Tryambakeshwar - The Lord of the three worlds.

Tryambakeshwar Mahadev

Tryambakeshwar literally means the the three-eyed lord of the world. It is the revered Jyotirling of Lord Shiva stationed by the majestic Brahmagiri mountain in the Nashik district of Maharashtra. It is here that Godavari originated from the Brahmagiri mountains.This holy shrine besides being an architectural marvel also serves as one of the places where the Kumbha Mela is held every 12 years.

The Tryambakeshwar temple has its rich origin in the penance of Gautama Rishi. Legend has it that the great sage Gautama along with his wife had his hermitage in the Brahmagiri mountains.His wife, Ahalya, was also known for her chastity, holy and pious demeanour who served her husband with great devotion.It so happened, that for many years the region of Brahmagiri hadn’t received any rainfall.This resulted in a famine.Since there was no water, the people could not grow anything and neither did they have any water to drink.Their cries for help in the face of such adversity could not be ignored by Rishi Gautama and so he performed a penance for six months without interruptions for the sake of the people.

Lord of the rain,Varuna was pleased with his devotion and appearing in front of the Rishi asked him the boon he sought.Gautam Rishi asked for rain and the end of draught.But Lord Varuna could not grant the boon as it was against the wishes of Gods.But Gautama insisted that Lord Varuna arrange for a perennial source of water for the people.Relenting to Gautama Rishi, a ditch was dug and Lord Varuna blessed it with perennial water.Elated and bowing thus to Lord Varuna, Gautama Rishi asked the people to take the water from the ditch and use it for their benefit.

After having done a great deed for the people,Gautama Rishi himself planted many seeds of different grains near his hermitage for the benefit of the people during difficult times and used the water from the perennial ditch to water them.One day,Gautama Rishi needed some water for his daily rituals for which he sent his disciples to fetch some water for him.At the time when the disciples went, the wives of other sages were present by the ditch and looking at the disciples of Gautama Rishi got flustered and rebuked them to come later.

The disciples went from there and narrated everything to Ahalya. Ahalya, personally went to the spot and tried to placate the angry ladies.But the wives of the sages were still annoyed and related the matter to their husbands provoking them against Gautam Rishi and his disciples.      All the sages together decided to teach Gautama a lesson by removing him from his hermitage.They decided to invoke Lord Ganesha for their help. Lord Ganesha, pleased with their invocation asked them the boon they sought.They asked Lord Ganesha to create a cause that shall remove Rishi Gautama from his hermitage. Lord Ganesha urged the sages to refrain from using the boon to cause harm to others.The sages remained obstinate despite being counselled. Ever subservient to his devotees, Lord Ganesha gave in to the request of the sages.

He disguised himself as a feeble cow and entered the field of Rishi Gautama and started eating the grains in his field.Seeing the cow eating the grains, Rishi Gautama tried to remove the cow gently from the field using just a blade of grass.The moment the blade of grass touched the cow, it rolled over and died.Rishi Gautama was distressed and informed Ahalya of what had happened.Meanwhile the sages and their wives were hiding in the nearby fields. They raised a hue and cry and blamed Gautama Rishi for having committed a sin of killing a cow.They suggested Gautama Rishi to perform hard penance to appease Lord Shiva and to atone himself from the sin of Gow-hatya. The sages also wanted Gautama Rishi to have a dip in River Ganges so she could wash away his sins.

Gautama Rishi dejected and distressed agreed to the suggestions of the sages and started performing hard penance for appeasing Lord Shiva.Lord Shiva pleased with Gautama Rishi appeared in his full glory and blessed Gautama Rishi.He informed Gautama Rishi of the wicked intentions of the sages and urged him to ask a boon.Gautama Rishi being the ardent devotee of Lord Shiva expressed that he was grateful to the sages as it was because of them that he could experience Lord Shiva’s presence in front of him.Lord Shiva was pleased with this answer and urged Gautama Rishi again to seek a boon for his benefit.

Having the common man’s welfare in his heart the Rishi beseeched Lord Shiva to bring the holy river Ganga all the way to Brahmagiri and absolve him from his sins.Lord Shiva granted him the boon and river Ganga appeared from heaven at that holy spot.River Ganga was sceptical about staying in Brahmagiri though. She wished to go back to her abode after absolving the sins of the Rishi.But,Lord Shiva urged her to stay in Brahmagiri forever. River Ganga agreed on the condition that Lord Shiva must stay there too.The Gods,holy saints and Rishi Gautama too implored Lord Shiva to stay back for the welfare of the mankind.Thus,Lord Shiva manifested himself in the form Tryambakeshwar, the Lord of the three worlds.River Ganga originated from the Brahmagiri mountains and came to be known as Gautami.

Shivapuran mentions that he who sees the Jyotirling Tryambaka and worships with devotion and eulogises Lord Shiva shall be freed from all sins and liberated thereafter. 

Har Har Mahadev.

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