Bhimashankar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva situated in its eponymous village, Bhimashankar, in Pune district of Maharashtra. It is a key pilgrimage centre and contains one of the 12 Jyotirlingas. The temple's Shiva lingam is one of the three Jyotirlingas of Maharashtra.

Dating back to the 13th century this temple is carved in black stone, the sabhamandap (central hall) and the shikhara (dome) were improved upon in the 18th century by Nana Phadnavis.

The Bhima River originates from the Bhimashankar village, and the hills of the Manmad village are present near it, there are old rock carvings of the God Bhimashankar, Bhootings and Amba-Ambika on these hills.200px|thumb|Stone bull

History

According to Namdev, a saint in the medieval era, Saint Jnaneshwar went to Tryambakeshwar and then Bhimashankar. Namdev himself has also visited this place.

Bhimashankaram shrine and the Bhimarathi river have been talked about in writings as far back as the 13th century;

The temple is built in the Nagara style, which combines traditional and modern designs. The temple hall was constructed during the 18th century by Nāna Phadnavis of Peshwa. The village of Kharosi was granted to the temple by King Shivaji. The daily religious observance was funded through the financial resources derived from the people of the area.

He offered one here at Bhimashankar and the others in Menavali, near Wai, in front of a Shiva temple on the banks of the Krishna River, the Banshanker Temple in Pune, the Omkareshwar Temple in Pune, and the Ramlinga Temple in Pune (Shirur).

On the peak of the Sahyadri hills, it is said that Shiva assumed the form of "Bhīmā Shankara" at the behest of the gods, and the sweat that spilled from his body after the battle is said to have formed the Bhimarathi river.

In the 18th century, Nāna Phadnavis built the Sabhamandap; he also designed and built the shikhara. The Maratha King Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj endowed this temple to facilitate religious ceremonies.

Vicinity

In addition to the Bhimashankar Mandir, devotees also take darshan of the deities of temples present in the vicinity. There is a shrine for Siva Ganams, Shaakini, and Daakini, who assisted Shiva in the battle against the demon Tripurasur.thumb|[[Mandir kalash|Kalash of this mandir]]There are other temples near the main temple, such as Kamalaja mata, who is an incarnation of Goddess Parvathi and who aided Shiva in his battle against Tripurasur.

Behind the Bhimashankar temple is Mokshakund Tirtha. The custom is to take a bath in the kund before proceeding to the temple. The kund is the result of Maha-muni Kaushika's legendary penance here. Additionally, there are the Jnyankund that Dattatreya created and the Sarvatirth connected to the goddess Bhashitadevi. Kusharanya tirth is located to the south of the temple, and it is from here that the Bhima River begins to flow eastward.

A minor shrine dedicated to Lord Shani can be seen within the temple's grounds. There is a statue of Nandi in front of the Bhimashankar Shiva Linga.

The "Shani Temple" is situated within the main complex of the Bhimashankar temple.thumbBetween the two pillars in front of the "Shani" shrine, there is an enormous antique Portuguese bell donated by Chimaji Appa in 1739 after his victory against the Portuguese. Behind the temple, there is a narrow walk that goes to the riverbanks. Outside the temple, there is forest area surrounded by mountains and ancient forts on top of them.

Nestled within the lush landscapes of the Sahyadri mountain range in Maharashtra, Bhimashankar is a breathtaking blend of natural beauty and spiritual significance. Known for its dense forests, diverse wildlife, and picturesque landscapes.

thumb|312x312pxBhimashankar offers numerous trekking trails, such as the Shidi Ghat trail with steep steps resembling ladders, and the Ganesh Ghat trail, which provides a more gradual ascent through picturesque villages and thick forests.

thumb|Temple front view 2|292x292pxThe Shravan month, from July to August, is another significant period. Thousands of devotees undertake the Kanwar Yatra, carrying holy water to offer at the Jyotirlinga. Kartik Purnima, celebrated in November or December, is a beautiful occasion where the temple is illuminated, and special prayers are conducted.]]

Other Jyotirlinga In Maharashtra

  • Jyotirlinga
  • Grishneshwar Temple
  • Trimbakeshwar Shiva Temple
  • Shri Vaijnath Temple
  • Aundha Nagnath Temple

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References

Bibliography

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  • Bhimashankar on Maharashtra gov tourism website -[https://web.archive.org/web/20080706012358/http://www.maharashtratourism.gov.in/mtdc/HTML/MaharashtraTourism/TouristDelight/Shrines/Shrines.aspx?strpage=Jyotrilingas_Bhimashankar.html]
  • The temple information on Pune district's website - [https://web.archive.org/web/20090604021424/http://pune.gov.in/tourism/tour_rel.html]