Nashik Sri Kapaleshwar Mahadev Mandir - Maharashtra

Address

Nashik Sri Kapaleshwar Mahadev Mandir – Maharashtra

Panchavati, Nashik,

Maharashtra 422003

Moolavar

Sri Kapaleshwar Mahadev

Introduction

Kapaleshwar temple, Nashik is an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Mahadev which is located on banks of river Godavari and surrounded by groups of shrines near Panchavati, Nashik. This is an unusual temple unlike the other Shiva temples because there is no statue of Nandi, the Gatekeeper of Lord Shiva. The temple was the place where Lord Shiva performed atonement after taking a dip in RamKund to wash off his Sin. As Lord Shiva regarded Nandi as a Guru or Teacher, there is no statue in the temple to guard the Kapaleshwar Temple.

Puranic Significance

The temple was built in the early 18th century; this unassuming temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva as Kapaleshwar Mahadev.

Story of Nandi in Kapaleshwar Mandir:

It is said that Brahmadeva had five faces at that time. Four faces used for “Veddocharan”, and the fifth one for condemnation. One day during a conversation with Brahmadeva, Lord Mahadev got angry with the fifth condemnation face and he separated that face from the body of Brahma. Due to this, Mahadev felt the sin of “Brahmahatya”. Lord Shiva roamed everywhere in the universe to get rid of that sin, but could not find any remedy. In such a situation, while Lord Mahadev was sitting in Someshwar, a calf gave an idea to get rid of this sin. That calf was actually a Nandi. He went with Mahadev to Ramkund in the Godavari and asked him to bathe in the Kund. After bathing, Mahadev could get rid of the sin of “Brahmahatya”. It was due to Nandi that Mahadev was liberated from the Brahman killing. He, therefore, considered Nandi as a Guru and established himself as a Shivlinga here. Since Nandi became Mahadev’s guru here, Mahadev decided not to sit in front of Nandi in this temple, since then Shiva is established in this temple without Nandi.

Special Features

This is an unusual temple unlike the other Shiva temples because there is no statue Nandi, the Gatekeeper of Lord Shiva. The temple was the place where Lord Shiva performed atonement after taking a dip in RamKund to wash off his Sin. Also find the absence of Nandi in “Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Temple“, Jamnagar, and Gujarat as well. Both the temple has its unique story for the same.