NASHIK

The name Nashik is believed to come from the Sanskrit word “Nasika,” meaning nose. According to the epic Ramayan, this region (then known as Panchavati) was where Bhagwaan Ram, Sita, and Lakshman spent part of their exile. Ravana’s sister, Surpanakha, who lived nearby, became infatuated with Ram and approached him with romantic intentions. When Ram rejected her, she turned to Lakshman, who also refused. Enraged, Surpanakha attacked Sita, blaming her for the rejections. In response, Lakshmana intervened and cut off Surpanakha’s nose. The place where this event occurred came to be known as Nasika, which gradually evolved into Nashik.

After Lakshman cut off Surpanakha’s nose, she fled to Lanka and pleaded with her brother, Ravana, to avenge her humiliation. Accounts of their conversation vary, but it ultimately led Ravana to travel to Panchavati to abduct Sita, Shri Ram’s wife. Aware that Ram and Lakshman would be highly protective of her, Ravana devised a clever plan. He ordered his aide Maricha to disguise himself as a golden deer and roam near their hut. Enchanted by the deer’s beauty, Sita asked Ram to capture it. Ram set off in pursuit, instructing Lakshman to stay with her.

Once deep in the forest, Maricha mimicked Ram’s voice and cried out for help. Despite Sita’s pleas, Lakshman was reluctant to leave her alone, but he eventually went to search for Ram. Seizing the moment, Ravana arrived disguised as a wandering ascetic seeking alms. Moved by compassion, Sita stepped outside to offer him food. In that instant, Ravana revealed his true identity and abducted her in his flying chariot. As they soared away, Sita dropped her necklace to leave a trace for Ram. This abduction set into motion the legendary war between Ram, the prince of Ayodhya, and Ravana, the asur king of Lanka.

Retiring King Dasaratha of Ayodhya chose his son Ram as his heir. However, his wife Kaikeyi insisted that he appoint their son, Bharat, instead. Kaikeyi pleaded with the king, saying that he owed her two favors and warned that misfortune would befall her if he did not crown Bharat king and banish Ram to the forest for fourteen years. Reluctantly, the king agreed, leading to Ram leaving with his wife, Sita, and his brother Lakshman, abandoning their riches to live a simple life.

During their exile, the trio traveled through India's dense forests and arrived in Nashik, then known as Panchavati. This region provided them with a suitable place to reside. They built a parna kuteer (hut) on the banks of the Godavari River, where they spent most of their exile.

One of the most cherished spots in Panchavati is a particular section of the Godavari River where Shri Ram would bathe. This location became known as Ramkund, with "Ram" referring to Shri Ram and "kund" denoting a sacred pond or tank. It is believed that Ram's heavenly presence sanctified this site, causing the waters of the Godavari to become holy.

Locals believe that taking a dip in Ramkund purifies one's sins and aids in achieving moksha, the ultimate liberation from the cycle of birth and death. This belief attracts millions of yatris to Nashik each year, particularly during auspicious events like the Kumbh Mela. At Ramkund, pilgrims perform rituals such as pind daan (ancestral offerings) and tarpan (water libation to bhagwans and ancestors). The ghats are always crowded with yatris taking dips, performing aartis, and offering prayers.

Every twelve years, the Kumbh Mela is held in Nashik. Tourists, especially bhakts, travel to Nashik from across the world to take a dip in the holy river Godavari. Interestingly, the Kumbh mela is associated with ancient lore. Legend has it that there existed an elixir of immortality or amrit (nectar) that was contained in a kumbh (pot). Knowing this, bhagwaans and asurs fought fiercely over this pot to gain immortality. In an effort to stop this, Vishnu is said to have sprinkled the amrit through the kumbh in four places, one of which is Nashik, which is why the Kumbh Mela is celebrated with fervor in the region.

The Kala Rama Mandir, known for its black stone murti of Ram, Krishna, and Sita, is located in Panchavati, where Ram, Sita, and Lakshman spent their years of exile. It is said that the sages of Panchavati pleaded with Ram, the mighty king, to fight the rakshasas (demons) who occupied the region. Ram then took on his Kala Roop (dark side) to defeat the rakshasas. The Kala Roop of Rama, which saved the village from deadly rakshasas, is what prompted them to name the Mandir after him and honor his legacy.

There’s more to the story of the Mandir, however. The original Mandir was destroyed by Muslim rulers. In an attempt to save the murtis from the attackers, the Mandir Brahmins threw them in the river. They remained there until the late 18th century, when Sardar Odhekar had a dream that the valuable murtis lay in the Godavari river. He carried out an expedition to retrieve the same and miraculously found them. Odhekar’s efforts played a huge role in Nashik’s history, with the murtis now resting at the Kala Rama Mandir.

Anjaneri Parvat is a popular destination for bhakts since the locals say that the cave on top of the hill is where Anjana Devi gave birth to Hanuman. Along the hill, there are various places of significance from Hanuman’s childhood. For one, there is a cave which is believed to be the place where Pawan Dev took Bal Hanuman when he was hit by the vajra (thunderbolt) of Indra (King of the Bhagwaans). There is also a Mata Anjana Mandir, where Anjana Devi meditated as a kid, and Bhagwaan Shiv appeared before her to grant her a boon.

It is believed that once, Bhagwaans Vishnu and Brahma argued over the Mandir as to who was the most supreme among themselves. Upon seeing this, Bhagwaan Shiv appeared as an endless vertical column of fire stretching to the three worlds and asked the two arguers to find its root and tip. On one hand, Vishnu started digging religiously and tried to complete the task, whereas Brahma attempted to play tricks on Shiv. Seeing this, Shiva cursed Brahma by barring his worship in Hindu mandirs. At the same time, he was impressed by Vishnu’s perseverance and blessed him, saying that he would be worshipped for eternity. Thus, at the Mandir, all 12 jyotirlingas appear as an infinite column of light, and their linga in the form of the Stambha pillar represents the infinite nature of Shiv.

A popular story says that Rishi Gautama performed a tapasya (penance) to Bhagwaan Shiv on Brahmagiri Hill surrounding the Trimbakeshwar Mandir. Pleased with his devotion, Shiv brought down the rivers of Ganga, Gautami, and Godavari to earth from heaven. These waters are said to cleanse humans of all sins before entering Trimbak’s doorstep.