Sacred Jyotirlingas of Maharashtra: Bhimashankar, Trimbakeshwar and Grishneshwar
Did you know that Kumbhkarna, Ravana's brother, had a son whose cruelty toward devotees caused Lord Shiva to appear as a Jyotirling?
This fascinating story is behind the origin of the Bhimashankar Jyotirling, located in the lap of the Sahyadri mountain range. Lord Shiv appeared here to kill Kumbhkarna's son and protect His devotees.
Apart from the Bhimashankar, there are two more Jyotirlingas in Maharashtra: Grishneshwar and Trimbakeshwar.
On the journey to the 12 Jyotirlingas, you've been reading about the spiritual significance and mythological history of these great spiritual centres. Let's move on and learn about the Jyotirlingas located in Maharashtra.
Highlights of the blog:
- Bhimashankar Jyotirling Temple: Significance and History
- Trimbakeshwar Jyotirling: Maharashtra
- Grishneshwar Jyotirling, Maharashtra
Bhimashankar Jyotirling Temple: Significance and History
The Bhimashankar Jyotirling is located in the village of Shiradhon (Shiradhan), approximately 110 kms from Pune, Maharashtra. Shiradhon lies in the Sahyadri mountain range; the Bhima river flows near the temple. It is believed that during a battle between Lord Shiv and Bhima, a few drops of sweat from Mahadev's body gave rise to the river Bhima.
(Bhimashankar Jyotirling in Maharashtra)
Pauranic Katha
Asura king Ravan's brother Kumbhakarna married a demoness named Karkati on the Sahyadri mountains. After the marriage, Kumbhakarna returned to Lanka, while Karkati continued to live in the mountains. From their union, a son named Bhima was born.
When Kumbhkarna was killed, Bhima vowed to avenge his father's death. He performed intense penance to Lord Brahma. Bhima was granted great strength for his penance, and utilising this power, he began to terrorise the people on earth.
A king named Kamrupeshwar was a great devotee of Lord Shiv. One day, Bhima saw the king worshipping Lord Shiv and imprisoned him. Even behind the prison walls, the king established a Shivling and continued offering his devotion to Lord Shiv.
When Bhima attempted to destroy the Shivling, Lord Shiv himself appeared to protect his devotee. A fierce battle took place between Bhima and Lord Shiv, and ultimately, Lord Shiv defeated and killed Bhima.
At the request of the Devas, Lord Shiv manifested at that place in the form of a Jyotirling. Since the battle was with Bhima, this sacred shrine came to be known as Bhimashankar Jyotirling.
After Bhimashankar Jyotirling, our sacred journey moves to the place where Lord Shiv manifested as the Lord of three eyes—Trimbakeshwar.
'Trimbak' also refers to the divine trinity: Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh.
Trimbakeshwar Jyotirling: Maharashtra
(Trimbakeshwar Temple in Maharashtra)
The sacred temple of Trimbakeshwar is located in the town of Trimbak in Nashik (Maharashtra), at the source of the Godavari River. In its sanctum, the three-faced Jyotirling represents the trinity of Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Shiv.
sahyādriśīrṣē vimalē vasantaṃ gōdāvaritīrapavitradēśē ।
yaddarśanāt pātakaṃ pāśu nāśaṃ prayāti taṃ tryambakamīśamīḍē ।।
(Dwadash Jyotirling Stotram)
(He, Lord Shiv, resides at the peak of the pure Sahyadri Mountains, on the banks of Godavari river. I worship that Lord Shiv who resides in the Tryambak Kshetra, upon whose darshan all sins get destroyed immediately.)
The name Trimbakeshwar (also called Tryambakeshwar or Trambakeshwar) comes from Lord Shiv's name Tryambak, which means the three-eyed one. One can see the deep connection of the temple with the Mahamrityunjay Mantra, also known as the Tryambak Mantra, a prayer to the Tryambak swaroop of Lord Shiv. The mantra begins with the words Om Tryambakaṃ Yajāmahe, invoking Lord Shiv as the three-eyed Lord, who grants healing, long life, and liberation.
Trimbakeshwar, known in Puranic kathas as the jyotirling where Godavari descends, is also revered in local tradition as a significant kshetra for Tri‑Sandhya Gayatri jap, the birthplace of Lord Ganesh. It is also considered a key pilgrimage centre in Nath and Varkari traditions, where Gorakhnath and Nivrttinath are said to have taught their disciples.
The present Trimbakeshwar Temple was built by the third Peshwa, Balaji Bajirao, between 1740 and 1760. The temple has four entrances in the four main directions. From a spiritual perspective, the directions symbolise life's journey—north shows revelation, south shows fulfillment, east stands for beginnings, and west for maturity.
Pauranic Katha
(Trimbakeshwar Jyotirling)
According to legend, Gautam Rishi and his wife, Ahalya (Ahilya), lived in the Brahmagiri hills. With their deep devotion, their hermitage was always blessed with abundant food, even during a famine. The other sages got jealous of Rishi Gautam and tricked him into committing cow slaughter (Gohatya). To cleanse himself of this sin, Gautam Rishi performed a rigorous penance. Immensely pleased with his devotion, Lord Shiv granted him a boon by releasing the sacred Ganga river, which came to be known as Godavari. Moreover, Lord Shiv manifested himself as a three-faced Jyotirling, symbolising the Gods of the Trinity: Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh.
Kushavarta Kund
(The holy kund of Kushavarta)
Trimbakeshwar is surrounded by the Brahmagiri, Nilagiri, and Kalagiri hills. Within the temple premises lies the Kushavarta Kund. Scriptures mention that bathing in this sacred pond, believed to be where the Godavari River reemerges, cleanses sins and purifies the soul.
Grishneshwar Jyotirling, Maharashtra
(Bhagwan Shiv's trishul at the Grishneshwar Temple)
The Shri Grishneshwar Mandir Dev Sthaan, also known as Grushneshwar, Ghushmeshwar, or Kusumeshwar temple, is located in the village of Verul in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar (Aurangabad) district of Maharashtra. Grishneshwar means the Lord of Compassion. The famous Ellora Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are less than a kilometer from the temple.
The origin and history of the Grishneshwar Temple are mentioned in the Shiv Puran and Skand Puran. Around 1500 years ago, this temple was built by King Krishna Raja of the Rashtrakuta (Rashtrakoot) dynasty. It witnessed several reconstructions, notably in the 16th century by Maloji Bhosale, the grandfather of the legendary Maratha warrior king, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The temple's present structure was restored by Ahilyabai Holkar, the Maratha queen of Indore.
(Shivalaya Tirth Kund)
The Shivalaya Tirth Kund, a sacred tank in the temple complex, is said to possess healing properties. According to a legend, King Elraja performed severe penance to bring waters from eight Tirth (holy place) to this kund. King Bhosale was cured of leprosy after immersing himself in the holy waters of the Shivalaya Kund. Even today, on the auspicious occasion of Maha Shivratri, the Palki (palanquin) of Lord Grishneshwar is brought to the sacred kund for a sacred bath.
Temple's Architecture
A beautifully carved pillar in the temple carries the sculpture of an elephant and Nandi (Mahadev's divine vehicle). This carving is considered a symbol of the Hari-Hara meeting (the meeting of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiv).
Pauranic Katha: The Sacred Legend of Shri Ghrishneshwar Jyotirling
The temple's sacred atmosphere becomes especially powerful during special occasions, particularly the festival of Maha Shivratri. Numerous sacred legends are associated with Shri Grishneshwar Jyotirling; each has a spiritual significance.
The temple's name, Grishneshwar, is derived from Grishna (also known as Grushna or Kusuma), a woman whose unwavering devotion to Bhagwan Shiv led to the manifestation of this Jyotirling. As mentioned in the Shiv Puran, Grishna used to worship Lord Shiv daily by immersing a Shivling in a tank. Her sister was married to a Brahmin called Brahmavetta Sudharm. When the couple was unable to have a child, Grishna's sister arranged her marriage to Brahmavetta to beget a son. Later, Grishna's sister grew jealous of her and killed her son. But Grishna did not stop her daily rituals of worshipping Lord Shiv. Pleased with Grishna's devotion, Mahadev brought her son back to life and even established himself as the Jyotirling in Grishneshwar.
Did you know?
(Shiv Parivaar is sculpted on the temple spire)
- The Grishneshwar temple is the only Jyotirling where one can find a complete family sculpture depicting Lord Shiv, Ma Parvati, Lord Ganesha, and Lord Kartikeya seated together on Nandi. The Shiv Parivaar, sculpted on the temple's Shikhar, is said to mark the end of the Dwadash Jyotirling Yatra and the family's journey back to Mount Kailash.
(As a symbol of respect, men remove their shirts at the Grishneshwar Jyotirling temple)
- According to the tradition at the Shri Grishneshwar Jyotirling, male devotees are required to remove their shirts before entering the Garbhgriha (inner sanctum). In Shaiva Agamas and temple Paddhatis (manual for rituals), the body above the waist is kept uncovered before the Linga as a sign of Anāvṛta bhāva, meaning nothing is hidden between Bhagwan Shiv and the devotee who has completely surrendered (Sharanagati) without protection or status. Covering the chest is considered Upabhoga-vesha (worldly attire) and is inappropriate within the sanctum.
Lord Shiv is the ocean of compassion and continuously showers grace upon his devotees. Seek his divine protection by participating in the Maha Rudra Sadhana on the Sadhana App from February 15, 2026, to February 26, 2026. For more information, download the Sadhana App.
It has been a great pleasure having you join us on this sacred journey to explore Jyotirlingas located in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and South India. In our next blog, we will complete this journey by exploring the spiritual meaning of Jyotirlingas in other states. Until then, keep reading our other blogs for more spiritual insights.
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