NASIK AND RAMAYANA
Reached Nasik on 1st July 2017 evening at 06.45 PM and took a hotel. It was drizzling and could not do anything in the evening except to verify the various bus stands from which to go to Trimbakeswar. Luckily I had taken a room very near to new bus stand CBS. The Mela bus stand is on the other side of New CBS and one can walk across between the two.
Trimbakeswar temple entrance
On 2nd Morning, I took van (Mahindra Bolero) which was operating on sharing basis at 06.00 AM. He charged Rs.50/- for the one way trip for a distance of 38 kms. From the morning it was raining and Trimbakeswar was no different. But I went ahead with the programme and first went to the Godavri Kund for taking bath and also to have darshan at the Gangagodavari temple.
GODAVARI KUND
GANGAGODAVARI TEMPLE NEAR GODAVARI KUND
After the darshan at Gangagodavari temple, I had darshan at Trimbakeshwar temple. Priests are conducting parihara poojas all around the temple. Very good darshan on a rainy day.
As per legend, Sage Gautama did great penance to invoke rain. Varuna Deva was pleased and appeared before the Sage and the Sage requested Varuna to cause rain. Varuna Deva asked the Sage to please Siva and his desire would be fulfilled. Later Varuna told the Sage to dig a pit and he filled it with water. Varuna blessed Gautama and said this pond wont dry up. Sage Gautama asked his disciples to fetch water from the pond one day and the wives of sages nearby refused. Sage Gautama's wife Ahalya went and she was also told that water cannot be feteched from that pond. The Sages wanted to drive out Gautama from that place and prayed to Lord Ganesh and requested him to make Gautama leave the place. Lord Ganesh reluctantly obliged and took the form of a cow and grazed on the field of Gautama. The sage hit the cow with a grass but the cow died. The sages asked to Gautama to leave, as he had killed a cow. Gautama asked the sages how to get rid of the sin of having killed a cow. The Sages said that Gautama should come round the world three times uttering -" I have killed a cow", or should conduct poojas to 3 million siva lingas or manifest Ganga to be here in this place and take bath in the river to overcome the sin. Sage Gautama made siva lingas and worshipped them and Lord Siva appeared before him. The Sage requested the Lord Siva for Ganga to manifest in this place and the lord said to Gautama that he had not committed any sin and only the wicked sages had told him so. But Gautama insisted for clearing of his sins of killing a cow and thus Lord Siva made Ganga to flow here and Gautama on taking bath was washed of his sins. Lord Siva asked her to continue here and Ganga said that the Lord and Parvati too be here. Thus the Gangagodavari came to flow in this place to protect the devotees from sin and Lord Siva established himself as Trimbakeshwar.
Picture from web of Trimbakeswar-
After the darshan I left to the bus stand and reached by bus to new CBS bus stand. From there I went in an auto to Ramkund near Panchavati. Panchavati has all the temples around and nearer to Ramkund. Panchavati got its name from 5 big banyan trees which can be seen now also. The stay at Panchavati was suggested by Sage Agastya to Lord Rama and seeing the environ of river Godavari with flora and fauna, Rama felt that the place was the one suggested by the Sage. Lakshmana built the ashram here for them.
During his vanavas of 14 years, some part of it was spent here by Lord Rama. He had done the rituals for his father here as instructed by Maharishi Kashyap. People from all over India come here to perform the rituals here in this bank of river Godavari. In the year1689, Sri Chitrarao of Satara built the Ramkund Ghat in Panchavati. This place is also called as Ramtirth. Just opposite to this, is the Lord Kapaleeswar temple. One has to ascend a few steps to reach the temple atop. There is no nandhi in front of the Sivalinga since Lord Siva had accepted Nandhi as his master here.
On the same bank of the river Godavari, walk around 400 metres to reach Kalaram temple and Sita Guffa (Cave). It is said that Kalaram temple has been built in the place of Lord Rama's vanavas here. It is said that Lord Rama took his darker side to kill the demons who were giving problems to the Rishis of Panchavati and thus got the name Kalaram. Opposite is the Sita Guffa in which one has to test his skills in entering into a narrow passage to have darshan of Ram, Lakshman and Sita. Though made up of a few steps, only those who have maintained their body well, can enter and come out of the cave. Perhaps pleased with my effort Matha Sita blessed me to have darshan at all palces in Nasik though it was raining continuously. As I came out of the Guffa, one auto driver offered himself to take me to the various places in Nasik and to be guide too and also accepted to leave me back in my hotel by 1 pm as I had to take the 2 pm bus to Pune. The charges were Rs.900/-.
SITA GUFFA (CAVE) KALARAM TEMPLE
From Bhaktidam, I went to Katya Maruti Mandir, in which the Anjaneya is of 11 1/2 ft tall and is supposed to have connection with the Mahabharatha story of Bhima not able to move the tail of Hanuman. The present form of the temple was built in 1771 by Sri Raghunath Bhatt Karte.
Just opposite is the Sita Apharan Mandir, from where Ravana took Ma Sita and there is an idol of Ma Sita and just opposite to that a statue of Ravana.
From Sita Apharan Mandir, I went to Tapovan and then to Lakshman temple. The serene atmosphere of lush green forests and on the banks of river godavari, the great rishis had their tapovan. Lakshman temple has a statue made to depict Surpanaka's nose being cut - how the city's name became Nasik.
The unique feature of Lakshmana temple, is that he is seen with hood of Adisesha duly bringing his connection with Adisesha. It is a small temple but reminds how Nasik is so closely connected the Epic Ramayana besides how the city itself is now called as Nasik.
The Kapilanadhi and Godvari sangam in Nasik gets its importance not only because of the sangam but also because of the proximity of Parnasala here where Rama, Lakshmana and Sita stayed for better part of the 14 years of Vanavas. Some of the photographs taken in this place -
Nearby siva temple is the Balaji temple, which is a new one recently built. I had darshan of Balaji and there are no shops around this place.
Reached Nasik on 1st July 2017 evening at 06.45 PM and took a hotel. It was drizzling and could not do anything in the evening except to verify the various bus stands from which to go to Trimbakeswar. Luckily I had taken a room very near to new bus stand CBS. The Mela bus stand is on the other side of New CBS and one can walk across between the two.
Trimbakeswar temple entrance
On 2nd Morning, I took van (Mahindra Bolero) which was operating on sharing basis at 06.00 AM. He charged Rs.50/- for the one way trip for a distance of 38 kms. From the morning it was raining and Trimbakeswar was no different. But I went ahead with the programme and first went to the Godavri Kund for taking bath and also to have darshan at the Gangagodavari temple.
GODAVARI KUND
GODAVARI KUND AND BRAHMAGIRI HILLS
GANGAGODAVARI TEMPLE NEAR GODAVARI KUND
After the darshan at Gangagodavari temple, I had darshan at Trimbakeshwar temple. Priests are conducting parihara poojas all around the temple. Very good darshan on a rainy day.
As per legend, Sage Gautama did great penance to invoke rain. Varuna Deva was pleased and appeared before the Sage and the Sage requested Varuna to cause rain. Varuna Deva asked the Sage to please Siva and his desire would be fulfilled. Later Varuna told the Sage to dig a pit and he filled it with water. Varuna blessed Gautama and said this pond wont dry up. Sage Gautama asked his disciples to fetch water from the pond one day and the wives of sages nearby refused. Sage Gautama's wife Ahalya went and she was also told that water cannot be feteched from that pond. The Sages wanted to drive out Gautama from that place and prayed to Lord Ganesh and requested him to make Gautama leave the place. Lord Ganesh reluctantly obliged and took the form of a cow and grazed on the field of Gautama. The sage hit the cow with a grass but the cow died. The sages asked to Gautama to leave, as he had killed a cow. Gautama asked the sages how to get rid of the sin of having killed a cow. The Sages said that Gautama should come round the world three times uttering -" I have killed a cow", or should conduct poojas to 3 million siva lingas or manifest Ganga to be here in this place and take bath in the river to overcome the sin. Sage Gautama made siva lingas and worshipped them and Lord Siva appeared before him. The Sage requested the Lord Siva for Ganga to manifest in this place and the lord said to Gautama that he had not committed any sin and only the wicked sages had told him so. But Gautama insisted for clearing of his sins of killing a cow and thus Lord Siva made Ganga to flow here and Gautama on taking bath was washed of his sins. Lord Siva asked her to continue here and Ganga said that the Lord and Parvati too be here. Thus the Gangagodavari came to flow in this place to protect the devotees from sin and Lord Siva established himself as Trimbakeshwar.
Picture from web of Trimbakeswar-
After the darshan I left to the bus stand and reached by bus to new CBS bus stand. From there I went in an auto to Ramkund near Panchavati. Panchavati has all the temples around and nearer to Ramkund. Panchavati got its name from 5 big banyan trees which can be seen now also. The stay at Panchavati was suggested by Sage Agastya to Lord Rama and seeing the environ of river Godavari with flora and fauna, Rama felt that the place was the one suggested by the Sage. Lakshmana built the ashram here for them.
During his vanavas of 14 years, some part of it was spent here by Lord Rama. He had done the rituals for his father here as instructed by Maharishi Kashyap. People from all over India come here to perform the rituals here in this bank of river Godavari. In the year1689, Sri Chitrarao of Satara built the Ramkund Ghat in Panchavati. This place is also called as Ramtirth. Just opposite to this, is the Lord Kapaleeswar temple. One has to ascend a few steps to reach the temple atop. There is no nandhi in front of the Sivalinga since Lord Siva had accepted Nandhi as his master here.
On the same bank of the river Godavari, walk around 400 metres to reach Kalaram temple and Sita Guffa (Cave). It is said that Kalaram temple has been built in the place of Lord Rama's vanavas here. It is said that Lord Rama took his darker side to kill the demons who were giving problems to the Rishis of Panchavati and thus got the name Kalaram. Opposite is the Sita Guffa in which one has to test his skills in entering into a narrow passage to have darshan of Ram, Lakshman and Sita. Though made up of a few steps, only those who have maintained their body well, can enter and come out of the cave. Perhaps pleased with my effort Matha Sita blessed me to have darshan at all palces in Nasik though it was raining continuously. As I came out of the Guffa, one auto driver offered himself to take me to the various places in Nasik and to be guide too and also accepted to leave me back in my hotel by 1 pm as I had to take the 2 pm bus to Pune. The charges were Rs.900/-.
SITA GUFFA (CAVE) KALARAM TEMPLE
The first place to see after the Sita Guffa was the Bhakthidam temple which is just a km from Sitaguffa. This temple is essentially for Lord Siva and other deities are Suryanarayanan, Durga, Durga in virat form, Adisankara with disciples etc., The temple is located on the Peth Road in the Gujarat highway.
From Bhaktidam, I went to Katya Maruti Mandir, in which the Anjaneya is of 11 1/2 ft tall and is supposed to have connection with the Mahabharatha story of Bhima not able to move the tail of Hanuman. The present form of the temple was built in 1771 by Sri Raghunath Bhatt Karte.
Just opposite is the Sita Apharan Mandir, from where Ravana took Ma Sita and there is an idol of Ma Sita and just opposite to that a statue of Ravana.
From Sita Apharan Mandir, I went to Tapovan and then to Lakshman temple. The serene atmosphere of lush green forests and on the banks of river godavari, the great rishis had their tapovan. Lakshman temple has a statue made to depict Surpanaka's nose being cut - how the city's name became Nasik.
The unique feature of Lakshmana temple, is that he is seen with hood of Adisesha duly bringing his connection with Adisesha. It is a small temple but reminds how Nasik is so closely connected the Epic Ramayana besides how the city itself is now called as Nasik.
The Kapilanadhi and Godvari sangam in Nasik gets its importance not only because of the sangam but also because of the proximity of Parnasala here where Rama, Lakshmana and Sita stayed for better part of the 14 years of Vanavas. Some of the photographs taken in this place -
After having darshan at the Parnasala, the next place to visit was Muktidham.
Muktidham temple is of a recent origin. It was built in 1988 by the Sarada group of industries. It is a km away from the Nasik Road Junction Railway station.
Photographs are not allowed inside the temple. This has been done on a massive scale of 82 ft long, 65ft wide and 97 ft height. The main posh door itself is a good 33 ft high. Darshan of Lord Siva and Lord Ram can be had in this temple.
Nearby is the famous market for kis-mis, thraksha. Shops next street to the temple too sell at Rs.140/- per Kg of dried grapes. The next halt was Pandaleni caves where Pandavas were hiding. It is on a hill and 300 steps were to be covered which would have taken atleast two hours to go up and come down. Due to time constraints of having to take bus at 14 hours to go to Pune took photograph from the ground and went to Someshwar Mahadev temple, again at the banks of Godavari river. In a large enclosure around the banks of Godavari river, the temple precincts is small but it has shops selling pooja materials.
Nearby siva temple is the Balaji temple, which is a new one recently built. I had darshan of Balaji and there are no shops around this place.
From here, I reached my hotel at 13.15 hours and just had enough time to catch the 14 hours bus to Pune.
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