Trimbakeshwar

Trimbakeshwar is a jyotirling situated in Nasik, Maharastra.

History

Once upon a time there was a sage(rishi) Gautam who had done penance and gain lots of merits(Punya) this makes other sages jealous so they were planned to trap so they will trap him in the sin of cow's murder and ask him to bring River Ganga to get out of this sin. He was advised to approach Lord Shiva and request him to release Ganges and a bath in the Ganges would set him free of his sins. Gautama then practiced penance by going to the peak of Brahmagiri. Lord Shankara was pleased by his worships and gave him the Ganges.

 Kusavarta, a place where river Godavari takes course.However, Ganges was not prepared to part with Lord Shiva, which irritated him. He made TandavNrutya (dance) on the peak of Brahmagiri and dashed his jata there. Frightened by this action, Ganges appeared on Brahmagiri. Later on Ganges appeared in the Trimbak Tirtha. Rishi Gautam the river ganga and his sin wipped off. From then this place become shrine and called as Trimbakeshwar.