Trimbakeshwar Temple - 17/05/2023
WHY IN NEWS?
The Maharashtra government has constituted a special investigation team (SIT) to probe a recent incident in which a group of people from the minority community allegedly attempted to ‘forcibly’ enter the Trimbakeshwar temple in Nashik.
TRIMBAKESHWAR TEMPLE:
• It is a Mahadev temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas situated at Trimbak village of Nashik, Maharashtra.
• There are three hills surrounding the temple: Brahmagiri, Nilagiri, and Kalagiri.
• Jyotirlinga means “column or pillar of light”
• One of the most sacred place in Hindu beliefs.
• It is a major pilgrimage centre for the devotees of lord Shiva.
• The temple god is said to be an incarnation of the triad i.e. Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE TEMPLE:
• The rulers of the Mughal period had destroyed the shrines of Hindu deities in many cities India, one of them was the Trimbakeshwar temple in Nashik.
• After the attack of Mughals, the restoration was done by third Peshwa i.e. Shrimant Nanasaheb in between 1755 and 1786. (Some scholars claim he is Balaji baji rao).
• The temple was being renovated in the seventeenth century, 16 lakh rupees were spent in his work.
• Trimbak is also known as the TAPOBHOOMI OF GAUTAM RISHI.
ART AND ARCHITECTURE OF THE TEMPLE:
• The Temple built of Black stone in the Nagara style of Architecture is enclosed in a Spacious Courtyard.
• The Sanctum, internally a square and externally a stellar structure, houses a small Shivalinga.
• The Shivalinga is seen in a depression on the floor of the Sanctum; Water constantly oozes out from the top of the Sivalinga.
• Usually Shivalinga covered with a Silver mask and on festive occasions with a Golden mask with five faces, each with a golden crown.
• The structure of the Temple is very elegant and rich.
• The temple has a well called Amritavarshini.
• It is also has a Kushavarta or sacred pond, which is believed to be the source of the Godavari.
REFERENCE:
• pib.gov.in
• artofliving.org