In the Shiva Purana, it is mentioned that Bheemashankar Jyotirlinga is in Kamrup (Guwahati, Assam). It is on the Dakini parvat that Lord Shiva appeared as a divine light to protect his great devotee King Kamarupeswar of Kamrup, from the demon King Bheemasura. The name of the Dakini parvat was changed to Kshobak parvat after the appearance of Lord Bhima Shankar, who was in extreme anger (Kshob) while killing Bheemasura. Later, the Dakini Parvat came to be known as Kshobak parvat. The Bheemashankar Jyotirlinga is worshiped in the Panchya Kannya Dham on the Kshobak parvat.
Sri Sri Bhrigu Giri Maharaj, after accomplishing 12 years of intense Maha Mritunjaya Sadhana under the guidance of Maharishi Markendeya, had established his ashram ‘Panchakanya Dham’, centering Bheemashankar Jyotirlinga in the Kshobhak (old Dakini) parvat near Basistha, Guwahati. This was the sacred Tapo-bhumi of Basistha Viswamitra, Brighu, Markendeya and Gautam Muni and many other great Rishis & Maharshis. Three Avatars (incarnations of the Lord Vishnu: Bamana, Baraha & Narashingha) and two Avatars of Lord Shiva (Sharabha & Bheemashankar) happened here in this land of Assam.
Importance & significance of Jyotirlingas:
The Jyoti means 'radiance' and the Linga the symbol which represents Lord Shiva, the ultimate Reality. There are mainly twelve Jyotirlingas (spiritual Energy Centers) in the world which are specially consecrated as the Jyotirlingas. In the radiant forms, the spirit of lord Shiva is live & present in various places in the form of 12 Jyotirlingas for the protection of his devotees and the Dharma. Sri Sri Adi Shankaracharya had described these in a beautiful stanza:
“Saurāṣṭre Somanāthaṃ ca Śrīśaile Mallikārjunam
Ujjayinyāṃ Mahākālam Omkāram Mamleśhwaram
Paraly Vaidyanāthaṃ cha Ḍākinyāṃ Bhīmaśhaṅkaram
Setubandhe tu Rāmeśaṃ Nāgeśhaṃ Dārukāvane
Vārāṇasyāṃ tu Viśveśaṃ Tryambakaṃ Gautamītaṭe
Himālaye tu Kedāraṃ Ghuśmeśaṃ ca Śivālaye
etāni jyotirliṅgāni sāyaṃ prātaḥ paṭhennaraḥ
saptajanmakṛtaṃ pāpaṃ smaraṇena vinaśyati”
12 Jyotirlingas with Upa-lingas in India:
S/N
|
Jyotirlinga
|
State
|
Location
|
1
|
Somnath
|
Gujarat
|
Prabhas Patan,Saurashtra
|
2
|
Mallikarjuna
|
Andhra Pradesh
|
Srisailam
|
3
|
Mahakaleshwar
|
Madhya Pradesh
|
Ujjain
|
4
|
Omkareshwar
|
Madhya Pradesh
|
Omkareshwar
|
5
|
Kedarnath
|
Uttarakhand
|
Kedarnath
|
6
|
Bheemashankar*
|
Assam
|
Kamrup (Guwahati)
|
7
|
Vishwanath
|
Uttar Pradesh
|
Kashi (Varanasi)
|
8
|
Trimbakeshwar
|
Maharashtra
|
Trimbakeshwar, near Nashik
|
9
|
Nageshwar
|
Gujarat
|
Dwarka
|
10
|
Vaidyanath
|
Jharkhand
|
Deoghar
|
11
|
Rameshwar
|
Tamil Nadu
|
Rameswaram
|
12
|
Grishneshwar
|
Maharashtra
|
Near Ellora, Aurangabad
|
Jyotirlinga shrines are held in great reverence. The Puranas talk in detail about the significance and greatness of the Jyotirlingas. It goes on to say that one who recites these Jyotirlingas every evening and morning is relieved of all sins committed in past seven lives. Besides, the devotee becomes calm, chaste and pure as he becomes illuminated and enlightened with supreme and divine knowledge.
Among 12 Jyotirlingas, 9 Jyotirlingas have their Associate-Lingas (Upa-Lingas):
S/N
|
Main Jyotirlinga
|
Upa-Linga
|
Location
|
1
|
Somnath
|
Antukesh
|
Land-sea confluence (Prabhas) Gujarat.
|
2
|
Mallikarjuna
|
Rudreswar
|
Bhrigukaksh
|
3
|
Maha Kaleshwar
|
Dugdhesh
|
Narmada River bank.
|
4
|
Omkareshwar
|
Kardmesh
|
Bindu Lake
|
5
|
Kedarnath
|
Bhutesh
|
Yamuna River bank.
|
6
|
Bheemashankar*
|
Bheemeswar*
|
Varaha Hill (Pamohi, Guwahati)
|
7
|
Nageshwar
|
Bhutesh
|
Saraswati River bank.
|
8
|
Rameshwar
|
Gupteswar
|
Sea bank, Tamilnadu
|
9
|
Grishneshwar
|
Byghreswar
|
Shivalaya
|
*Bheemashankar & Bheemeswar: also spelled as Bhimashankar & Bhimeswar.
However, people have some disputes regarding the places related to four Jyotirlingas, viz., Vaidyanath, Nageshwar, Grishneshwar, and Bheemashankar.
Sri Sri Bheemashankar Jyotirlinga – revealed:
There were some disputes regarding the place of Bheemashankar Jyotirlinga due to different legends and their varied interpretations: many said it was in Maharashtra, for some it was in Ujjain Nagar near Almora in the Himalayas and for some a new discovery at a place called Pamohi in Guwahati, Kamrup, Assam.
It is not good to be ignorant, but worst still if a thing is known and taken wrongly. Hence, a clarification has been sought directly from a spiritually enlightened (Pragyavan) person, verifiable with the experiences of many Siddhas & ardent sadhakas and in concordance with the descriptions given in various authentic scriptures to clinch the matter completely regarding the actual site of Bheemashankar Jyotirlinga.
Maharshi Sri Sri Bhrigu Giri Maharaj (Babaji) is one such enlightened (Pragyavan) person. He is considered to be the unique Maharshi in the present era who has acquired the Mahamritunjay Vidya with the grace of his immortal Guru Markandeya Rishi and Maharshi Bhrigu in a supremely miraculous & divine way. He has established the Panchakanya Dham near Basistha to accomplish many divine tasks having deep spiritual significance. The Bheemashankar and other mystic places were revealed to Babaji first by his immortal Guru in 1966. Later on, with his own Siddhi (accomplishment), he got the spiritual communion with all the deities. Commemorating the 50th year of Introduction with Bheemashankar, a golden jubilee celebration was also made in the last year, 2016 in the Panchakanya Dham. His revelation on Bheemashankar Jyotirlinga and its actual site at Panchakanya dham and linkage with various related historical places, which suffered mutation in name and form in distant time, and clarifications of many misconceptions and misinterpretations thereof, have been written in a booklet named “Bheemashankar Jyotirlinga”. This booklet is a part of the Book named “Dwadash Jyotirlinga” written in Assamese by Sri Sri Bhrigu Giri Maharaj in the year 1984, with few additional words of clarification on the “Bheemeswar (Bhimeswar)”, which is an associate-linga (Upalinga) of Bheemashankar Jyotirlinga, that is presently being worshipped at Pamohi village in Guwahati.
Authentic Reference: Sri Sri Bhrigugiri Maharaj (Babaji) himself stands as an authentic reference for this spiritual revelation which also comes in conformity with many Siddhas & Sadhakas - on this, there is no rebuttal from any spiritual authority. Popularly known Bhimashankar in Maharastra is not a Jyotirlinga, the fact of which is known by the local Pujaris themselves and gradually the general public is also getting aware of. The recently discovered Bhimeswar Jyotirlinga at Pamohi in Guwahati is also not the main Bheemashankar Jyotirlinga. But due to wide publicity through various media, general people have started accepting the wrong things. It will be a severe injustice if the Truth is not saved and safeguarded. Hence, at the behest of many ardent devotees, Babaji, who is a Siddha Mahapurush and a living Maharshi, has consented to stand as the authentic reference for the Bheemashankar Jyotirlinga.
Location: It is near Basistha Temple, Guwahati, Kamrup, Assam. Just ~300 meters (approx) away from this Basistha Temple lies the Bheemashankar Jyotirlinga Temple in the Panchakanya Dham in the ‘Kshobhak’ parvat. (Lat: 26°05'36N. Long: 91°46'52E.).
Regular Puja, Rudra Abhishek, and Yajnas are being done in the Bheemashankar Jyotirlinga Temple in Vedic ways at Panchakanya Dham, Basistha, Guwahati. There is a history how the Panchakanya Dham was created. There are many Shakti Peeths including one Live Ganesha Stone existing around the Bheemashankar Jyotirlinga in Panchakanya Dham. Also nearby, there are many spiritual sites existing, e.g. Basistha Ashram, Arundhati & Vishnu cave, Vaman cave, Viswamitra caves, places of many Rishis including Markendeya Rishi etc. of the prehistoric era. The place is highly spiritual & mystical – worth exploring by Archaeological/Tourism Department. It gives all logics in support of what Babaji has been telling in simple reasons in support of Bheemashankar’s existence in Panchakanya Dham near Basistha, Guwahati.
Bheemeswar (Bhimeswar) Upalinga – Its origin:
As described in the booklet (“Bheemashankar Jyotirlinga”) the “Bheemeswar” is in “Varaha Parvat”: Varaha Parvat is situated on the north-western side of the Durjaya Parvat. Nilachal hill is also a part of the Varaha Parvat. In this Varaha Parvat only there happened the “Varaha Avatar”. In this Varaha Parvat, Rajarshi Seeraddhwaj established his kingdom and worshiped the Lord Varaha. Earlier to Seeraddhwaj, Bheemasur did Tapasya in this Varaha Parvat and obtained the boon of great might and established his capital there (in the upper part of present Pamohi, there existed this capital of Bheemasur. From there, at some distance, the people who worshiped the Lord Varaha established a town which was named as Varaha Nagar. Now, after suffering distortion, the name has become “Boragaon”). The Lord Bheemashankar killed Bheemasur at Dakini Parvat (the old Dakini Parvat was burnt and destroyed due to rage & agitation (Kshobh) of Bheemashankar and known thereafter as Kshobhak Parvat) and from His rage issued fire bursts; one splinter of this fire-burst destroyed the city of Bheemasur at Varaha Parvat. This splinter of fire got seated at Pamohi as “Bheemeswar Upalinga”. Now, He is only being worshiped with the name as “Bheemeswar/ Bhimeswar” by local tribal people in their own way (Non-Vedic way).
Clarification on the “Bhimeswar dham”:
The Jyotirlinga that is presently being worshiped as “Bhimeswar” in Bhimeswar dham at Pamohi, near Gorchuk, Guwahati, in fact, is the Associate-Jyotirlinga (Upalinga) of the main Bheemashankar Jyotirlinga present in the Panchakanya Dham, Kshobhak Parvat, Basistha, Guwahati. This fact has been described and clarified in the Booklet: “Bheemashankar Jyotirlinga” and recent circulations. But, some groups, in absence of proper knowledge and information, have wrongly started promoting & propagating that this “Bhimeswar” is the “Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga” which is being worshipped at Pamohi village, near Gorchuk, Guwahati by the local tribal people, trying to hijack their deity and their age-old worships for their vested interest. And due to this undue publicity, the same has been seen published by the Tourism Department of Assam also in all its circulations including the websites and road signboards which need to be corrected now so that the pilgrims & the tourists get the proper guide for the actual places/ significances.
Distortion of facts regarding Bhimeswar dham:
All logics defy the existence of the main Bheemashankar Jyotirlinga at Pamohi. There is apparently a deliberate effort being made by some groups with a vested interest to misguide the public by distorting the facts. As seen on the various websites, the old signboards of the Archaeological department and the old Names on the Gates (with the name Bhimeswar) at Pamohi have been removed completely and replaced with the new name, “Bhimashankar”, the act which cannot be considered anything less than a criminal act which amounted to a criminal conspiracy distorting the fact of the History, depriving the simple & innocent local tribal people of their original deity & their worship, misguiding the people of the whole world with wrong publicity.
Bheemashankar Jyotirlinga in Assam – our responsibilities:
Assam and the entire North-eastern Part of India are fortunate to have this powerful Spiritual Energy Center (one main Jyotirlinga) along with its Associate-Jyotirlinga (Upalinga) among twelve (Dwadas) main Jyotirlingas existing in India and it deserves equal religious significance & national concern like other Jyotirlingas present in other states. The importance & significance of these Jyotirlingas have to be understood in its right perspective without any conflict and the people and the entire environment have to get the spiritual benefit from these divine energy centers. The active Spiritual Energy centers are destined to purify the environment from all pollutions (physical, vital, mental & psychical) with its divine & positive energy. Hence, the recognition of such Spiritual Energy Centers in the right manner is of paramount importance for the mankind which is all in our hands only. These two Jyotirlingas (the Main one at Basistha and its Upalinga at Pamohi, near Gorchuk in Guwahati) have to be considered in its right perspective and kept activated for the benefit of all. The devotees, the Social Bodies, the Media & the Government must appreciate its importance & significance and take their due responsibilities for promoting and developing these important Jyotirlinga shrines in Assam to the strata befitting to the national & global concern. From the National level Religious Tourism perspective also, the Bheemashankar Jyotirlinga holds a special landmark in Assam. Let not be the history modified and the people misguided due to someone’s vested interests. The concerned Departments and the Media have a great role to play in countering the false and disseminating the right information to the masses and safeguarding the Truth.
