Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga – Shiva Manifested Because of Bhima Rakshas

In Hinduism, Lord Shiva is believed to have 12 divine Jyotirlingas. Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga comes sixth among these 12 Jyotirlingas. Located in Maharashtra’s Pune district, Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga stands in the dense forests of the Sahyadri mountain range.

Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga is famous not only for its religious significance but also for its natural beauty and historical importance. Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga is also known as Moteswar Mahadev, because the Bhimashankar Shivalinga is very thick in shape, and therefore it is called Moteswar Mahadev. It is believed that by merely visiting this Jyotirlinga, all sins get destroyed, and devotees receive Lord Shiva’s blessings.

Manifestation of Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga

The ancient text Shiva Purana describes the story of the manifestation of Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga. Kumbhakarna had a son named Bhima. Bhima was born after the death of Kumbhakarna. Because of this, Bhima did not know how his father Kumbhakarna died. He did not know that his father was killed by Lord Rama.

Later, Bhima’s mother told him about his father Kumbhakarna’s death and said that Lord Rama had killed his father. Bhima pleased Lord Brahma with his intense penance, and Lord Brahma granted him a boon that he would become invincible and possess immense power. Because of this boon, Bhima became even more cruel and tyrannical. He started defeating the gods and spreading terror across the earth. The gods and sages became troubled by his cruelty and sought refuge in Lord Shiva and prayed for protection.

Lord Shiva heard the prayers of the gods and decided to fight Bhima for the welfare of all. Lord Shiva appeared before Bhima and warned him to end his atrocities. Bhima ignored Lord Shiva’s warning and attacked Him. A fierce battle took place between them. Even though Bhima possessed the boon of invincibility, he could not withstand Lord Shiva’s divine powers for long, and finally, Lord Shiva killed Bhima with His divine energy.

After Bhima’s death, all the gods became extremely pleased. They requested Lord Shiva to remain at that place in the form of a Shivalinga. Lord Shiva accepted their request and manifested there as a Jyotirlinga. Thus, this Jyotirlinga became known as Bhimashankar.

That Originated From Lord Shiva’s Sweat

Near the Bhimashankar temple flows a river, and it is believed that during the battle between the demon Bhima and Lord Shiva, drops of sweat appeared from Lord Shiva’s body. This river formed from that sweat. This river is known as the Bhima River.