Sapta Ganga

In India, the river is considered as a deity. Our saints had written many verses in praise of rivers and discovered that they are capable of giving salvation. The principal 7 rivers are called as “Sapta Ganga”. The list includes the most sacred 7 rivers-
1)      Ganga
2)      Yamuna
3)      Godavri
4)      Saraswati
5)      Kaveri
6)      Narmada
7)      Sindhu.

Ganga- River Ganga represented as a goddess residing on her vehicle ‘crocodile’. Originates from Hiamlayas and join Bay of Bengal. Sage Bhagirath brought river Ganga from heaven.it is also called "Moksha Dayani", the one who gives salvation.

Yamuna- daughter of Sun God having blue colour. It originates from Himalayas and  joins Ganaga at Allahabad called as “Prayaag”. Their confluence is considered so auspicious that this place is often called as “Teerth Raj” means “king of all the pilgrimage”. This river witnessed the glorious childhood time of Lord Krishna.

Saraswati- The invisible and most mystic river represented by the goddess in white dress having swan as her vehichle.It originates at Mana village in Uttrakhand region and joins Arabian sea at Somnath(Gujrat). This river is a knowledge giver because goddess saraswati is a deity of knowledge. This invisible river is also present at Allahabad. The confluence of 3 rivers here is called “Triveni Sangam”

Kaveri-
According to belief the river Ganges also joins Kaveri underground once a year,  in order to wash herself free of the pollution caused by the crowds of sinners who bathe in her waters all the year round. Kaveri is considered to be as sacred as the Ganges throughout its course, with the same power to wash off all one’s sins.

Narmada-it originates from Amarkantak,the central India . The auspiciousness of the river can be judged from the fact that according to mythology every stone lying at its bed is replica of Lord Shiva. This river is also called as “River of detachment”

Godavri- often called as “Dakshin Ganga” means  “Ganga of south India”. It raises from hill in Triambak town near Nasik city at Maharashtra. Its mention has been made in the epic Ramayana because lord Rama spent crucial time of his exile along the banks of this river.

Sindhu-
Originating in the Tibetan plateau in the vicinity of Lake Mansarovar, the river runs a course through the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir, and flows through Pakistan in a southerly direction along the entire length of Pakistan to merge into the Arabian Sea near the port city of Karachi in Sindh.

Bathing in above rivers is considered as auspicious.

The Kapileshwar temple

This is the only temple in the world where Nandi ji is not present in the sanctum sanctorum. It is located at the bank of river Godavri at Ram kund in Nashik(Maharashtra).My guide told me an intresting legend behind it. Once Lord Shiva punished Brahma for his mistake and cut his 5th head. But at the same time , a sin incurred to Lord Shiva for killing the 5th head of Brahma(Brahm hatya dosh). This perplexed Lord Shiva . He tried every method to get rid of this sin. Despite wandering every place on bhu-lok(the earth), there was no respite. Then nandi ji suggested one escape route. He took Lord Shiva to the bank of Godavri. He guided him to a secret spot. This was the point where the 3 rivers, Godavri,Aruna and Varuna met. Here Lord Shiva took a holy dip. He was librated from the sin after this bath. Since Nandi ji guided him so Lord Shiva treated him as a Guru (not as a follower)at this place. This is the reason that there is no idol of Nandi ji here.

Exactly at this point Lord Shiva took bath at the confluence of Godavri river,Aruna river and Varuna River

At the backdrop, its Kapileshwar temple where Lord Shiva treated Nandiji as his Guru

The Holy Pond - Kushavrat

The word 'Sarovar' means a pond or a water body. The water is one of the most important subtle element in hinduism. Bathing in a pond in a pilgrimage is one of the important ritual which includes tarpan(offering water to the departed souls) also. In Triambak town, there is such holy pond where bathing is considered as one the dream of hindu due to its holiness. This is "Kushavrat sarovar" or "Kushavrat teerth". As per legend after the boon given by Lord Shiva to Sage Gautam, the river Godavri appeared at Brahmgiri hills(in Triambak town near Nashik) for the first time. But after a short while it again disappears as she was not willing to stay on earth.. Sage Gautam couldn’t able to bath in it, which was necessary for removing his sin accrued to him because of killing of a cow accidentally. Now it was a great cause of concern for Sage Gautam to prevent river Godavri from disappearing. He took 4 blades of kusha-grass and energized it with his divine power and threw at the 4 corners. This worked like a trap for river Godavari. Since then it is believe that this pond where sage Gautam placed 4 kusha (a kind of grass) at the four corners is the source of river Godavri. After that this pond was named as “Kushavrat” means surrounded by kusha(a grass)

The Legend of Triambakeshwar

Sage Gautam was a very pious sage. He attained many divine powers with his meditation. Once there was a drought in his region called as Brahmgiri hills(Triambak) . He worshipped Lord Varun(the god of water). Pleased with the prayers of sage Gautam, Lord Varun blessed the area with plenty of water. The created jealousy among other sages. The deliberately send a cow at the hermitage of sage Gautam. While sage Gautam was trying to drive the cow away from his ashram, she died. It was considered as one of the greatest sin to kill a cow. The sage felt guilty for the sin which was done unintentionally. The only option was left to get rid of the sin was to perform the parikrama(circumambulation) of Brahmgiri hill for 101 times and bring the river Ganga here and worship the shivling . Sage Gautam performed this tough ritual. Later Lord Shiva and goddess Parvati appeared and granted the boon of appearing the river Ganga in this region. River Ganga appeared instantly on the order of Lord Shiva, but she requested Lord Shiva and goddess Parvati to stay along with here. Lord accepted the demand and decided to reside in the form of Triambakeshwar. From then the river got its name Godavri(Gautami-ganga). On seeing this divine occasion all other gods appear and promised to visit here once in twelve years when the planet Jupiter transits through the Leo sign. Since then when this planetary combination repeats ,the huge “Kumbh-mela” (festival) is held at the bank of Godavri. It is believe that to keep their promise all the gods present at the spot during that period and bathing in river Godavri considered as auspicious.

The first Glimpse of the Jyotirlingam ,Triambakeshwar

Dwar, the entrance

The main sanctum in the backdrop

This moment which will go along with me when i would leave the earth