Tryambakeshwar, Panchavati and Janasthana Kshetra (Nashik)

• Meditation:

► Tryambakeshwara Jyotirlinga: I meditate on Lord Shiva relieving sage Gautama from the false accusation of brahmanas and releasing river Ganga (Gautami Ganga or Godavari) from his matted hairs.
► Janasthana Shakti Peetha: I meditate on the Janasthana Shakti Peetha where the Civuka (Chin) of Devi had fallen. The Devi there is known as Bhramari and the Bhairava is called Vikritaksha.
► Panchavati: I meditate on Sri Rama staying in the Panchavati forest during his forest exile.

• Greatness:

Tryambakeshwar Jyotirlinga, Panchavati and Janasthana Kshetra (Nashik):

Tryambakeshwar Temple, Nashik district, Maharashtra

Vani - Devi Saptashrungi Temple, Nashik district, Maharashtra

Nashik - Panchavati, Nashik district, Maharashtra

Puranic Tryambakeshwar, Panchavati and Janasthana Kshetra is identified with:

Nashik (Tryambakeshwar) (Panchavati) (Janasthana) (Nashik district, Maharashtra):
☗ Brahmagiri Hills
☗ Saptashrungi Hills
► River Godavari Udgam (Source)
☸ Panchavati Forest (Puranic)
☘ Banyan Trees

Shiva: Tryambakeshwar Temple
Devi: Devi Saptashrungi Temple
Rama: Ram Kund, Panchavati, Kalaram Temple, Sita Gufa
Godavari Ghats: Ram Ghat (Aarti), Lakshman Ghat

◍ Greatness:

1. Jyotirlinga: Tryambakeshwar is identified with the Tryambakeshwara Jyotirlinga. Where Lord Shiva relieved devotee sage Gautama from the false accusation of brahmanas and released river Ganga (Gautami Ganga or Godavari) from his matted hairs.

2. Shakti Peetha: Vani Saptashrungi is identified with the Janasthana Shakti Peetha. Where the Civuka (Chin) of Devi had fallen. The Devi there is known as Bhramari and the Bhairava is called Vikritaksha.

2. Sri Rama staying: Sri Rama stayed in Panchavati during forest exile. Sri Rama encountered demoness Surpanakha in Panchavati. Sri Rama slayed Khara and Dushana in Janasthana. Sri Rama went after the golden deer. Ravana abducted Devi Sita from here. Sri Rama searched for Devi Sita in Panchavati and Janasthana.

◍ Puranic References:
• Shiva Purana - Koti Rudra Samhita - 24 to 27 (About Tryambakeshwara Jyotirlinga)
• Peetha Nirnaya Tantra - Shakti Peetha Stotram - verse 45 (About Janasthana Shakti Peetha)
• Valmiki Ramayana - Aranya Kanda - 15 to 63 (About Sri Rama staying in Panchavati)
• Valmiki Ramayana - Aranya Kanda - 64 to 68 (About Sri Rama searching for Devi Sita in Janasthana)

• Places to See:

Presence of Lord Shiva in Nashik Tryambakeshwar:
• Tryambakeshwara Jyotirlinga: Lord Shiva relieved devotee sage Gautama from the false accusation of brahmanas and released river Ganga (Gautami Ganga or Godavari) from his matted hairs. (Shiva Purana - Koti Rudra Samhita - 14)
► Tryambakeshwar Tryambakeshwar Temple is identified with the Tryambakeshwara Jyotirlinga mentioned in the Shiva Purana.

Presence of Devi in Nashik Vani:
• Janasthana Shakti Peetha: The Civuka (Chin) of Devi had fallen here. The Devi is known as Bhramari and the Bhairava is called Vikritaksha. (Peetha Nirnaya Tantra)
► Devi Saptashrungi Devi Saptashrungi Temple of Vani is identified with the Janasthana Shakti Peetha mentioned in the Peetha Nirnaya Tantra.

Presence of Sri Rama in Nashik Panchavati:
1. Sri Rama stayed in the Panchavati forest during his forest exile. (Valmiki Ramayana - Aranya Kanda - 15 to 16) 2. Sri Rama encountered demoness Surpanakha in the Panchavati forest. (Valmiki Ramayana - Aranya Kanda - 17 to 18) 3. Sri Rama slayed demons Khara and Dushana in the Panchavati forest. (Valmiki Ramayana - Aranya Kanda - 19 to 30) 4. Devi Sita got abducted by Ravana in the Panchavati forest, when Sri Rama went after the golden dear and subsequently killed demon Mareecha. Jatayu tried to resist Ravana and got severely wounded. (Valmiki Ramayana - Aranya Kanda - 31 to 56) 5. Sri Rama searched for Devi Sita in the Panchavati forest after she was abducted by Ravana. (Valmiki Ramayana - Aranya Kanda - 57 to 64)
► Panchavati (Five Banyan Trees) The area of Panchavati has Five Banyan Trees and hence the name Panchavati.
► Ram Kund Ramkund is the holy bathing ghat of Panchavati on River Godavari. It is believed that Sri Rama bathed here during forest exile. It is also the place for performing rituals and devotional contemplation.
► Tapovan Tapovan is the area in Panchavati at the confluence of rivers Godavari and Kapila. It is said that in ancient times the sages meditated in this place. It is also the place where Lakshmana is said to have cut off the nose of demoness Shurpanakha.
► Sita Gumpha Sita Gumpha is believed to be the cave where Devi Sita lived and worshipped a Shiva Linga. It is also said that Devi Sita was abducted by Ravana from this place.
► Kalaram Mandir Kalaram Mandir, near Sita Gumpha, is the famous temple of Sri Rama in Panchavati.

• Location:

• Nashik is located in the Nashik district of Maharashtra.

Bharatavarsha - The Land of Gods and Sages:

1. Stotras

2. Scriptures

3. Pilgrimages

4. Festivals

5. Saints - Ramakrishna - Vivekananda - Ramana

6. Sadhana

7. Sanskrit

8. Nature