Bhimashankar Temple

Bhimashankar, sixth of the twelve, stands in the cloud-forests of the Sahyadris in Maharashtra, where the river Bhima rises from the hill behind the shrine. Here Shiva is remembered as the destroyer of the demon Tripurasura — the sweat of that battle, says the legend, became the river. The present Nagara-style temple grew under Maratha patronage: Nana Phadnavis raised its sabhamandapa, and the great bell before it is Portuguese — war booty from Chimaji Appa's conquest of Vasai (1739), ringing for Shiva ever since.

This page awaits its full Indopedia treatment — history from inscriptions and chronicles, period images with provenance, and the chain of builders and rebuilders, in the manner of Somnath Temple — The Shrine Eternal. To take up this temple, see Indopedia:Contribute.