Bhima river originates from Bhimashankar village. Hills of Manmad village are present near it. As per Pune district administration's website, there are old rock carvings of God Bhimashankar, Bhootings and Amba-Ambika on these hills. This temple's Shiv ling is one of the five jyotirlingas of Maharashtra. [3]
Architecture
Stone bullBell at the temple
The sanctum of the Bhimashankar Temple is on a lower level and is made up of both old and new Nagara-style buildings. It demonstrates the exceptional craftsmanship of ancient Vishwakarma sculptors. The temple dates back to the 13th century. In the 18th century, Nana Phadnavis built the Sabhamandap, he also designed and built the shikhara. The Maratha King Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj endowed this temple to facilitate religious ceremonies.[4][5]
As far back as the 13th century CE, people wrote about the Bhimashankaram shrine and the Bhimarathi river. It is reported that Saint Jnaneshwar visited Tryambakeshwar and Bhimashankar. A Roman-style bell may be found in front of the temple. Chimaji Appa donated this big bell.[4]
On 16 May, 1739 Chimaji Appa amassed five big bells following his victory over the Portuguese from the Vasai Fort. He offered one here at Bhimashankar and the others in Menavali near Wai in front of a Shiva temple on the banks of the Krishna River, the Banshanker Temple in Pune, the Omkareshwar Temple in Pune, and the Ramlinga Temple in Pune (Shirur).[4]
Even though the Bhimashankaram shrine and the Bhimarathi river have been talked about in writings as far back as the 13th century, the current construction of the temple seems to be fairly new. The Nagara architectural style was used to build this temple, which was built in the 18th century. It is small and elegant.
It is claimed that the old temple was built on a Swayambhu Lingam (that is, the self-emanating Shiva Lingam). Furthermore, it can be seen that the Lingam is located precisely in the center of the Garbagriham (Sanctum sanctorum) of the temple. The pillars and door frames of the temple are covered with intricate sculptures of holy beings and people. In these amazing carvings, scenes from mythology are depicted.
Top view of Bhimashankar Temple
A minor shrine dedicated to Lord ShaniMahatma can also be seen within the temple's grounds (also called Shanaeshwara). There is a statue of Nandi, Lord Shiva's vehicle, right inside the entrance to the temple.
This temple is connected to the legend of how Shiva killed Tripurasura, the demon, with the unconquerable flying citadels known as "Tripuras." On the peak of the Sahyadri hills, Shiva is claimed to have assumed the form of "Bhima Shankara" at the behest of the Gods, and the sweat that spilled from His body after the battle is said to have formed the Bhimarathi river.
The Gopura-shikhara of the temple was built by Nāna Phadnavis. It is said that the great Maratha king Shivaji gave gifts to this temple so that religious ceremonies could be done better. The "Shani Temple" is situated within the main complex of the Bhimashankar temple.
Between the two pillars in front of the "Shani" shrine there is an enormous antique Portuguese churchbell. Behind the temple, there is a narrow walk that goes to the riverbanks. Outside the temple, there is a large area of forest that is sometimes broken up by forts on the mountains nearby.
There are other temples and shrines, near the main temple. There is a mandir of Kamalaja mata near the Bhimashankar temple. Kamalaja is an incarnation of Goddess Parvathi, who aided Shiva in his battle against Tripuraasura. Kamalajaa was worshipped with offerings of lotus flowers by Brahma.
There is a shrine for Siva Ganams, Shaakini and Daakini who assisted Shiva in the battle against the demon Bhima. Maha-muni Kaushika is said to have done 'tapa' there. The place where he bathed is called Mokshakund tirtham, which is located behind the Bhimashankar temple. There are also the Sarvatirtha, the Kusharanya tirtha - where the Bhīmā river begins to flow eastward, and the Jnyanakund, a pond.
^Sharma, Archana (2022), Sharma, Archana (ed.), "Shiva Temples", Mandala Urbanism, Landscape, and Ecology: Interpreting classic Indian texts and Vaastupurusha mandala as a framework for organizing towns, Cham: Springer International Publishing, pp. 35–46, doi:10.1007/978-3-030-87285-4_4, ISBN978-3-030-87285-4, retrieved 2023-02-12
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