Near Nashik in Maharashtra, at the foot of the Brahmagiri hill, stands Trimbakeshwar, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas. This is also the sacred spot where the river Godavari, one of India's greatest rivers, is believed to have originated.
FACT: A RARE THREE-FACED LINGAM
The Shiva Lingam inside Trimbakeshwar is unusual because it has three small faces representing Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh (Shiva), which is how the shrine gets its name, Trimbakeshwar, the three-eyed lord. The lingam is covered with a jewelled crown believed to have belonged to the Pandavas, which is displayed to devotees at specific times of the day.
The Story of Trimbakeshwar
Sage Gautama praying to Shiva as the Godavari river descends from Brahmagiri hill.
MYTH: THE SAGE FALSELY ACCUSED
The sage Gautama once lived here with his wife Ahilya, practising great austerity. A famine struck the land, and Gautama's devotion brought so much grain that other sages came to depend on his ashram for food. Some of these sages, jealous of his prosperity, created an illusion of a cow entering Gautama's fields. When Gautama tried to shoo the cow away, it fell down and appeared to die, and the jealous sages accused him of the sin of killing a cow.
Deeply grieved by this false accusation, Gautama performed intense penance to Lord Shiva, praying for the river Ganga to descend and cleanse him of this sin. Pleased with his devotion, Shiva sent the river down from his own matted locks at Brahmagiri hill, and this river became the Godavari. At the request of Gautama and the sages, Shiva himself agreed to remain there forever as the Jyotirlinga Trimbakeshwar.
Special Rituals Found Only at Trimbakeshwar
Trimbakeshwar is widely known across India as the place where two very specific rituals are performed: the Narayan Nagbali puja, undertaken by families to bring peace to ancestors whose last rites could not be completed properly, and the Kalasarpa Dosha puja, performed for those whose horoscope shows all planets hemmed in between Rahu and Ketu. Devotees travel here specifically for these poojas, which are rarely performed at other temples in this exact form.
FACT: ONE OF FOUR KUMBH MELA CITIES
Nashik, where Trimbakeshwar is located, is one of only four cities in India where the great Kumbh Mela is held once every twelve years, the others being Haridwar, Ujjain and Prayagraj. During the Kumbh, lakhs of pilgrims bathe in the Godavari here.
The Blessing Mantra
Sloka - Skanda Purana, Brahma Khanda, Chapter 35
त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम् ।
उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्मृत्योर्मुक्षीय माऽमृतात् ॥
Transliteration: Tryambakam yajamahe sugandhim pushti-vardhanam | Urvarukam iva bandhanaan mrityormukshiya maamritaat ||
Meaning: We worship the three-eyed Lord Shiva who is fragrant and who nourishes all beings. May He free us from the bondage of death, just as a cucumber is released from its vine, and grant us immortality.
This is the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra from the Rigveda (7.59.12). The name Tryambaka - the three-eyed one - directly describes the Trimbakeshwar form of Shiva with three faces representing Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh.
Sloka - Shiva Purana, Kotirudra Samhita, Chapter 17
गौतमार्थाय देवेशो जटाजूटात् विसर्जयत् ।
गोदावरीं महापुण्यां त्र्यम्बकेश्वरसंज्ञितः ॥
Transliteration: Gautama-arthaaya Devesho, jataa-jootaat visarjayet | Godaavareem mahaa-punyaam, Tryambakeshvara-samjnitah ||
Meaning: For the sake of sage Gautama, the Lord of gods released the great and sacred Godavari river from His own matted locks. He who did this is known as Trimbakeshwar - the three-eyed Lord.
Source: Shiva Purana - Kotirudra Samhita, Chapter 17 - The Establishment of Trimbakeshwar
How to Reach Trimbakeshwar
- The temple is about 28 kilometres from Nashik city.
- Nashik has its own airport and railway station, well connected to Mumbai and Pune.
- Regular taxis and state buses run between Nashik and Trimbakeshwar throughout the day.
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Detail |
Information |
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Location |
Trimbak, Nashik district, Maharashtra |
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Nearest Railway Station |
Nashik Road (about 40 km) |
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Nearest Airport |
Nashik Airport (Ozar), about 40 km |
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Temple Darshan Hours |
5:30 AM to 9:00 PM (approximate) |
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Best Time to Visit |
October to March, outside Shravan crowds |
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Wheelchair Access |
Limited; temple courtyard has some steps |
TIP FOR SENIOR PILGRIMS
The temple town gets very crowded during the Shravan month and during Kumbh Mela years. Visiting on regular weekdays outside these periods gives a calmer, more comfortable darshan.
Estimated Cost for a 2-Night Stay (Per Person)
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Expense |
Approximate Cost |
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Budget lodge near temple |
Rs. 400 to Rs. 900 per night |
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Mid-range hotel in Nashik |
Rs. 1,200 to Rs. 2,800 per night |
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Taxi from Nashik to Trimbakeshwar (return) |
Rs. 900 to Rs. 1,400 |
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Narayan Nagbali or Kalasarpa puja (if performed) |
Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 25,000, varies by priest |
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Meals |
Rs. 150 to Rs. 300 per day |
What Else Can You See Nearby
- Kusavarta Kund - the sacred tank considered the true source point of the Godavari.
- Anjaneri Hill - traditionally regarded as the birthplace of Lord Hanuman.
- Nashik city - with its own temples, vineyards, and riverside ghats.
CLOSING MYTH: A RIVER BORN OF FORGIVENESS
Devotees believe the Godavari carries within it the very compassion Shiva showed Gautama that day. This is why the river is often called the Ganga of the South, and why bathing in it near Trimbakeshwar is considered especially purifying.