About Temple

The  one and only temple, the unique Mandir of Lord Shiva, in universe, where you will not find ‘Nandi’ sitting before ShivaLinga, the symbolic representation of the God and Goddess, ‘Shiva- Parvati’. The story is narrated in ‘Padmapurana’, by the holy saint ‘Markandeya’ Rishi. (In ‘Padmapurana’, one of the mythological books of its time as per events details are concerned).

Lord Bramha had five faces. Out of them four faces he used to recite ‘VEDAS’ and by fifth he would criticize and jealously blame acts of Lord Vishnu. During course of a meeting of Galaxy-Lord, he started his act of criticism to Lord Vishnu and then switched his act of criticism to Lord Shiva. In response Lord Shiva did not liked it and snatched the ‘Bramhastra’ form Bhramha’s hand and chopped off his fifth face-neck from his body. Lord gathering was Joined because of the punishment act of Lord Shiva and was more sympathetic towards Lord Vishnu. But Shiv Shankar himself did not feel comfortable by his own act.

He started feeling guilty of doing so, and was processed with feeling and trauma of Bramha Hatya; Deadly sin worth repenting in life. To wipe out this unavoidable sinful act he started looking for some solace, means of repenting it to ease himself out. For this he traveled northward to find out source or method to evolve himself from this sin. But Unable to find solution, the he turned southward. 

While traveling he stayed at Nashik in Panchavati, pilgremage. The place for rest chosen by Lord Shiva was an open space at the home of ‘Dev Sharma’ Bramhan. While resting nearly, he heard the conversation which was going on in the  cattleshed, calfcow, (Nandi); who had been great learned man in his prior birth, was talking to his mother that master Dev Sharma Bramhan harassed him by bullying for long. He would teach him a lesson and would finish (his life) him off. Mother replied by doing this he would be put to the task of committing a deadly sin; Bramha Hatya. Nandi replied that he is aware of panace for this deadly sin. Mother you may say that Lord Shiva has also committed the sin by detaching fifth face from Lord Bramha’s body. It was an act which was done in anger and agony, the mind of man is raged and he forgets what he was doing. He realizes his folly when he calms down and thinks in the normal way. Lord Shiva will have a solution for the penace when he is normalized. Over hearing the dialogue between (caw and calf) the mother and son Shiva had a sign of relief realizing that the solution for the penace has been found. He decided to be there and went for rest, anxiously awaited for dawn.

Next morning when Devsharma Bramhan approached Nandi to take him out of cattle shed, Nandi attacked him and pierced his horns in his stomach hurting him seriously resulting in the death of Bramhan, immediately the colour of Nandi was turned into black form milky white indicating that Nandi has committed a sin; Bramha Hatya.

Panchavati has got a unique Sangam of Aruna, Varuna and invisible Saraswati rivers flowing towards East. These rivers accumulate into Ramkund and are merged with Godavari river. Nandi went to have holy dip in river Godavari and moment he came out of bath his original colour of milky white was retained. After dip bath Nandi went for blessings of Lord Rama, nearby temple. All this act has profused  Nandi with more vigour and valous. All the process was closely watched by Shiv Shankar who followed the same, and had blessings of Lord Rama and went over a hillwek, where ‘Shiv-Linga’ is supposed to be the most trusted., for making a penance against wrongful deep and deadly sin. While Lord Shiva was performing his penance, Galaxy of Lords appeared in the sky and offered floral tribute to Lord Shiva and chanted praiseworthy words for his interest in helping mankind. Thus Shiva was relaxed of his deadly act of sin and Lord Vishnu has by his presence established Shiv-Linga there, giving the name ‘Kapaleshwara’. By just visiting and praying to Eshwar Kapaleshwara, the human soul will be lived of sin and achieve path to Moksha, the liberty will be earlier.

Maha Nandi has showed Shiva the path of penance against deadly sin. Shiva has accepted Nandi as his curator and spiritual guide. The Guru. Maintaining his tradition, the temple of Kapaleshwara Mahadev is the only temple in the universe where you will not find Nandi sitting in front of Shiva-Linga (Shiv Shankar Parvati).

Panchavati in Nashik pilgrimage town is sacred place, tri river flows with sun manding nature and picture seque. The temple is said to have numerous trust and truth. The temple visit not only solace your mind and soul but also gives you belief of self confidence. It is believed that not only human beings but God like Lord Indra, Rama also come for pray and blessing of Kapaleshwara. As the saying goes visiting of ‘Twelve Jyotirlinga’ has an equivalent of visiting Kapaleshwara temple’.