Tryambakeśvara
By Swami Harshananda
Tryambakeśvara literally means ‘the Lord with three eyes’.
Significance of Tryambakeśvara[edit]
This is a well-known place of pilgrimage in the Maharashtra State. It is 29 kms.[1] from the city of Nāsik. Here the Godāvarī river takes its birth in the Brahmagiri hills. The temple of Lord Śiva known as Tryambakeśvara is situated in the midst of three mountains Brahmagiri, Nīlagiri and Kālagiri.
Tryambakeśvara Temple[edit]
The temple is fairly big. The garbhagṛhaCite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag contains three liñgas representing Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Śiva. They are among the twelve jyotirliṅgas. There is also a puṣkariṇī[2] called Amṛta-varṣiṇī, the water of which is used to bathe the liṅgas. The present temple structure is said to have been built by Bājī Rao Peṣvā in A.D. 1730. A big tank, 28 meters by 25 meters,[3] known as Kuśāvarta situated at a short distance from the temple is considered very sacred.
Tīrthas near Tryambakeśvara[edit]
Holy Tanks[edit]
The place abounds in tīrthas[4] like:
- Bilvatīrtha
- Viśvanāthatīrtha
- Mukundatirtha
Other Temples[edit]
There are also several temples and shrines dedicated to:
- Gaṅgā devi
- Jaleśvara
- Kedāranātha
- Rāmeśvara
- Gautameśvara
- Rāma
- Kṛṣṇa
- Paraśurāma
- Lakṣmīnārāyaṇa
- Māruti[5]
- Etc.
Kālagiri Temple[edit]
On the Kālagiri[6] there is a place containing 108 Śivaliṅgas. Several maṭhas or monasteries and samādhis[7] also abound in this area.
References[edit]
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore