Sacred Tirtha Kushavarta Trimbakeshwar, Nashik

Tirtha Kushavarta is a sacred pilgrimage site located on the Godavari River in Trimbakeshwar, in the Nashik district. It is said that after the Godavari River disappears from the Brahmagiri mountain, it reappears at this very spot. Kushavarta Tirtha is a reservoir with natural water springs that is 21 feet deep. There is a tradition of taking a holy dip in Kushavarta before proceeding for the darshan of Trimbakeshwar. Devotees believe that bathing at this tirtha cleanses one of all sins.

The legend regarding Kushavarta states that in ancient times, Sage Gautama and Ahalya resided on the Brahmagiri mountain. Once, a severe drought struck the region. Due to the lack of water, the animals, birds, and the local citizens suffered greatly. To overcome this crisis, Sage Gautama prayed to Varunadeva, the Lord of Water. Pleased by this prayer, Varunadeva blessed the land with abundant rain, making the region prosperous with crops and grains. Following this event, the fame of Sage Gautama spread far and wide. During this time, Goddess Parvati began to feel jealous of the Ganga flowing from the locks of Lord Mahadeva’s hair. Parvati wished for Mahadeva to remove Ganga from his locks, but as it was difficult to separate her, she took Ganapati into her confidence and entrusted him with this task. Accordingly, Ganapati assumed the form of a cow. This cow entered the fields near Sage Gautama’s ashram and began eating the crops.

Upon seeing the cow eating the crops in his field, Sage Gautama enchanted a blade of darbha grass and threw it toward the cow. Due to that darbha grass, the cow died on the spot. Consequently, Sage Gautama incurred the sin of cow slaughter. Thereafter, Ganapati revealed his true form to the sage and explained that there was a water shortage in the south. It was necessary for the Ganga to go there, and for that, the sage should please Lord Mahadeva to summon the Ganga back to earth, which would also wash away the sin of cow slaughter he had incurred. Following Ganapati’s advice, Sage Gautama performed penance on Brahmagiri and pleased Lord Mahadeva. Subsequently, Lord Mahadeva asked the Ganga to descend to the earth, but the Ganga was reluctant to do so. Finally, Lord Shankara performed the Tandava dance and struck his locks against a rock, from which the flow of the Ganga began. She is known as ‘Gautami Ganga’ and is now famous as Ganga Godavari. Notably, even after this, the Godavari began to disappear frequently. Therefore, Sage Gautama used a dam made of darbha grass (kusha) to block the Godavari river flowing from Brahmagiri and held it at this place. This is what is known as ‘Kushavarta’. It is also recognized as ‘Kushavarta Tirtharaj’. Kushavarta is the starting point of the Simhastha Kumbh Mela. The Kumbh Mela is held in Nashik every 12 years. On this occasion, thousands of sadhus, millions of devotees, and tourists come from all over the country to bathe in this sacred reservoir.

Tirtha Kushavarta is located in the center of Trimbakeshwar village, near the Trimbakeshwar temple, which is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas. There are many reservoirs in Trimbakeshwar. Among them, the most important one is known as ‘Kushavarta Tirtha’. Devotees bathe here before having the darshan of the Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga. It is the water flowing from this tirtha that gives the Godavari its form as a river further downstream. In this area, religious rituals such as Narayan Nagbali, Tripindi, Kalsarpa Shanti, Vishnubali, Uttar-kriya, Laghurudra, Janan Shanti, and Simhastha-Simhastha rituals are performed. Hundreds of devotees come here daily to perform these rituals.

Kushavarta has living water springs, and the reservoir is 95 feet long, 85 feet wide, and 21 feet deep. There are 15 steps to descend into this reservoir from all four sides. There are many arched alcoves (small rooms within the rampart-like walls) on all four sides of the reservoir. It is in these alcoves that many religious rituals are performed.

There are many sculptures in various places within the alcoves. Among them, one can see sculptures of Vishnu, Rama-Lakshmana-Sita, Shri Krishna with the Gopis, Shiva-Parvati seated on Nandi, Saraswati mounted on a swan, and Narasimha slaying Hiranyakashipu. There are temples at all four corners of the alcoves. The carvings on these temples are also exquisite. Devotees believe that Lord Mahadeva still comes here to bathe. Near this tirtha are the Ganga temple, and the Indreshwar, Gayatri, and Ballaleshwar temples. The architecture of all these temples is beautiful.

Due to the immense significance of Kushavarta Tirtha, every Monday, the five-faced golden mask of Trimbakeshwar Mahadeva is brought to Kushavarta Tirtha in a palanquin procession with music for a ritual bath. At that time, Rudrabhishekam and Shodashopachara Puja of the mask are performed. During this ritual, drums are played. Thousands of devotees gather here to witness this beautiful spectacle. A small river named Ahalya meets the Godavari here; at this confluence, childless couples perform rituals to be blessed with offspring.

There are records indicating that Tirtha Kushavarta was built during the Yadava period. In later times, the reservoir, which had become very small, was reconstructed by Raoji Mahadev Parnerkar, the Fadnavis of the Holkars.

Useful Information:

Sacred History & Spiritual Significance

This sacred temple stands as a testament to deep spiritual devotion, ancient architectural grandeur, and rich local cultural traditions.

Temple Sanctum & Architecture

The sanctum sanctorum houses the divine idol consecrated according to ancient Vedic traditions, surrounded by serene courtyards and traditional temple architecture.

Sacred Darshan Gallery