Trimbakeshwar had been in my bucket list for the longest time. Living in Mumbai, this one is the closest of all other Jyotirlingas located across the country. However, it was only recently that the plan fell in place and we left for Triambak town that is roughly 177 kilometers from Mumbai.
How To Reach :
Highway 160 is the best roadway from Mumbai. Avoid national highway 848 as it is secluded, narrow, and full of risky bends.
We, unfortunately, chose this highway and soon regretted it. In monsoons, it was reduced to a dirt road full of deep potholes running through forests and fields with no civilization in plain sight for miles and miles.
Not to mention the unfenced U-pin bends narrowly dodging dangerous valleys. The mobile network was lost and if you happen to lose the GPS navigation, be prepared to be lost in the middle of nowhere. Heavy thundershowers and poor visibility made it worse for us.
Triambak town is 28 kms from Nashik and 23 kms from the famous Sula and Soma Vineyards.
Where To Stay:
Being frequented by tourists and pilgrims from across the country, the Triambak town offers various accommodation options. From austere Dharamshala, lodges to some decent hotels, you may choose as per your budget and requirement.
We stayed at Hotel Three Leaves, which is the only luxury accommodation in close proximity and is roughly 800 meters from the temple.
Kaal Sarp Dosh Pooja at Trimbakeshwar Nashik :
As per Hindu mythology, each one of us has to bear the fruits of our karmas right here in our lives. Though the concept of Heaven (Swarga) and Hell (Nark) exist, everyone puts up with the consequences of one’s good or bad deeds in this world itself. If not in a single life, then in the next!
A single soul goes through a cycle of 84 lakh yonis (births) depending on its karma before being able to born as a human (most superior of all being).
Kaal Sarp Dosh is a condition in one’s kundalini (birth-chart) that reflects misdeeds or paap karma done in the previous life.
With an offense so massive that it couldn’t be repented for in one lifetime alone, the soul pays for it in the next one as well.
Kaal Sarp Dosh transpires in the form of physical, financial and mental setbacks. One experiences professional and monetary hazards besides traumatic personal relationships. Planetary patterns too govern all kundalis with notorious planets being dominant in those that reflect Kaal Sarp Dosh.
Essentially, the shanti pooja for this dosh is done in a Shiva temple as Lord Shiva is master of all snakes; on and under the earth. Also, the ritual is ideally performed close to a water body as all snakes on being apologized to go down to their adobe, the paatal lok (a world under the earth).
Pandits prefer to get it done in Jyotirlingas as they are considered to be a ‘live’ form of Shiva and most have ponds or river banks in close proximity.
I had earlier got my shaanti pooja done almost 10 years back in Ujjain’s Mahakaleshwar Jyotirling.
However, this time I decided to visit Triambakeshwar with it being close to my present city.
How to choose a pandit at Trimbakeshwar
I found a very strange practice here. At most other Jyotirlingas, the devotees get to observe rituals related to their personal poojas within the temple premises.
However, here the temple is believed to be built on shamshan bhoomi (crematorium land). It is evident from a large aghori community based around the jyotirling premises. Now, aghoris are the sadhus that live in the shamshan bhoomi and practice dark tantra that feeds on the dead.
Hence, no shanti pooja is performed inside.
Devotees willing to get any specific ritual done can look for a pundit, who would host the pilgrims at his place for all religious rites.
Finding a Brahmin isn’t difficult as the commercial complex around the temple is full of pundits offering their services. Hotels too help guests in fixing appointments with them.
An auto-rickshaw guy, who plied us around in the town, was instrumental in helping us find a Brahmin, who invited us to his place the next day and performed an elaborated Kaal Sarp dosh shanti for around 3 hours.
It’s being Nagpanchi falling on a Shrawan Somwar saw a swarm of devotees coming to the temple town for darshan and other pooja related activities.
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You can also watch my experience at Trimbakeshwar Shiva Temple here :
Also Read : Soma Vineyards! A Beautiful Weekend Gateway Near Mumbai
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