Nashik Triveni Sangam, Maharashtra

Address

Nashik Triveni Sangam, Maharashtra

Panchvati, Nashik District,

Maharashtra – 422003.

Moolavar

Rama, Shiva

Introduction

Location and Importance:

• Panchavati, located in Nashik, is a significant mythological and legendary site.
• The site is associated with Lord Rama and his 14 years of exile, where he spent much of his time with his wife Sita Devi and his brother Lakshmana.
• The Triveni Sangam, where the rivers Aruna, Varuna, and the Godavari meet, is considered a holy confluence or Tirtha for Hindus. It is often referred to as the Kashi of Maharashtra.

Puranic Significance:

• Triveni Sangam is the confluence of three sacred rivers and is believed to purify devotees. Bathing in this confluence is said to wash away sins and free one from the cycle of rebirth.
• The city of Nashik is closely associated with the Ramayana. It is here that Lord Rama took a sacred bath in Ramkund Ghat, and the epic poets like Valmiki, Kalidas, and Bhavabhooti have praised the city in their works.
• Panchavati gets its name from the five banyan trees that once stood here. The trees are still marked today.
• Nearby is Sita Guha, a cave where Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana prayed to Lord Shiva during their exile.
• Rama also performed Darpanam (ritual for the deceased) for his father Dasaratha on the banks of this Triveni Sangam.
• The site is not only sacred for living devotees but is also a revered Tirtha for the dead, where the ashes of deceased ancestors are immersed, and it is believed that their souls are saved.
• Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru‘s ashes were also immersed in the Triveni Sangam.

Beliefs and Practices:

• Devotees from all over the world come to Panchavati to perform Tharpanam (ancestral offerings) and immerse the ashes of their deceased relatives in the Triveni Sangam.
• It is believed that the souls of the deceased are freed and saved through these rituals.
• The Godavari Mata Temple, which opens once every 12 years during the Kumbh Mela, is another important feature of the site.

Special Features:

• Kumbh Mela, one of the largest religious gatherings in India, is celebrated every 12 years in Nashik with great pomp and grandeur.
• The Hanuman Statue near the Godavari River is notable. During heavy rains, while many buildings along the coast get flooded, the statue remains above the water level, which is considered a divine miracle.
• The Kashiviswanath Temple, which is 1500 years old, is built on a single stone along the banks of the Godavari and symbolizes the connection to Kashi (Varanasi).

Festivals:

• Kumbh Mela: Held once every 12 years in Nashik, this grand event attracts millions of devotees.
• Ancestor Worship: On the new moon days of the Mahalaya month, Thai month, and Adi month, devotees perform holy baths and rituals for their ancestors.

Century/Period

1500 Years Old

Nearest Bus Station

Panchvati

Nearest Railway Station

Nashik

Nearest Airport

Nashik

Location on Map

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