Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga: Legend, the Disputed Claims and Travel Guide

The Sahyadri range runs down the west of Maharashtra, and in Khed taluka of Pune district, at about 900 metres in dense forest, stands the temple of Bhimashankar. The river Bhima begins in these hills and flows south-east to join the Krishna. The shrine is the sixth name in the traditional list of the twelve jyotirlingas, and it is one of three on that list whose location is argued over.

Where it is, and the dispute

Maharashtra’s Bhimashankar is the claim that most devotees and most temple authorities accept. It has the longest pilgrimage tradition and the clearest local link, since the river Bhima rises here and the name of the river and the god are tied together.

The old hymn that lists the twelve, traditionally attributed to Adi Shankara, places Bhimashankar in “Dakini”. Scholars and devotees read that word differently. Some say it points to the Dakini forest of the Sahyadri. Two other places also lay claim to the jyotirlinga, in each case with a temple of their own and a local tradition:

• Bhimashankar near Guwahati, Assam, on a hill in the old Kamarupa region, where devotees identify the hill with the Dakini of the text.
• Moteshwar Mahadev at Kashipur (Ujjanak) in Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand, which local tradition has long called Bhimashankar.

We do not try to settle this. The Maharashtra temple is the one covered below, because it is the most widely accepted. A pilgrim who holds the Assam or Uttarakhand temple dear is not mistaken in devotion, and the old texts do not give enough detail to end the argument.

The legend

The Shiva Purana tells of a demon named Bhima, who was born to Kumbhakarna, the brother of Ravana, and a woman named Karkati. After he learned that Rama had killed his father, Bhima was filled with anger against the gods. He performed great austerity and received a boon of immense strength from Brahma, and he went on to defeat Indra and imprison a pious king named Sudakshina, who spent his days worshipping a clay linga in his cell.

The king’s prayers drew Shiva. When Bhima raised his sword to destroy the linga, Shiva burst out of it and burned him to ash. The gods begged Shiva to stay in this form for the world’s protection, and he stayed as the lord of the hills, Bhimashankar. In another telling, Shiva settled here after he defeated the demon Tripurasura, and the sweat of his labour became the Bhima river. These retellings differ, and the tradition keeps both.

The temple’s history

The oldest parts of the present temple are usually dated to the thirteenth century, and the style is mostly the Nagara tradition of the Deccan with Hemadpanti features. In the eighteenth century the Peshwa minister Nana Phadnavis added the hall (sabhamandap) and rebuilt the spire. A large bell near the entrance is a Portuguese church bell, presented by the Maratha commander Chimaji Appa after a victory over the Portuguese at Vasai in 1739, a story that shows how the shrine was tied to the political history of the Marathas.

What else is on the hill

The walk is part of the visit. A path of several hundred steps leads down to the temple from the car park, and a longer forest trail climbs from the village of Khandas for those who like trekking. The sanctuary protects rare birds, butterflies and the Shekru, and in the rains the hill is wrapped in mist and small waterfalls. Carry a rain jacket and shoes with grip, and allow more time than the distance suggests. Stay in the small guesthouses near the temple if you want to catch the quiet early hours.

How to get there

• Airport: Pune is the nearest major airport, about three to four hours by road.
• Railway: Pune and Karjat are the stations most used by pilgrims, and from either one the last part is by road. Check the current timetables, as services vary.
• Road: Maharashtra’s state buses and private taxis serve the hill. The final approach is a winding forest road, and a short flight of steps leads from the car park to the shrine.

The season

The forest is at its most beautiful in and just after the monsoon, though the hill is slippery and misty then, and landslips are possible. Winter days are comfortable. Shravan Mondays and Maha Shivaratri draw enormous crowds, and a weekday outside those is calmer. The surrounding wildlife sanctuary is home to the Indian giant squirrel, locally called Shekru, and some visitors time a trek for it. See the Maha Shivaratri page for the date.

Etiquette

Keep to the paths in the sanctuary, do not feed or disturb animals, and take away your own waste. In the temple, dress modestly, leave footwear outside, and be patient in queues. Offerings are usually bel leaves, flowers and water. Timings, darshan categories and any booking are decided by the trust, so we do not give them. Please check its official website.

A short Shiva Panchakshara Stotram is often recited at the hilltop.

Related pages

• The twelve jyotirlingas
• Trimbakeshwar jyotirlinga
• Grishneshwar jyotirlinga
• Lingashtakam
• Monday (Somvar) vrat
• Pilgrimage guides

Frequently asked questions