Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Malshej Ghat
Post Khubi via Otur, District Pune.
Malshej Ghat especially attracts hikers, trekkers and adventure
lovers. The hills around serve as a stopover for migrating
flamingoes during a part of the monsoon months. Shivneri fort,
the birthplace of Shivaji is close enough to be visited during a
holiday at Malshej. It is about approximately 40 km from the hill
station. The malshej hills are replete with Buddhist caves dating
back to the 3rd century. There is also a fort nearby.
Getting there:
The nearest airport is Mumbai and the nearest railhead Kalyan,
on the Mumbai-Pune route of the Central Railway. Maharashtra
State Transport buses ply regularly from Kalyan to Malshej and
onward to Shivneri. From Mumbai drive down on the Eastern
Express Highway upto Thane and then take the road to Shahad
up the Malshej ghat onward to Malshej. The distance is about 120
km. From Pune, take the Pune-Nasik Highway turn at
Narayangaon or Alephata and take the Alephata-Kalyan Road.
Pune-Malshej is about 130 km. Accommodation at Malshej
comprises self contained rooms and dormitory Reservations can
be done at the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation
Offices in advance at Mumbai or Pune.
Bhimashankar in Maharashtra is an ancient
shrine, enshrining Bhimashankara one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Shiva.
Bhimashankar is located in the village of Bhavagiri 50 km north west of
Khed, near Pune. It is located 110 km away from Pune in the ghat region of
the Sahyadri hills. Bhimashankar is also the source of the river Bhima,
which flows south east and merges with the Krishna river near Raichur.
The other Jyotirlinga shrines in Maharashtra are Tryambakeshwar and
Grishneshwar.
This temple is closely associated with the legend of Shiva slaying the
demon Tripurasura associated with the invincible flying citadels Tripuras.
Shiva is said to have taken abode in the Bhima form, upon the request of
the Gods, on the crest of the Sahyadri hills, and the sweat that poured forth
from his body after the battle is said to have formed the Bhimarathi river.
The Temple: The Bhimashankara temple is a composite of old and the new
structures and is built in the Nagara style of architecture. It is a modest
temple yet graceful temple and it dates back to mid 18th century. The
shikhara of the temple was built by Nana Phadnavis. The great Maratha
ruler Shivaji is also said to have made endowments to this temple to
facilitate the carrying out, of worship services. As with other Shiva temples
in this area, the sanctum is at a lower level.
Although the structure here is fairly new, the shrine Bhimashankaram (and
the Bhimarathi river) have been referred to in literature dating back to the
13th century CE. Saint Jnaneshwar is said to have visited Tryambakeshwar
and Bhimashankar.
The temple here is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is one of the twelve
Jyotirlingas in the country. Around 20,000 pilgrims annually attend the
fair during the festival of Mahashivaratri. This place is about 22 kms from
Pune.
The temple is rather impressive and beautifully carved and houses one of
the 12 Jyotirlingas of Hindustan. Located 122 kilometers away from Pune
by road in the northeast direction, this temple is close to Shivneri Fort.
best project
Bhimashankar Temple is located in the village
of Bhorgiri 50 km north west of Khed, near Pune, in India. It is
located 110 km away from Pune in the Ghat region of
the Sahyadri hills. Bhimashankar is also the source of the Bhima
river, which flows south east and merges with the Krishna
river near Raichur. The other Jyotirlingashrines in Maharashtra
are Parli, Tryambakeshwar and Grishneshwar. Regular pilgrims
near Mumbai visit Bhimashankar from Karjat via Khandas.
The Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary located here is a popular
weekend getaway from Mumbai and Pune.
egend
Eons ago in the dense forests of Dakini, on the lofty ranges of the
Sahaydris lived the evil Asura by the name Bhima with his mother
Karkati. Compassion and kindness shivered in the presence of
Bhima. The divine and the mortals were scared of him alike. But
he was confronted by certain questions about his own existence
which continuously tormented him.
When Bhima could no longer sustain his agony and curiosity, he
asked his mother to unveil the mysteries of his life. He urged his
mother to tell him who his father was and why had he abandoned
them in the wilderness of the forest. After much hesitation and
with a lingering fear Karkati, his mother revealed to him that he
was the son of the mighty Kumbhakarna, the younger brother of
the Lankadheeswara the mighty all powerful King Ravana of
Lanka.
Lord Vishnu in his incarnation as Lord Rama annihilated
Kumbhakarna. Karkati told Bhima, that her husband and his
father was killed by Rama in the great war. This infuriated Bhima
and he vowed to avenge Lord Vishnu. To achieve this he
embarked on a severe penance to please Lord Brahma.
The compassionate creator was pleased by the dedicated devotee
and granted him immense prowess. This was a terrible mistake,
Bramha did. The evil tyrant caused havoc in the three worlds. He
defeated King Indra and conquered the heavens. He also defeated
a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva – Kamarupeshwar and put him in
the dungeons.
He started torturing Rishies and Sadhus. All this angered the
Gods. They all along with Lord Brahma beseeched Lord Shiva to
come for their rescue. Lord Shiva consoled the Gods and agreed
to rescue them from the tyrant. On the other hand Bhima insists
and orders Kamarupeshwara to worship him instead of Lord
Shiva.
When Kamarupeshwara denied doing that and refused to do pooja
to him, tyrant Bhima raised his sword to strike the Shiva Linga, to
which Kamarupeshwara was doing abhishekam and pooja. As
soon as Bhima managed to raise his sword, Lord Shiva appeared
before him in all his magnificence.
Then the terrible war began. But then the holy sage Narada
appeared and requested Lord Shiva to put an end to this war. It
was then that Lord Shiva reduced the evil demon to ashes and
thus concluded the saga of tyranny. All the Gods and the holy
sages present there requested Lord Shiva to make this place his
abode. Lord Shiva thus manifested himself in the form of the
Bhimashankara Jyotirlingam.
It is believed that the sweat that poured forth from Lord Shiva’s
body after the battle formed the Bhimarathi River.
[edit]The Temple
Timings:
Morning - 4:30 am
Aarti - 5:05 am
Normal Darshans - 5:15 am to 11:30 am.
No Abhishekam between - 11:30 am to 11:50 am.
Maha Puja - 12 pm.
/noon Maha Nivedhyam - 12:30 pm.
Abhishekam and Normal Puja - 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm.
Shringar Puja - 2:45 pm to 3:15 pm.
Aarti - 3:15 pm to 3:30 pm
Shringar Darshan - 3:30 pm to 7:30 pm
(Except Pradosham on Monday or Amavasya or Grahan or Maha
Shiv Ratri. Kartihik Month, Shravan Month - No Mukut and no
Shringar Darshans).
Rudrasamhita sloka in its reference to Bhimashankar says,
Daakine Bhimashankaram. There is also a Bhimashankar temple
at Bhimapur hill near Guwahati in Assam where legend holds that
a demon by name Bhima who inflicted havoc upon the beings in
the area, was slain by Shiva, as he tried to kill a king enaged in
Shiva worship.
This is not to be confused with the legend Mruthumjaya Lingam,
where Shiva emerged from a Shivalingam to vanquish Yama the
Lord of death. The Shiva Purana and the Koti Rudra Samhita refer
to Bhimashankar temple in the Kamarupa country. However there
is also a reference to Mount Sahya, where it is stated that Shiva -
Bhimashankara appeared on the Sahayadris.
Three worship services are offered each day. Mahashivratri is a
season of great festivity here.
It is to be noted that the Rudrasamhita sloka in its reference to
Bhimashankar says, Daakine Bhimashankaram. There is also a
Bhimashankar temple at Bhimapur hill
near Guwahati in Assam where legend holds that a demon by
name Bhima who inflicted havoc upon the beings in the area, was
slain by Shiva, as he tried to kill a king enaged in Shiva worship.
This is a legend similar to that where Shiva emerged from a
Shivalingam to vanquish Yama the Lord of death. The Shiva
Purana and the Koti Rudra Samhita refer to Bhimashankar temple
in the Kamarupa country. However there is also a reference to
Mount Sahya, where it is stated that Shiva - Bhimashankara
appeared on the Sahayadris.
There is also a Bhimashankara temple at Kashipur near Nainital in
Uttarakhand, which was referred to as Daakini country in ancient
days. It is believed that Bhima the Pandava prince was married to
Hidamba, a Daakini here. Mahashivaratri is celebrated in great
splendour here too. This temple also has shrines to Bhairavanath
and Devi, and a temple tank by name Shivaganga[1].