Maharashtra Temples

Trimbakeshwar Temple Timings, Poojas, and History

July 11, 2022, Sasidhar Darla 115 Comments Filed Under: Jyotirlinga, Maharashtra Temples Tagged With: Jyotirlinga in Maharashtra, Shiva Temples

Trimbakeshwar Temple is located in Nasik, Maharashtra. It is a part of the holy Jyotirlinga pilgrimage. It is also one of the 5 Jyotirlingas in Maharashtra. Trimbakeshwar Temple is dedicated to a form of Lord Shiva and like all the Jyotirlingas, it is worshipped as Swayambhu. The temple is also the source of the holy river Godavari. Our guide explains Trimbakeshwar Darshan Timings, Importance, Poojas, History, How to Reach Trimbakeshwar and Best Time to Visit.

Planning to visit this temple? Have look at our Jyotirlinga in Maharashtra Tour Package.

Trimbakeshwar Temple – Facts

Deity	Lord Trimbakeshwar (Lord Shiva)
Location	Nasik, Maharashtra
Tour	5 Jyotirlingas in Maharashtra
Significance	Jyotirlinga
Poojas	Maharudrabhishek, Narayan Nagbali
Best Time to Visit	June to August
Festivals	Shravan Maas, Mahashivratri

https://youtu.be/DjBv-Ua8L10

Trimbakeshwar Temple Video

The Trimbakeshwar Temple is one of the 5 Jyotirlingas in Maharashtra. The other 4 Jyotirlingas are:

Parli Vaidyanath Temple (in Parli)
Grishneshwar Temple (in Aurangabad)
Aundha Nagnath Temple (in Hingoli)
Bhimashankar Temple (near Pune)

त्र्यंबकेश्वर मंदिर – Trimbakeshwar Temple in Hindi

What are the timings of Trimbakeshwar Temple?

Trimbakeshwar temple opens at 5:30 AM and closes at 9:00 PM. Rudrabhishek timings are from 7:00 AM to 8:30 AM. General darshan is allowed from a distance of 5 meters. Only men who perform special poojas are permitted to enter the inner sanctum.

The timings are as follows:

Darshan Timings	5:30 AM – 9:00 PM
Rudrabhisek Timings	7:00 AM – 8:30 AM
Special Pooja Timings	7:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 4:30 PM
Afternoon Pooja	1:00 PM – 1:30 PM
Shiva Golden Crown	4:30 PM – 5:00 PM

On every Monday of the month, a procession is carried out in a Palki, which carries the silver Panch Mukhi Mukhota from the Trimbakeshwar temple to the Kushavarta tank and back.

The devotees coming for general darshan do not have to follow a strict dress code. However, male devotees who opt for performing special poojas inside the sanctum should wear a white dhoti and a towel. The dress will be provided by the pundits if required.

What are the Poojas and Rituals at Trimbakeshwar Temple?

Poojas at Trimbakeshwar Temple — The Trimbakeshwar Temple is the only temple in the country where the Pitru-Dosh pooja is conducted.

Here’s the list of poojas and sevas at Trimbakeshwar temple:

Kaalsarpa Pooja: The pooja is performed for people facing planetary disturbances in their life. The devotee should first take a bath in the holy Kushavarta and ask forgiveness for any sin that he committed knowingly or unknowingly. Donations like sesame, ghee, butter, milk, cow, gold and other such items are made to God. Devotees also worship Naag (cobra) in this pooja. Therefore, performing this pooja on the day of Naag Panchami is highly auspicious.
Narayan Nagbali Pooja: This pooja removes the ancestral curses on the family also known as the Pitru-Dosh. It also calms down souls who had unfinished desires before they departed. The Nagbali Pooja further seeks forgiveness for killing a Naag (cobra). The priest creates an artificial body of wheat flour on which he performs all the rites for the dead. He then chants mantras that free the souls from the Earth. The pooja is unique to the Trimbakeshwar temple and lasts for three days. Pitru Paksha is a good time to perform this pooja.
The Tripindi Shraddha Pooja: This pooja is for the departed, angry souls angry. It is also for problems like hurdles in childbirth, bad luck, ancestral Moksha, and for removing Gau Hatya dosha.
Mahamrityunjaya Pooja: The Mahamritunjay Jaap is for long and healthy life and to get rid of prolonged sickness. This pooja is one of the most powerful methods of worshipping Lord Shiva.
Rudrabhishek: This abhishek is performed with Panchamrit (Milk, Ghee, Honey, Curd, and Sugar) amongst the recital of several mantras and shlokas.

Poojas like the Ganga Pooja, Ganga Bhet, and Tarpan Shraddha are also performed at the Trimbakeshwar temple so that the souls of the ancestors can rest in peace.

What is the significance of Trimbakeshwar Temple?

The Linga present here is called as Trimbaka or Trayambaka. It is named so because it contains three Lingas (small thumb-sized) representing Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh. Some people also believe that it is because Lord Shiva has three eyes.

Trimbakehswar Shrine — The Linga of the Trimbakeshwar Temple consists of three heads and is covered with silver.

The Trimbakeshwar temple is the only Jyotirlinga where the actual Linga is present in a depression or a cavity.

Devotees also believe that the eyes of the three Lingas are representations of Sun, Moon, and Fire each facing in different directions. It is said that the one who worships this Linga, worships all the three Gods at once and attains salvation.

The three Lingas of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are usually covered with a silver crown depicting their faces. However, on special occasions like Mahashivaratri, Karthik Purnima and Dussehra, a golden crown studded with diamonds and rubies is kept over the three Lingas. It is believed that the Peshwas donated the crown to the temple and that the crown actually belonged to the Pandavas.

Other significant mentions:

The famous saint Sri Nivruttinath, who initiated the Nath community attained his Samadhi here at Trimbakeshwar. A temple dedicated to his mass knowledge of Shastras can be visited here.

As per the Skanda Puran, Padma Puran and the Dharma Sindhu, the unique ceremony of Narayan Nagbali (to remove Pitru Dosh) can only be performed at the Trimbakeshwar temple in India.

The beautiful and popular Nassak Diamond often counted among the 24 great diamonds in world history has its origin in the temple of Trimbakeshwar. The British East India Company captured the diamond and sold it to jewelers in Britain. It has changed hands since and is currently a property of Edward J. Hand from Connecticut.

A dip in the Kushavarta pond, the source of River Godavari is believed to wipe off sins from human’s life. The pond is the starting point for Kumbh Mela, which takes place every twelve years. The venue of Kumbh Mela rotates among the four holy cities of Haridwar, Allahabad, Nasik, and Ujjain. In Nasik, the Kumbh Mela is called the Simhastha Kumbh Mela.

According to the legend, Nasik is one of the places where Lord Vishnu dropped four drops of Amrit that he was carrying in a Kumbh (pot). Hence, taking a dip in these places is considered extremely sacred and spiritual.

The Kushvarta Kund — A dip in the Kushavarta pond is believed to wash away the sins of the devotees.

What is the history of Trimbakeshwar Temple?

The history of the Trimbakeshwar temple relates to a legend of Rishi Gautam. According to beliefs, the land was a Tapobhoomi in the Satya Yuga, when many Rishis and Munis (Sages) lived here, including Gautam Rishi. He lived at Trimbak with his wife Ahilya.

Once, there was a massive drought and the world was suffering from the lack of water. Gautam Rishi offered prayers to God Varuna (God of water). God Varuna accepted his prayers and offered him a tank that provided a never-ending supply of water. Using this water, the Rishi grew agricultural crops like rice, wheat, and other vegetables. Then he fed them to the other Rishis residing there.

After a period of time, some of the other Rishis grew jealous and wanted to interrupt Gautam Rishi. So, they prayed to Lord Ganesha asking him to send a cow to the Rishi’s field which would later die. However, Lord Ganesha warned the Rishis that this will not end well for them. But he still sent a cow into the field. Gautam Rishi saw it and then threw the Darbha grass to frighten it. But the cow died on the field.

Gautam Rishi and his wife Ahilya did penance to Lord Shiva. Shiva, happy with their devotion, ordered Ganga to come down to the Earth.

The River Ganga flowed down on Earth from the Brahmagiri hill and Gautam Rishi trapped it in a Kund (pond) called Kushavarta in the present day. He took a bath in it for purification. The River was Dakshin Ganga and is now famous as Godavari and Gauthami.

Then Gautam Rishi along with other Gods and the Godavari requested Lord Shiva to take abode here. Lord Shiva acknowledged them and turned into a Linga to stay there.

The Maratha ruler Nana Saheb Peshwa constructed the current Trimbakeshwar temple in the 18th century. Later, Shreemant Rao Saheb extended the Trimbakeshwar temple around the Kushavarta Kund and improved the approach to the tank.

Trimbakeshwar Temple History — The Trimbakeshwar Temple was built in the 18th century.

Lingodbhava Formation

Devotees believe that after Lord Brahma lied to Lord Shiva on finding the end of the endless pillar of fire emanating from Lord Shiva, He cursed Lord Brahma that devotees will not worship him. This angered Lord Brahma and in turn, he cursed Lord Shiva. This pushed Lord Shiva under the ground. As a result, Lord Shiva’s Linga in Trimbakeshwar is under the ground level.

What are the festivals celebrated at Trimbakehswar Temple?

Festivals at Trimbakeshwar — There are several festivals celebrated at Trimbakeshwar, such as the Kumbha Mela.

How to reach Trimbakeshwar Temple?

Here’s how to reach Trimbakeshwar Temple:

Road: Buses are connecting from Aurangabad, Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, and other nearby cities of Maharashtra.
Rail: The nearest stations Nasik is 29.5 km from the temple.
Air: The nearest airport is in Nasik which is 54 km from Trimbakeshwar.

Where to stay nearby?

The Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) Holiday Resort offers a variety of rooms ranging from standard, AC, and Non AC. The town is host to a variety of small private hotels and lodges — also, Nasik city, is just 25 km away from the Trimbakeshwar Temple. One can stay there too.

Where to eat near the temple?

A few small vegetarian restaurants serve good quality food at reasonable rates. One must not consume alcohol near the Trimbakeshwar temple premises. The town does not serve non-vegetarian food. The cuisine mainly includes traditional Maharashtrian as well as North Indian and South Indian dishes.

What are some temples nearby?

Explore Nasik — There are several temples near the holy Trimbakeshwar. One such temple is the Kedareshwar.

Some temples near Trimbakeshwar temple are:

Kedareshwar Temple: The temple is on the South-East corner of the Kushavarta pond. The presiding deity is Sri Kedareshwar, a form of Lord Shiva who appeared as Kedarbhatta and forgave the sins of Saint Gauthama. People believe that dead human bones disappear from the Temple.
Nivruttinath Temple: The Sage Nivruttinath, who started the Nath community and had immense knowledge of the Shastras, took Samadhi here. The temple is dedicated to him and is near Gangadwar.
Kushavarta: The holy pond is just 5 minutes from the Trimbakeshwar temple. This is the place where River Dakshin Ganga (Godavari) collects and distributes itself to the rest of India. The pond is the starting point for Kumbh Mela that occurs every twelve years. As per the Government rules, the Sadhus who follow Vaishnavism take a bath in the Godavari at Ram Kund and those who follow Shaivism take a dip in this pond.
Shri Nilambika Temple /Dattatreya Temple: The temple is at the top of the Neel Parbat peak on the eastern side of the Brahmagiri hill. Devotees believe that all the three Goddesses Parvati, Renuka (Lakshmi) and Manananba (Saraswati) came to visit during his penance. After the penance, he requested them to stay at the place.
Anjaneri Temple: The temple is for Lord Anjaneya or Lord Hanuman. According to beliefs, the hill is the birthplace of Lord Hanuman.

Besides these temples, there are several holy places of importance near the Trimbakeshwar temple. Some of them are:

The Brahmagiri Hill: The hill is the origin of River Godavari, which flows from the hill on three sides. The east-flowing stream is the Godavari. The one to the south is Vaitarna and the one facing west is Ganga. One has to climb 500 steps to reach the peak. The five peaks of this mountain are Sadyo-Jata, Vamdev, Aghora, Ishana, and Tat-Purusha.
The Indra Teertha: This teertha is in the east of the Kushavarta Kund. Devotees believe that Lord Indra took bath in this tank to wipe off the curse given by Rishi Gautam for misbehaving with the Rishi’s wife, Ahilya. A temple for Lord Indra depicts Indra sitting on an Airavat, the elephant.
Ahilya Sangam Teertha: Legend says that during the deep penance performed by Rishi Gautam, a friend of Ganga. by the name of Jatila, took the form of Ahilya, his wife. But Rishi Gautam recognized the imposter and cursed her that she will turn into a river. However, Jatila begged for forgiveness. Then Saint Gautam said that the curse will lift only when she joins the River Godavari. The Ahilya Sangam Teertha is the place where the river of Jatila joins the River Godavari.

Some other famous temples in Maharashtra are:

Frequently Asked Questions about Trimbakeshwar Temple

How much time does it take for darshan in Trimbakeshwar?

You can complete the darshan within 15-20 minutes if you reach early in the morning. It might take 40-60 minutes in the afternoon and longer in the evenings. The time also depends on the days on which you are going to visit. Generally, it takes longer in the weekends as compared to the weekdays.

What is Trimbakeshwar famous for?

Trimbakeshwar is the only Jyotirlinga which has three shrines. Here Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva’s shrines are available in the temple. This place is the origin of the river Godavari. The place is also famous for its scenic beauty in monsoon season. Amidst nature, untouched natural beauty surrounds Trimbakeshwar.

Where is Trimbakeshwar in India?

Trimbakeshwar is situated in the Trimbakeshwar tehsil. It is an ancient Hindu temple in the town of Trimbak. It is in the Nashik District in the Indian state of Maharashtra. 28 KM from the city of Nashik. It is 40 KM from Nashik Road.

How many Jyotirlinga are there in India?

There are a total of 12 Jyotirlingas in India. These Jyotirlingas are considered holy and sacred. A Jyotirlinga is the devotional representation of Lord Shiva. It is a symbol of power and purity. It is believed that these 12 jyotirlingas are ‘Swayambhu’ or self-manifested. Lord Shiva manifested himself in these places for his devotees.

How can I go to Trimbakeshwar from Nashik?

You can visit Trimbakeshwar via roadways. Trimbakeshwar is 28 KM from the city of Nashik. You can opt for a bus or a taxi service. It will take approximately 40-50 minutes to reach there. There are many buses on this route. One can travel by the MSRTC bus which is available from CBS (Central bus stop).

Who constructed the Trimbakeshwar temple?

Peshwa Nana Saheb built the Trimbakeshwar temple in the 18th century. Tryambakeshwar is an ancient Hindu temple in the town of Trimbak. It is situated in the Trimbakeshwar. It is the source of the Godavari River, the longest river in peninsular India.

How can I go to Shirdi from Trimbakeshwar?

You can reach via roadways. It is 118 km far from the sacred town of Shirdi. You can also opt for bus service or taxis to reach Trimbakeshwar. Yet, the best way to travel from Shirdi to Trimbakeshwar is by roadways. It is a journey of almost 2 hours 21 minutes.

If you have any questions about Trimbakeshwar Temple, please leave a comment below, and we will get back to you within one hour.

Rameshwar Mandir

September 15, 2019, Sasidhar Darla Leave a Comment Filed Under: Maharashtra Temples Tagged With: Shiva Temples

Rameshwar Mandir is a temple located in Chaul, Maharashtra. It is a very ancient temple of Lord Shiva. The Chaul region is known for its temples. A black sand beach, Revdanda lies about halfway between Nagaon and Kashid. Half of the small town lies in an old Portuguese fort. The village is famous for aromatic flowers known as the ‘Bakuli’. Rice is a major source of livelihood for the local inhabitants, apart from the trees and fishes. There are 365 temples in Chaul, equal to the number of days in a year. Chaul is about 15 Kms from Alibag, and the drive takes us through the picturesque villages of Akshi and Nagaon. There are three prominent temples in Chaul – the Rameshwar Mandir, Datta Mandir and the Hingulja Devi Mandir.

History and Legend of Rameshwar Mandir

According to lore, the Rameshwar Temple was supposed to have been built in a day by the Pandavas, but they were unable to complete it. Centuries later, Kanhoji Angre (Maratha navy admiral, 1698-1729) completed the work. It is a must to look out for the elaborate samadhi (entombment) behind the temple. Locals are of the faith that it is a memorial to one of the Angres.
There were historians who believe that the temple has been built in the Hemadpant style of architecture an architectural style introduced by Hemadpant, the prime minister of the court of Seuna Yadavas of Devagiri. This style of architecture incorporates the use of locally procured black stone and lime and came into use in the thirteen century A.D.
Chaul has been populated since 300 B.C., its golden age traversing the reign of the Satavahanas from 2 B.C. to 3 A.D. The Portuguese built the Revdanda Fort in 1524 here and girded it later. Chaul was five times the size it is today.

Significance of the Rameshwar Mandir Temple

There are a number of shrines within easy reach of the Rameshwar Mandir. In Revdanda there is another temple the Datta Mandir. The Datta Mandir is located in the Chaul region of Revdanda and is built atop a hill. It is dedicated to “Datta” or the Lord worshipped by the Maharashtrian people.
In village the Shitala Devi Mandir is also a worth visiting shrine. The locals believe that goddess “Shitla” protects the village from all problems and calamities. Locals refer to the goddess as ‘AAI’.
The main attraction of the Rameshwar Temple are the three kunds.
The Mandir has three tanks : parjanya kund, agni kund, and wayu kund, representing three elements of nature – Rain, fire, and air.
The temple is a perfect place for tourists to spend time as it is built on a vast land comprising of a prayer hall, sanctum sanctorum and 7.62 meter high summit shaped dome.
Rameshwar temple is a typical simple coastal temple that is high on character and history. This temple is a wonderful place to spend some relaxing time and to meditate. The temple complex spreads over a huge piece of land and comprises of a large prayer hall.

Rules to follow at Rameshwar Mandir

The visitors are required to be dress appropriately, as it is a place of worship. Devotees should follow the decorum and not spoil the serene and pure atmosphere of the area.

Festivals celebrated at the Rameshwar Mandir

Pola: Pola is a festival related to bull-worshiping and celebrated by farmers generally in Maharashtra state in India. Pola comes in Shravana month on Pithori Amavasya day which is also called the new moon day. This is mainly celebrated in Vidharbha region. This is the special day for farmers. On this occasion, the farmers’ first give bath to their bullocks, decorate them with ornaments and worships them. It is called Pola because the demon Polasur was killed by Lord Krishna when he attacked Krishna as a child. This is also why children are given special treatment on this day. Among the smaller villages located near the outskirts of Alibag, small processions appear with paraded cattle. The procession includes a heavy use of bugles and drums. The traditional dish prepared on this day is called Puran Poli.

Nag Panchami: The Nag Panchami or festival of snakes is celebrated on the fifth day of the moonlit fortnight in the month of Shravan. During the festival people bathe the snakes with milk ensuring their families freedom from danger of snakes.There is yet another legend which relates to the victory of Lord Krishna over the Kaliya snake. The same is remembered and celebrated this day. According to myth, ploughing a field is forbidden on this day. Devotees offer milk and honey to the Snake God, Shesh Nag and seek the blessings of the God. People visit temples, and the streets are lined with stalls offering all sorts of religious souvenirs. It is a tradition among women to apply mehendi, designs applied with herbal paints, on their hands.

Ganesh Chaturthi: Ganesh Chaturthi also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi is one of the important Hindu festivals celebrated throughout India with a great devotion. This day is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Ganesh, the elephant-headed son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. As per Hindu mythology Lord Ganesh is considered as “Vigana Harta” (one who removes obstacles) and “Buddhi Pradaayaka” (one who grants intelligence). Celebrated in the month of August or September, this festival goes on for 10 days and envelops the whole of town in a festive vigour.

How to reach: Road, Rail and Air

By Air: The closest airport to the Rameshwar Mandir in Revdanda is the Chhatrapati Shivaji Int. Airport, which is about 60Km away. The Lohegaon Airport is about 104.2Km away.

By Train: The station of Pen is the closest railway station to Chaul which is 46 km away from Chaul. The nearest railway station to the Rameshwar Mandir in Revdanda is the Mumbai Central Railway Station. It is about 2 hours away from Revdanda.

By Road: Chaul is well connected via road network with other cities of Maharashtra. And you can use private vehicles. The best way to reach Revdanda is by road. Revdanda is on the same road as Alibaug. Alternatively tourists can also take a ferry service and get off at Mandwa Jetty and take a bus or an auto rickshaw from there to Revdanda.

By Sea: One can reach through the Gateway of India by catamaran to Mandva jetty then Alibag and finally reach Revdanda.

Hotels in Rameshwar: Where to stay

Accommodation facilities are available in Revdanda. There are a few guest houses in the village. Alibaug not far from Revdanda presents a lot of exciting resorts and hotels where tourists generally put up. The Rameshwar Mandir is not very far from Mumbai. Tourists can have a wide range of selection of accommodation in Mumbai. The temple can be reached within about 2 hours from Mumbai.

Kumarwadi Farm: Near Rameshwar Mandir, Choul, Alibaug 402203, India
Suhasini Villa: Chaul, Maharashtra 402203
Rembrandt Villa: Opp. Mahalaxmi Mandir, Alibaug – Revdanda Road, Village Bagmala, Nagoan, 402204 Revadanda
Vasundhara Cottage: Gharat Ali, Shitala Devi Road, Taluka Alibag, District-Raigad, Chaul
Sun Rise Villa: Palav Fata, Naigaon, Alibaug
Dolphin House Beach Resort: 317, Nagaon Bandar Road, Nagaon, Alibag
Palms Cottage: Nagaon Bandar Road, Alibaug, Pen
Karpewadi: Suruche Ban, Satad Bandar, Dist. Raigad, Nagaon, Maharashtra 402203
Mira Villa: Vartak Nagar, Nagaon, Maharashtra 402204
Kaivalya Farms: Kaivalya Farms, Village Palhe, Nagaon
Sanman Holiday Home: Raigad, Maharashtra 402201
Elysium Resorts (Revdanda): Village Yesade, Ahead of Birla Mandir, 6KM ahead of WelSpun Industry, Revdanda – Roha Road, Alibag

Where to eat

There are variety of food that is offered in the nearby hotels. One can enjoy the vegetarian as well as the non vegetarian meals. There are variety of snacks and bakery products that are offered. There are also restaurants that offers amazing chinese cuisine

Nearby Temples

Kanakeshwar Forest(temple): Kanakeshwar situated near Alibag on Konkan coast. Kanakeshwar temple is situated in midst of forest so dense that the interior is impermeable to sunlight. The temple is situated on a small hill near the village of Mapgaon which is almost 12 km from Alibag. The hill is almost 1200 feet high and one has to climb 700 – 750 steps to reach the temple. The hill and the surroundings are good to visit. One can see the hilly region and the forest on the hill. The other places to see near Kanakeshwar are the Maruti Temple, Gaymandi (Sculpture of a Cow), Temple of Devi Putrabai, Gaymukh and the plateau of Vyaghreshwar (a small temple of Lord Shiva) etc. The temple of Kanakeshwar is very beautiful; it is a Hoysala style structure built in 1764. A water tank, called a “Pushkarni”, has water almost throughout the year.

Vikram Vinakyak Temple: Vikram Vinayak Mandir is situated inside the Vikram Ispat premises, which is at a distance of around 20 km from Alibaug. This temple is situated across the Revdanda Bridge and is surrounded by beautiful garden and fountains. Located on a small hillock, the temple can be reached by climbing the well paved stairs. Inside the temple, different idols of gods and goddesses can be seen such as Shiva-Parvati, Lord Surya, Shree Radha-Krishna and Goddess Durga.

Birla Mandir: This is a Ganesh temple of very modern architecture in white marble, situated on a small hill (130 easy steps). This is a place visited by tourists from all around. The entire hill is a temple complex with beautiful gardens & fountains all around. This temple is built by Grasim group near Vikram Ispat factory.

Someshwar Temple: Someshwar Temple is an ancient Hindu temple in Akshi, which is situated at a distance of 3 km from Alibaug. It was built by Satavahana rulers and the structure reflects the architectural style of their ruling period. The Someshwar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva who also was revered as Someshwar. Legend has that Lord Shiva once drank an ocean that was full of poison and converted it into nectar. Pilgrims throng this place to seek the Lord’s blessings.

Shitala Devi Temple (Chaul): Originally it was built with a tiled roof and wooden structure. In 1990, it was renovated into a modern structure. It is a greatly revered shrine. This temple is 14 Km away from Alibag.

Siddhivinayak Temple at Nandgaon: On the way to Murud there is a temple of Ganesh situated at Nandgaon. It is surrounded by lush green coconut and supari plantations. Murud is a typical konkan town mixing rural & urban facilities.

Korlai village & Church: The village is populated by Roman catholic East Indians & local fishermen. Korlai has a rich historical background dating back to 300 years during Portuguese rule. A village church and adjoining convent school are in a typical rural setting and worth a visit.

Sri Datta Shrine: Another very famous hill shrine at Chaul is Sri Datta Mandir with its own Glory which is about 18 kms from Alibag. One has to climb around 700 stairs to reach this shrine.There is Hingulja Mandir situated near Datta Mandir, a historic temple built by Pandwas. There is five days Mela in the month of December at the occasion of Sri Datta Jayanti. Trekkers would love to visit this ancient temple.

Swaminarayan Temple Mumbai Guide – Timings, Poojas, and History

August 29, 2019, Sasidhar Darla Leave a Comment Filed Under: Maharashtra Temples Tagged With: Vishnu Temples

Swaminarayan Temple is a popular Hindu temple and is a part of the Swami Narayan Sampraday. Swaminarayan Temple located in the Bhuleshwar area of the Mumbai city of Maharashtra state of India and is dedicated to the Lord Swaminarayan who is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu and extremely popular among the Vaishnava-ites. The temple is the oldest temple dedicated to Lord Swami Narayan and is known to be about 100 years old.

Jeevanpran Swamibapa had a wish that there should be a grand centre for the divine Karan Satsang which should become a centre of spirituality and charity and everyone should benefit from this Satsang in the important city of Mumbai. Therefore, the temple was built by his divine holiness Acharya Swamishree to fulfill the wishes of Jeevanpran Swamibapa. The temple has been established in the prestigious region of Mahalaxmi in Mumbai and is visited by many devotees.

The temple was built in 1868 on the day of Vaishakh Shukla Ekadashi by Ranchhoddas Pranjeevandas who was the builder of the first ever Shree Swami Narayan temple in the city of Mumbai. He had built the temple by breaking and rebuilding his personal residence. Acharya Maharajshri Bhagwatprasadji Maharaj instated the deities of Hari Krishna Maharaj, Gaulokvihari, and Radhika.

Structure of the Swaminarayan Temple

The Swami Narayan Temple has a tri-spire structure and has the idols of Lord Laxmi Narayan Dev, Hari Krishna Maharaj, Ghanshyam Maharaj, Gaulokvihari, and Radha. The Shikharband temple comes under the Gadi of Laxmi Narayan Dev (Vadtal). The popular temple along with many others has given rise to the flower market in the Bhuleshwar area as there was a high demand of flowers for offerings to the deity in these temples.

Tri-spire temple: In 1903, the deities of Ghanshyam Maharaj and Lakshmi Narayan Dev were instated in the present tri-spire temple structure on the occasion of Vaishakh Shukla Dwadashi by Acharya Maharajshri Lakshmiprasadji. A devotee of Swami Narayan, Rao Bahadur Sheth Curumsey Damjee had generously contributed towards the reinstatement of this temple with all material, physical and intellectual resources. His associates and friends also donated to this work and his close associate and one of his friends, Shree Mathurdas Vaishnav too had donated Rs. 25,000/- towards this work.

The pious Swaminarayan Temple had been built at Bhuleshwar with an elaborately carved frontage. The grand temple and the frontage are a real visual treat in the otherwise shabby surroundings of the region. Swaminarayan Temple has many different spaces and about twenty-five steps lead the devotees to the audience hall (Sabhamandap). Swaminarayan Temple has many shrines including a shrine dedicated to Lord Ganesha and one for Lord Hanuman on the left and right of the audience hall. In all, the temple has three main shrines. The shrine that is on the east has the idols of Hari Krishna Maharaj, Gaulokvihari, and Radhika. In the center, there are shrines of the popular Gods Ghanashyam Maharaj, Narayan, and Laxmi, who is the consort of Lord Narayan. The shrines located on the west houses resting place for the deities. The Sabhamandap has a dome which is a visual treat as it has upon it the painted scenes from the Krishnalila (Sports of Krishna). The temple’s dome is supported by fifty-four pillars. The temple has a big audience hall on the first floor and this is the place where religious discourses and sabhas are held regularly. The Swami Narayan Temple holds weekly assemblies at this place and many devotees attend these assemblies in the presence of the holy teachers.

History & Legend of Swaminarayan Temple

Lord Krishna has said in the Bhagavad Gita that “Whenever religion suffers tormented regression I re-create myself to uproot irreligion and reestablish good religion to protect the gentle folk and to destroy the evil ones in every age”. (Geeta 48-49).

Lord Shree Swami Narayan (who is revered as a form of Lord Vishnu) had never actually visited the city of Mumbai but whilst he had given darshan upon this earth, he did send many of his devotees and saints according to several instances to this region. These saints and disciples were sent with the main purpose of preaching about his faith and also to perform various official duties in this region. Thus, various eminent disciples of Lord Swami Narayan had during the time of Sadguru Shree Gopalanand Swamibapa and whilst Jeevanpran Bapashree and Sadguru Shree Ishwarcharandasji Swamibapa gave darshan, lived in Mumbai to get their company.

Jeevanpran Swamibapa had in his childhood days lived in Kheda with his parents Muljibhai and Ichhaba. His father Muljibhai was a key government official and, therefore, had to travel to Mumbai very frequently. Hence after completing his education in his hometown of Ahmedabad, Jeevanpran Swamibapa went to Mumbai for work. He there attended this temple in the Bhuleshwar region of Mumbai. It was at that time that Jeevanpran Swamibapa met Khimjibhai Darji of Rampara and Jagjeevanbhai of Sayla, and both of them were ardent followers of Jeevanpran Bapashree. So, Jeevanpran Swamibapa was first introduced to Shree Abji Bapashree and Sadguru Shree Ishwarcharandasji Swamibapa in Mumbai. After some years of association, Jeevanpran Swamibapa finally accepted initiation as a saint from Shree Ishwarcharandasji Swamibapa and thus became the protector and propagator of the glories of Lord Shree Swami Narayan and started spreading Jeevanpran Bapashree’s sublime principles throughout the world.

Jeevanpran Swamibapa’s and his disciples were sincere devotees and followed the strict disciplines that were decreed by Lord Shree Swami Narayan. They used to travel al lot to Mumbai for official duties and whenever they travelled to or from abroad, they would definitely go to Mumbai. But the lack of facilities made it difficult for them to live in and eat according to the strict requirements of the Swami Narayan Faith. Jeevanpran Swamibapa was also a frequent traveler to Mumbai and whenever he visited, the homes of disciples would need to be emptied so that Swamibapa would live there. Therefore taking all these difficulties into consideration, Jeevanpran Swamibapa finally decided that their organization needed a building of its own for these facilities and after looking for many months, they purchased a bungalow in the Walkeshwar district of Mumbai.

Significance of the Swaminarayan Temple

The Swami Narayan Temple was built about a century ago. The Swami Narayan Sampraday had their Guru in Shri Ramanand Swami who had in the end years of his life moved from Jetpur to Faneni and here in this village, he breathed his last on the 13^th day of the bright half of Magshar of the Hindu Lunar year of Samvat year 1858. After the post-death rituals of Shri Ramanand Swami were over on the 11^th day of dark half of Magshar in the Samvat year 1858, Shri Sahajanand Swami held a large meeting with all the followers who had gathered there to mourn the demise of Shri Ramanand Swami.

At this moment, a pandit from Bihar Shitaldas was also present in the meeting. He had been moving from place to place in search of a Guru and thus had left his home. When he realized that Shri Ramanand Swami was the Guru who he was searching for, who would enable him in the realization of the Supreme God, he had come to Faneni to meet him. But when he reached there he realized that Shri Ramannd had already left his body and was no more in the world. In this meeting, he explained his objective to Shri Sahajanand Swami hence with serene calmness Shri Sahajanand Swami said that he would be easily able to realize his object if he chants with love and faith the word “Swami Narayan”. Consequently, the glory of the Swaminnarayan Sampraday spread far and wide and many people became devotees of Lord Swami Narayan.

In the year 1967, the disciples purchased two adjacent flats in the district of Babulnath. This accommodation was appropriate for a small temple and also for Jeevanpran Swamibapa to live in whenever he was in Mumbai. The place could also be useful for the saints to reside in, and for disciples to stay when they visited the city. After Jeevanpran Swamibapa had the temple established in Mumbai, he immediately asked his disciples and the saints to locate suitable land that could be used to build a grand Shikhar-bandh temple in the city.

Eventually, in the region of Mahalaxmi, a large plot was identified for the main temple on Bhulabhai Desai Road. This became close to one of Mumbai’s most sacred and well-regarded old temples, the Mahalaxmi temples. Before this temple was built, the plot among the large land used to be home to numerous lawless gangs. They had illegally occupied the makeshift dwellings situated there. They would loot and hurt anyone who passed through that side street after sunset. But by creating a new temple, Acharya Swamishree completely transformed the entire region of Mahalaxmi. The local officials in Mumbai hailed this transformation as a miracle and attributed the beneficial revolution of this locality to Acharya Swamishree.

When Shree Divyadarshandasji Swami was clearing the land with his associates and during the building work, he encountered many difficulties but by the divine grace of Lord Swami Narayanbapa Swamibapa and Acharya Swamishree, the troubles were overcome. On 26 February 1984, the ground breaking ceremony was performed by Acharya Swamishree performed. Building work was then commenced under the direction of Sadguru Shree Uttampurushdasji. The sanctification (Vastu) ceremony was performed at the temple on 17 April 1989 was performed at the Temple

Swaminarayan Temple Timings

The temple opens at 7:30 in the morning and closes at 8:15 in the evening. The temple closes for short intervals for the Rajbhog Thal at 11:15am and between 12 noon to 4PM. In the evening, the temple closes for Thal between 6PM to 7 PM. The temple holds Satsang sabha on Sundays between 5PM to 7PM.

Festivals Celebrated At the Swaminarayan Temple

The temple celebrates many major festivities like:

Janmashtami,
Mahashivratri,
Nrisinha Jayanti,
Ram Navami/Swami Narayan Jayanti,
Vaman Jayanti,
Ganesh Chaturthi, etc.

Apart from all these, the festival of Hindola is celebrated here as part of festivities during the month of Shravan in the Indian hindu calendar.

Poojas and Rituals at Swaminarayan Temple

Swaminarayan Temple follows all the rituals and strict disciplines of the Swami Narayan Sampraday. The priests offer the daily offerings to the God and many aartis and rituals are performed here throughout the day. On festivals, many devotees visit the temple and pray to the Lord.

How to Reach By Road, Rail & Air

Mumbai, being a major Metro city is easily accessible through all modes of transport.

By Air: There are regular flights from all the major cities of the country to Mumbai and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Airport is the major airport.

By Train: Mumbai has many train stations and the major ones are CST and VT. Trains from all major cities stop here.

By Bus: Regular buses cam be caught from Mumbai to a+ll from other major cities of the country and back.

Hotels in Mumbai

Mumbai has many hotels to stay. The major luxury ones are the Taj, Oberoi, and many resorts. The city also has many 3, 4 and 5-star hotels, motels and guest houses.

Temples in Mumbai

Mumbai is the commercial and entertainment capital of India and has many places to explore along with many major temples. Here are some of them:

Shri Sidhhivinayak Temple: One of the most popular temples of Mumbai as well as of the country, the temple is dedicated to Lord Ganesha and is visited by many common people as well as by many celebrities. The temple is known to be miraculous.
Mumba Devi Temple: Mumba Devi is the presiding deity of Mumbai and the city was named after her. Thus, the temple is popular among the locals.
Mahalakshmi Temple: Dedicated to Goddess Mahalakshmi, this temple is a popular temple among the devotees of the Goddess and the region has been named after her.
Prabhadevi Temple: Another popular temple of the city, the temple attracts the followers of Goddess Prabhadevi.

Hence, next, whenever you happen to visit Mumbai, do visit the popular Swami Narayan Temple and enjoy spirituality in its best form.

Shani Shingnapur Temple – Timings, Rules, Poojas, and History

June 29, 2022, Sasidhar Darla 54 Comments Filed Under: Maharashtra Temples Tagged With: Other Temples

Shani Shingnapur Temple is a popular temple of Lord Shani, the Hindu god associated with the planet Saturn. It is located in the Ahamadnagar district in the state of Maharashtra. The presiding deity here is ‘Swayambhu’. This means a ‘self-evolved’ deity.

Planning to visit the Shani Shingnapur Temple? Have a look our Shirdi-Shingnapur Tour Package.

Shani Shingnapur Temple – Facts

Deity	Lord Shani
Location	Shingnapur, Maharashtra
Entry Fee	General Darshan: Free
Best Time to Visit	June to December
Poojas	Shani Pooja and Abhishekam
Festivals	Shani Amavasya, Shani Jayanti

Shani Shingnapur Temple, Video

Shingnapur is also famous for the fact that no house in the village has doors, only door frames. Despite this, the villagers did not report the occurrence of theft until 2010. Also, devotees believe that the Shani Shingnapur temple is a “jagrut devasthan” that translates into “alive temple”, meaning that the deity still resides in the temple icon. Further, villagers believe that Lord Shani punishes anyone attempting theft.

What are the timings of Shani Shingnapur Temple?

The Shani Shingnapur Temple is open all 24 hours in a day.

Here are the timings of Shani Shingnapur Temple:

Ritual	From	To
Darshan	12 AM	12 AM

What are the poojas and sevas at Shani Shingnapur Temple?

There are poojas and abhishekams which are conducted on a daily basis for the devotees to be a part of. The black stone signifying Lord Shani is bathed by the devotees with sesame oil.

What are the rules of Shani Shingnapur Temple?

Are-women-allowed-in-Shani-Shingnapur-Temple

There are certain rules one needs to follow if they want to get on the platform to worship Lord Shani in Shani Shingnapur.

Only men are allowed on the platform to worship Shani Maharaj.
The devotee must take a head bath and get on the platform in wet clothes.
The devotee must be bare-headed (not wearing a cap or a covering cloth on the head).
Collect water for the worship of Lord Shani only from the holy well.
Devotees also use sesame oil for worship.

What is the significance of Shani Shingnapur Temple?

The significance of the Shani Shingnapur Temple is that the shrine for Shani Dev consists of a five and a half feet high black rock installed on an open-air platform, which symbolizes the godi. Unlike other pilgrimage centers, devotees here can perform pooja or abhishekam or other religious rituals themselves.

A Trishula (trident) is placed along the side of the image and a Nandi (bull) image is on the south side. In front are the small images of Shiva and Hanuman.

In the times of Acharya Udasi Baba, there would be only three people visiting the shrine. Namely, Dagdu Changediya, Hastimal Chnagediya and the mother of Badri Tokse. They too used to come only on Saturday. Now, daily there are over 13, 000 visitors.

Generally, the temple has 30–45, 000 visitors a day, which swells to around three lakh (i.e. three hundred thousand) on Amavasya (the no moon day), believed to be the most auspicious day to appease Shani.

According to a 400-year tradition, women could not enter the inner sanctum. Therefore, on 26 January 2016, a group of over 500 women, led by activist Trupti Desai, marched to the temple under the group “Bhumata Ranragani Brigade”, demanding entry into the Inner sanctum. But the police stopped them.

In a landmark judgment on 30 March 2016, the Bombay High Court asked Maharashtra government to ensure that women are not denied entry to any temple. Hence, On 8 April 2016, the Shani Shingnapur trust finally allowed the women devotees to enter the sanctum.

The official website of the Shani Shingnapur Temple is:
http://www.shanidev.com/index.html

What is the history of Shani Shingnapur Temple?

According to history, Ahamadnagar is popular as the place of saints. Also, there are four legends around this temple. The story of the swayambhu statue handed down from generations through word of mouth goes something like this: when the shepherd touched the stone with a pointed rod, the stone started bleeding.

This surprised the shepherd. Soon the whole village gathered around to watch the miracle. On that night Lord Shanaishwara appeared in the dream of the most devoted and pious of the shepherds.

He told the shepherd that he is “Shanaishwara”. He also told that the unique looking black stone is his swayambhu form. The shepherd prayed and asked the Lord whether he should construct a temple for him. To this, Lord Shani said there is no need for a roof as the whole sky is his roof and he prefers open sky. He asked the shepherd to do daily pooja and ‘Tailabhisheka‘ every Saturday without fail. He also promised the whole village will not have to fear of dacoits, burglars, or thieves.

Which festivals are celebrated here?

Some of the festivals celebrated at Shani Shingnapur Temple are:

Shri Shaneshchar Jayanti: This day marks the birth of Lord Shani. From ‘Chaitra Shuddha Dashami’ to ‘Chaitrya Vadya Pratipada’, continuously, the priests chant God’s name and perform the ‘Granthraj Dnyaneshwari Parayan’.
Aashadi Ekadashi: From 1991, on Aashadi Ekadashi of every year, from Shanishingnapur to Pandarpur, Shaneshwar Palki is taken on foot with great fanfare. In this, all the trustees and devotees participate.
Ekanaathi Shashti: Similarly, from 1991, during Ekanaathi Shashti of every year, all the trustees and devotees participate in taking Shaneshwar Palki on foot, with great fanfare, from Shanishingnapur to Paithan.

How to reach Shani Shingnapur?

Here’s how to reach Shani Shingnapur Temple:

Air: Nearest International Airport is Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai.
Rail: The suggested railway stations are Ahamadnagar, Rahuri, Shrirampur, and Belapur.
Road: Shingnapur is a village at a distance of 6 km from Ghodegaon on Aurangabad Ahamadnagar road in Maharashtra. It is 84 Kms from Aurangabad and 35kms from Ahamadnagar.

Where to stay near Shani Shingnapur?

Some places where one can stay near Shani Shingnapur Temple are:

Daiwik Hotel, Shirdi near Pimplewadi road is a notable place to check-in. It offers a great dining experience and is a nice accommodating place.
The Temple View Hotel at Nagar Manmad road is at close proximity to the temple. Travelers often also check-in for its convenient location and well-suited accommodation.

Maharashtra is also home to five Jyotirlingas dedicated to Lord Shiva. Have a look at the 5 Jyotirlingas of Maharashtra. There are a total of 12 Jyotiringas of Lord Shiva in India.

What are some places to visit nearby?

Some of the places that one can visit near Shani Shingnapur Temple are:

Shirdi: Shirdi is around 70 km away from Shani Shinganapur which is the famous place of Shri Sai Baba. Saibaba pent most of his life in Shirdi Village. Millions of visitors visit Shirdi temple daily and take blessings from Sai Baba.
Ajanta and Ellora: The Ajanta and Ellora caves are considered as the greatest historical monument in the Maharashtra, India; which are about 79 km southwest from Shinganapur.
Nashik: The city of Nashik is 143 km from the Shani Shinganapur and is famous for its religious culture. There are many places to see in the Nashik city; some of which include Muktidham, Trimbakeshwar, Pandavleni Caves, Sula Vineyards, Kalaram Temple, Naroshankar Temple, Sundarnarayan Temple, Shri Kailas Math etc.

If you have any questions about the Shani Shingnapur Temple, please leave a comment below, and we will get back to you within one hour.