Where is Bhima Shankar Jyotirlinga Located

As you know, there are 12 Jyotirlingas all over India as per our Sanatan Mythology and it is said that whoever visits these Jyotirlingas, all their sins are destroyed and they ultimately attain salvation after last part of life. Bhimashankar is the sixth Jyotirlinga among those 12 Jyotirlingas is known as Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga.

Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga is located near a village called Shiradhan, about 110 kilometers from Pune in Maharashtra. This temple is surrounded by hills on all sides. But it is true that all the Jyotirlingas have a unique story. Similarly, Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga also has a good story, let us know about it.

Bhima Shankar is the Sixth Jyotirlinga

The Bhimashankar Temple in Maharashtra is a sacred temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is believed that performing meditation here allows one to easily attain Shiva's darshan. The temple's location is unique. It is surrounded by mountains on all sides, and nothing but mountains.

Maharashtra's lush Sahyadri mountain ranges are high in elevation. People come with great devotion to visit the Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga, as it is the sixth Jyotirlinga, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas dedicated to Lord Shiva.

The temple is not located in an urban area; it is located near a small village. The most important thing is that the air here is pure and the water is clean. The environment here feels as if it were the Dwapar era of Lord Shri Ram times. Birds sing here, and flowers are bloom with different colors can be seen in the forest naturally, like as if a gardener is taking care of those plants in the forests. There is also a small river here, named Bhima River, which starts near the Bhimashankar Temple and flows further.

People come here to visit Bhimashankar Ji as well as enjoy the natural scenery. The quiet, high altitude and forest here bring joy to everyone. This place is not only famous for the temple, but it is also a nature spot where people come here during summer vacations. Many families visit here throughout the year for short trips and worship to Lord Shiva.

The Story of Bhima Shankar Jyotirlinga

Ravana's brother, Kumbhakarna, was a demon, yet possessed immense knowledge. Soon after Kumbhakarna's death, his wife, Karkati, gave birth to a son, names as Bhima. As Bhima grew up, his mother told him everything about who had killed his father.

When Bhima learned that Lord Rama had killed his father, to avenge his father's death, Bhima performed many years of penance to make himself even more powerful than Lord Rama. After performing rigorous penance, he asked Lord Brahma for the boon of immortality, but Lord Brahma said this is not possible and asked him for something else instead.

He then asked Lord Brahma for immense powers, making him invincible. After accepting Brahma's boon, he realized that no one in the world was more powerful than him.

He began tormenting both humans and gods. Intoxicated by his power, Bhima began torturing the earth. He harassed many sages and saints, disrupting their rituals. Fearing him, the sages, saints, and gods sought refuge in Lord Shiva and prayed, "Oh my Lord Mahadev, please end this crisis quickly, or nothing will remain."

Lord Shiva said, "Don't worry, his end has come. I will do something." Once, Bhima created a great disturbance at a place where devotees were worshipping Shiva and performing yagnas. He went there and started harassing Shiva's devotees, saying, "Don't worship Shiva, worship me, I am not less than any god." The devotees refused to listen to him.

Enraged, Bhima disrupted their yagnas and rituals. The devotees then began praising Shiva and pleading for help. Suddenly, when Lord Shiva heard their cries, he appeared. A fierce battle ensued between Shiva and Bhima. Ultimately, who could stand before Lord Shiva? Shiva killed Bhima finally.

After this incident, Shiva blessed his devotees and became established there in the form of a lingam. After that, this place became famous as the Bhima-Shankar Jyotirlinga.

How you can Reach Bhima Shankar

By Road

If you're traveling by road, you should take a bus or car to Bhimashankar Temple from Pune, Mumbai, Nashik, or other nearby cities. It's approximately 110km to 125km by road from Pune, which is near Mumbai. If you're traveling from Mumbai, it's a longer drive, about 180km to 200km. You'll find the valleys and forest roads narrow. Therefore, you'll need to plan your drive and make sure you take rest stops.

By Air

If you are traveling by air, the nearest airport is Pune Airport. Drive from Pune to Bhimashankar Temple, which takes approximately 3 to 4 hours by car, depending on road conditions and traffic conditions. You can book a taxi from Pune to Bhimashankar Temple or drive yourself.

By Train

Most people prefer to travel by train. The nearest major railway station is Pune, as it is a major junction and serves many trains. Some guides also list Lonavala as the starting point for some parts of the route, but Pune is the most common destination for pilgrims.

If you are traveling from further afield, I recommend taking the train and getting off at Pune Railway Station. From there, you can easily find a taxi or bus to Bhimashankar Temple.