Trimbakeshwar Temple

HOLY GANGA OF THE SOUTH, GODAVARI

Dr S.SHAMSHAD, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR IN ZOOLOGY, KVRGCW (A), KURNOOL.

Dr. G. SEETHAMMA, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR IN ZOOLOGY, GDC (M), KURNOOL.

The Godavari River rises near the Trimbak in the district of Nasik in the Indian state of Maharashtra. The river runs almost for a length of 1,465 km and has a total catchment area of 31mha. The river flows in the eastward direction through the states of Maharashtra and joins the Bay of Bengal in Andhra Pradesh. The main tributaries of the River Godavari are Penganga, Pranahita, Indravati, Manjeera, Sabari and Manair. It is the second largest river in India.

Trimbakeshwar is actually the temple of Lord Shiva, in the village Trimbak. Trimbakeshwar temple is a famous pilgrim

The Temple premises are called Brahmagiri, as is best known as the most sacred place of river Godavari or Brahma Sthalam. The Sun, Moon and Agni form the three eyes are located at diverse directions on this Jyotirlinga. Inside the main linga, there are three more lingas noticeable. These are the three deities, Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara. There is a belief that, anybody who performs puja for this Jyotirlinga is considered as actually worshipping all these three Gods

The Rishi kept his stock of rice in a granary. Once, a cow entered his granary and ate up the rice. When the Rishi tried to ward the cow away with Durbha grass, it fell dead. The cow is considered as an extremely holy animal in Hinduism. The Rishi wished to atone for the sin of ‘Gohatya’ - killing a sacred cow. He prayed to Lord Shiva and requested him to divert the river Ganges to purify his hermitage. Lord Shiva was pleased with the Rishi so appeared in his Trimbaka manifestation and diverted the river Ganges to flow past his homestead. Satisfied with the devotion of Sage Gautama, Lord Shiva also gave some water from his Kamandalu. When the waters of the just descended Godavari River flowed over the dead cow, Sage Gautama sprinkled the water Lord Shiva had given him and the dead cow came back to life. Thus, Sage Gautama was redeemed of all his sins. Ganga was brought down to Trimbakeshwar by Sage Gautama, she is known here as Gautami. It is also known as Godavari, since the river helped Gautama to relieve him off ‘Gohatya’.As per another legend, at Panchavati, located in Nashik on the banks of the River Godavari, Lakshman (brother of Rama) had cut off the nose ofSurpanakha (Sister of Ravana). Both Rama and Lakshmana are believed to have taken the ritualistic bath in Godavari, upon hearing about the demise of their father, King