Bhimashankar Shakti Peetha

Bhimashankar, in the Sahyadri hills of Maharashtra, is both one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Shiva and a Shakti Peetha where Sati’s left hand is said to have fallen. The site stands at the source region of the Bhima river, in a forested area that is also the habitat of the Indian giant squirrel (Ratufa indica), Maharashtra’s state animal.

Background

The present temple, in the nagara architectural style with a shikhara of the Hemadpant kind, reflects 18th-century Maratha patronage built over a much older core. The shikhara is traditionally credited to Nana Phadnavis, and the murti of Nandi and the sabha-mandap pillars carry Maratha-period inscriptions. The temple’s mythology is linked to the slaying of the demon Tripurasura by Shiva and Parvati.

Shakti Peetha significance

Bhimashankar’s dual status as a Jyotirlinga and a Shakti Peetha is unusual and reflects the integration of Shaiva and Shakta traditions. According to the Shakti Peetha lists, the left hand of Sati fell at this location. The site is identified in the canonical lists, though the Jyotirlinga identification takes precedence in some traditions.

Associated deity

The presiding deity is Bhimashankar, a form of Shiva. The temple is primarily a Shaiva shrine, but its Shakti Peetha status gives it significance within the Shakta tradition as well. The forested setting and the presence of the giant squirrel add a distinctive natural dimension to the pilgrimage.

Present day

Bhimashankar is a major pilgrimage within the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary. Monsoon trekking routes through the sacred grove are popular from Pune. The temple receives large numbers of devotees, particularly during Mahashivratri and the monsoon season.