Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga

Bhimashankar, Khed taluka, Pune district, Maharashtra

Jyotirlinga 6/12
12 Jyotirlingas

Traditions differ: Most devotees know the Sahyadri temple near Pune as the Bhimashankar jyotirlinga. The stotra and the Shiv Puran place it in 'Dakini'. Some devotees in Assam link Dakini with the hills near Guwahati, where Bhimeswar Dham at Pamohi is worshipped as Bhimashankar. At Kashipur in Uttarakhand, local tradition also calls Moteshwar Mahadev by the name Bhimashankar.

About

Bhimashankar is the sixth jyotirlinga in the order of the stotra. It stands high in the green Sahyadri hills of Pune district, about 110 km from Pune. The river Bhima begins here, and the jyotirlinga's name is linked with it. Built of black stone in the Nagara style, the temple is believed to stand over a swayambhu Shivling. In the 18th century Nana Phadnavis built its hall and spire, and a large old bell given by Chimaji Appa hangs in front. The temple lies inside the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary.

The story

The Shiv Puran tells of a mighty asura named Bhima, the son of Kumbhakarna. When he learnt that his father had been killed by Shri Ram, he wanted revenge. He did hard tapasya, won a boon from Brahma ji and became very proud. He defeated the devas, troubled the people and stopped worship everywhere. The unhappy devas and sages went to Shiv for help. Shiv fought Bhima and turned him to ash. The devas then prayed that Shiv stay there for ever, and he remained as the Bhimashankar jyotirlinga.

A local tradition of the Sahyadri also links this place with Shiv's battle against the demon Tripurasur. It says that the sweat which fell from Shiv after the battle became the river Bhima, also called Bhimarathi. Near the temple are shrines of the Devi forms who helped Shiv in that battle.

Saints such as Sant Dnyaneshwar and Sant Namdev are also said to have visited this temple.

Visiting

The hills turn very green after the rains, and winter (October to February) is pleasant; paths can be slippery in the monsoon. Nearby is Gupt Bhima, where the river rises, and the forest trails of the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary, home of the rare shekru, the Indian giant squirrel.