Bhimashankar

Story behind the Twelve Jyotirlingas

Hinduism plays a significant role in human life from the eras Krutha, Thretha and Dwapara continuing in present Kali era. In the entire eras, God wears several incarnations to punish evil and to protect sages and his devotees. The demons get boons from Brahma, the creator and used to show their sadism on sages and devotees of God in all these eras. Vishnu and Shiva wear several incarnations to punish the evils and to protect sages and his devotees from their harassment. The places where Vishnu and Shiva wear incarnations spread all over India are came in to existence a holy places with the respective incarnation names. The holy places of Dwadasa Jyothirlingas spread from Kedarewar in north to Rameswaram in South and from Vaidhyanath in the east to Somanath of Gujarat in the West protecting our nation from times immemorial. The Dwadasa Jyothirlingas Spread all over India like a Conch.

The legend is that Vishnu and Brahma argued about supreme creation. Shiva prepared the three worlds as an endless Jyothirlinga pillar of light. Brahma decides to travel downwards along with the pillar and Vishnu to travel upwards respectively, to find the end of the light. Brahma lied that he had found the end, while Vishnu agreed his defeat. Shiva appeared as a second pillar of light and find the lie told by Brahma. Shiva got angry on Brahma and cursed Brahma him not to have place in ceremonies and Vishnu would be worshipped in eras. There are 64 Temples of Shiva and twelve only being called as Dwadasa Jyothirlingas and holy places of Shiva. Darshan of Dwadasha jyothirlingas feasible only on Spiritual culmination of human being. Every jyothirlingam became familiar with different names  in the name of local shrine.

The Legend says that Bhima, son of Kumbakarna learn that Vishnu is responsible for killing his father and felt to take revenge against Vishnu. He has performed hermit and obtained boon from Brahma. He defeated Kama Roopeswar, a devotee of Lord Shiva and harassed the world. Shiva got angry and killed Bhima to safeguard the universe. At the request of the Gods, Shiva come in to existence to live in that place and the place  named as Bheema Sankara Jyothirlinga. It is believed that the sweat drops of Shiva formed as Bhima River.

There is another legend that in Tretha era, a monster named Tripurasura made severe yoga in the foret of Bhima Sankar about Lord Shiva and obtained boon of immortality on a condition to ready for war if otherwise fails to public piece. Tripurasura harassed people and gods ignoring the condition Lord Shiva requested the assistance of Parvathi (Kamalaraja Matha). Lord Shiva killed Tripurasua on Tirpurari Pournima otherwise known as Karthika Pournima with the assistance of Parvathi in the incarnation of Ardhanareeswara. Sakhni and Dhakhini, wives of Tripurasura urged Shiva and Shiva given boon of immortality to them. Till then Bhima Sankhar being called as Dhakhini Bhima Sankar. Chimaji Appa, brother of Balajirao Peshva and uncle of Nana Saheb Peshva, Marata King procured four big bells from Porch geese and given one bell to the temple and the bell is at presence in the temple. It is believed that all people irrespective of gender of  CAPRICORN  Zodic sign visit and worship the Bheemasankar Jyothirlingam will be relieved from all their hurdles in life.