Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga
భీమశంకర్
Lord Shiva as Bhimashankar · Bhorgiri, Sahyadri (Western Ghats), Pune district, Maharashtra
Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga is one of the 12 sacred manifestations of Lord Shiva as a self-manifest pillar of light (jyoti-linga). Located in Bhorgiri, Sahyadri (Western Ghats), Pune district, Maharashtra.
Significance
Source of the Bhima river. Set in dense Western Ghats forest. The temple architecture is in Hemadpanthi (Nagara) style.
Mythological Origin
Shiva slew the demon Bhima (son of Kumbhakarna and Karkati) here. The blood of Bhima's mother gave birth to the Bhima river.
About the 12 Jyotirlingas
The 12 Jyotirlingas are the holiest Shiva pilgrimage sites in India. Per the Shiva Mahapurana, when devotees compete to claim Lord Shiva's primacy, he manifested as an infinite pillar of light (jyoti-stambha) at 12 sacred locations. Devotees visiting all 12 in a single lifetime is one of the highest pilgrimages (Dwadasha Jyotirlinga Yatra). Reciting the 12-line Jyotirlinga Stotra ("Saurashtre Somanatham...") daily is said to grant the merit of physical pilgrimage to all 12.
Bhimashankar at a glance
| Form of Shiva worshipped here | Lord Shiva as Bhimashankar |
|---|---|
| Telugu name of the shrine | భీమశంకర్ |
| Where | Bhorgiri, Sahyadri (Western Ghats), Pune district, Maharashtra |
| State | Maharashtra |
| Order in the traditional list | 6 of 12 |
Bhimashankar — frequently asked questions
Why is Bhimashankar counted among the 12 Jyotirlingas?
Shiva slew the demon Bhima (son of Kumbhakarna and Karkati) here. The blood of Bhima's mother gave birth to the Bhima river. Bhimashankar stands sixth in the traditional order this site follows, and the form worshipped here is Lord Shiva as Bhimashankar.
Where is Bhimashankar and what should you know before travelling?
Bhorgiri, Sahyadri (Western Ghats), Pune district, Maharashtra. The shrine is written భీమశంకర్ in Telugu. Darshan timings, the aarti schedule, the queue and road access all change through the year and this site does not publish them — confirm those with the temple itself before you travel.
Which days are kept for Shiva at Bhimashankar?
Monday is Shiva's day of the week, and the pradosha window on the trayodashi tithi of each fortnight, the month of Shravana and Maha Shivaratri are kept at every Jyotirlinga. None of that is particular to Bhimashankar — the days to look for at this shrine are the ones the panchangam already marks for Shiva.
We do not publish darshan timings, ticket prices or queue lengths for Bhimashankar — those change week to week and we have no way to verify them from here. What this site can settle is when: see the 12 Jyotirlinga circuit for the auspicious days ahead, Maha Shivaratri for the principal Shiva night of the year, or the daily panchangam for the tithi and Rahu Kalam on the date you are travelling.