Tryambkeshwar Jyotirling – त्रंबकेश्वर ज्योतिर्लिंग

Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh, all three reside in Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga, which is the biggest feature of this Jyotirlinga. In all other Jyotirlingas, only Lord Shiva resides.

Mythological Story

The following story is described in Shiv Purana regarding the establishment of this Jyotirlinga.

Once upon a time, the wives of the Brahmins living in the hermitage of Maharishi Gautam got angry with his wife Ahilya over something. They inspired their husbands to insult Rishi Gautam. Those Brahmins worshiped Lord Shri Ganeshji for this purpose.

Pleased with their worship, Ganeshji appeared and asked them to ask for a boon. Those Brahmins said - 'Lord! If you are pleased with us, then somehow get Rishi Gautam out of this ashram.' Hearing this, Ganeshji explained to them not to ask for such a boon. But they remained adamant on their insistence.

Finally, Ganeshji was forced to accept their request. To please his devotees, he took the form of a weak cow and started living in Rishi Gautam's field. Seeing the cow grazing on the crop, the sage very gently took grass in his hand and rushed to drive it away. As soon as those straws touched, the cow died and fell there. Now there was a big outcry.

All the Brahmins gathered and started condemning Rishi Gautam, calling him a cow-killer. Rishi Gautam was very surprised and sad by this incident. Now all those Brahmins said that you should leave this ashram and go somewhere far away.

We will also incur sin by living near a cow-killer. Helpless, Rishi Gautam, along with his wife Ahilya, went to live a mile away from there. But those Brahmins made it difficult for him to live there too. They started saying - Due to cow-killing, you no longer have any right to recite Vedas and perform Yagyas.

With great humility, Rishi Gautam prayed to those Brahmins to suggest some way for his atonement and salvation.

Then they said - Gautam! You go around the entire earth three times, telling everyone about your sin everywhere. Then return here and fast for a month. After this, you will be purified after circumambulating 'Brahmagiri' 101 times or by bringing Ganga ji here and bathing with its water and worshiping Shiva with one crore Parthiv Shivalingas.

After this, take a bath again in Ganga ji and circumambulate this Brahmagiri 11 times. Then your salvation will be achieved by bathing the Parthiv Shivalingas with a hundred pots of holy water.

According to the Brahmins, Maharishi Gautam completed all those tasks and started worshiping Lord Shiva with complete devotion along with his wife. Pleased with this, Lord Shiva appeared and asked him to ask for a boon. Maharishi Gautam said to him - 'Lord, I only want you to free me from the sin of cow-killing.

Lord Shiva said 'Gautam! You are completely sinless. The crime of cow-killing was falsely imposed on you. I want to punish the Brahmins of your ashram who got this done deceitfully.

On this, Maharishi Gautam said that Lord! It is because of them that I have received your darshan. Now, considering them to be my well-wishers, do not be angry with them. Many sages, monks and deities gathered there and, approving Gautam's words, prayed to Lord Shiva to always reside there.

Accepting their request, he became situated there in the name of Trimbak Jyotirlinga. The Ganga ji brought by Gautamji also started flowing nearby by the name of Godavari. This Jyotirlinga bestows all virtues.

Construction

Located on the banks of the Godavari River, the Trimbakeshwar temple is made of black stones. The architecture of the temple is amazing. In the Panchkoshi of this temple, Kalsarpa Shanti, Tripindi Vidhi and Narayan Nagbali Puja are performed. Which devotees get done for the fulfillment of different wishes.

This ancient temple was rebuilt by the third Peshwa Balaji i.e. Nana Sahib Peshwa. The renovation of this temple started in 1755 and was completed after a long period of 31 years in 1786. It is said that about 16 lakh rupees were spent in the construction of this grand temple, which was considered a very large amount at that time.

Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga on Google Maps