't a drop of water to be found. Due to the scarcity of food, humans and animals alike were suffering. To relieve everyone from this dire crisis, Sage Gautama performed rigorous penance for six months and pleased Lord Varuna. Impressed by the sage's devotion, Lord Varun granted him the opportunity to ask for a boon. The sage prayed for rain, but Lord Varun explained that it was impossible to defy the divine laws to bring rain. Instead, he granted the sage an inexhaustible water source as a boon.

Sage Gautam dug a pit, which Lord Varun filled with divine water, declaring that this sacred water source would never run dry. He also stated that this water source would become a holy site, where donations, sacrifices, and penances performed would be eternal. This divine water source brought greenery and prosperity back to the region, and a sense of peace and harmony prevailed in the area.

However, after some time, a dispute arose between the wives of other sages living at Sage Gautam's ashram and his wife Ahalya over the water. Upset by the conflict, the wives of the other sages incited their husbands to expel Sage Gautam from the ashram. The sages, without thinking, obeyed their wives and began worshipping Lord Ganesh. They prayed to Lord Ganesh for a boon that would force Sage Gautam to leave the ashram in disgrace. Lord Ganesh warned the sages that they were making a mistake, but they remained stubborn. When the sages did not heed Lord Ganesha's advice, he reluctantly granted their wish.

In accordance with the boon given, Lord Ganesh took the form of a rare cow and entered Sage Gautam's field. When Sage Gautam saw the cow, he tried to shoo it away gently. However, as soon as he touched the cow, it fell and died. The sages accused Sage Gautam of cow slaughter and expelled him from the ashram.

Saddened by this humiliating incident, Sage Gautam and Ahalya left the ashram and established a new one a kos (about two miles) away. To atone for his alleged sin, Sage Gautam asked the other sages for a path of penance. The sages told him to circumambulate the entire earth three times, fast for a month, round the Brahma Giri Mountain a hundred times, and finally bring the Ganges River there and bathe in it to atone for his sins.

To bring the Ganges to earth, Sage Gautam performed penance to Lord Shiv. Deeply moved by his devotion, Lord Shiv appeared before him and said, "O great sage, I am very pleased with your devotion. You are innocent, and the injustice done to you is the work of the wicked. I grant you a boon, recognizing your innocence."

Sage Gautam humbly bowed to Lord Shiva and said, "O Lord! You are truly compassionate, but those wicked ones have done me a great service. They have provided me with the opportunity to behold your divine form. If you are pleased with me, please grant the boon of the Ganga descent to this earth so that it may purify the land.

Lord Shiv accepted his prayer and commanded the Ganga River to come to earth. In response, the Ganga appeared in the form of a beautiful woman. Sage Gautam reverently greeted her and said, "O Ganga! Your beauty and purity are boundless. Purify this entire earth and cleanse me of my sins, freeing me from the torments of hell." Lord Shiva then spoke to the Ganga, "Goddess! Purify the great sage and do not return immediately instead, reside here until the twenty-eighth Kaliyuga of Vaivasvata Manu."

The Ganga listened to Lord Shiva and said, "O Maheshwar! I will stay on this earth only if my significance surpasses that of all other rivers and if you and your attendants remain with me."

Lord Shiv replied, "O Ganga, you are blessed. I will stay with you and purify this earth with your presence."

The Ganga accepted Lord Shiva's words and agreed to stay on earth with him. After this divine conversation, deities and sages gathered there. They praised Sage Gautam, the Ganga, and Lord Shiv, and with great reverence and respect, offered their blessings for their residence. The sacred place where the Ganga made her permanent abode became known as 'Gautami' or 'Godavari.' Lord Shiva also established himself there in the form of the Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga, which is known for destroying sins and granting liberation to devotees.

The sanctity of this place and Lord Shiva's Jyotirlinga destroy all sins and bestow blessings upon devotees. Anyone who worships the Trimbakeshwar Lingam with devotion is freed from all sins and attains supreme liberation in the afterlife.

Verfied From Puran.....

Writer :- krishna