Tryambakeshwar is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines situated 30 km from
Nasik in Maharashtra. Considered to be the birth place of the river
Godavari, the shrine's beauty is still well intact. The effort made by
the Peshwa Balaji Bajirao in mid 18th century has kept the magic of the
shrine's architecture still alive.The influence of the Nagara style of architecture can be well seen through the extensive usage of black stone. A small Shivalingam or Tryambaka, is placed amidst a spacious courtyard & the sanctum which is crowned with a graceful tower, a giant amalaka and a golden kalasha. A mandap with doors on all sides enhances the beauty well situated in front of the garbagriha and the antaral. Three doorways are covered with porches whose opening are ornamented with pillars and arches. The mandapam's roof has curvilinear slabs rising in steps. Sculptural work can be traced everywhere featuring running scrolls, floral designs, figures of gods, yakshas, humans and animals.
The Shivalingam is situated in a depression on the floor of the sanctum. Continuous flow of water from the top of the Shivalingam adds to the mystic beauty. Shivalingam is generally covered with a silver mask which is then substituted with a golden mask with five faces on festive occasion. These faces have their respective golden crowns. While, the silver mask is similar to the processional images seen in South Indian temples.
The worship service is carried out thrice on daily basis. Night is meant for the sheja-aarti service where in a mirrored hall, the silver mask is placed on a bed. According to the ritual, on every monday, the silver mask of Tryambaka is placed in a palanquin. This is taken in a procession to Kushavarta theertha where its given an abhisheka. While days like Shiv ratris, full moon day in the month of Kartika & other festive occasions are meant for the special golden mask procession.
As far as the legend goes, Gowtama muni resided on the Bhramagiri hill. Once he worshiped Lord Shiva to bring the Ganga down to purify his premises, as he had committed a sin of killing a cow while in his quest to protect his granary. Therefore, the Ganga came down as Godavari while Shiva came in the form of Tryambaka. The other legend relating to the Lingodbhava manifestation of Shiva also prevails here. Tryambakeshwar has been referred to in the Padma Purana.