Saptashringi Devi Temple (Vani)

Saptashringi Devi Temple is located at Vani in Nashik District of Maharashtra. It is also known as Vani temple. The temple is about 55 km from Nashik.
There are seven mountains and hence the name " Saptashringi'. This beautiful temple is dedicated to Goddess Saptashringi, one of the forms of Shakti. The goddess is depicted with 18 hands. The Devi is said to be swayambhu (self-manifested) on a rock on the sheer face of a mountain
It is said that once a cowherd was tendering to his herd near the mountain. He came across a huge beehive. He tried to remove the beehive with his stick. When he pulled the stick out of beehive, it was red in color. It had sindoor on it. He started digging and came across Goddess idol

Travel (Nashik to Saptashringi )
The drive by car from Nashik to Saptashringi is very scenic. It takes about 2 hrs from Nashik. One has to take Dindori Road from Nashik. The ghat travel starts from a village called Nanduri and is about 11 kms. The road is very good and the scenery great. Vehicles are allowed only upto a certain point. There is lot of parking place. Many shops also offer parking place provided one takes prasad from them. It is better to carry your own food and water. There are many great spots on the way back to stop by and have a picinic

Darshan
The offerings has to be purchased before starting to ascend the steps. There is a huge entrance where camphor has to be burnt. Atleast 9 camphor needs to be burnt. There is temple depicting a head of a buffalo near the entrance. It probably depicts the killing of the demon Mahisasur. The climb to the temple is steep and takes about 30 mins. Chant ‘Jai Mata Di’ while climbing. The view from the temple is absolutely breathtaking.
The idol is huge (around 8 feet) hence it is easily visible from the queue. One could offer coconuts, flowers, saree and sweets to the Goddess. After darshan, one could sit near the havan and mediate/concentrate on the Idol. Try to chant ‘Om Aim Hrim Klim Chamundayyai Viche Namah’ 108 times
There are pundits also who would perform pujas for devotees. Beware of Monkeys. They will snatch away prasad, water, flowers etc
The path for ascending and decending the temple are different. The entire path has a concrete canopy. If one is interested in buying books on Mata Saptashringi then only one shop near the temple entrance sells it.

Meaning of Mata Mantra
Om - The Infinite beyond conception
Aim - Creation, Rajo Guna, Energy of Desire, Mahasaraswati
Hrim - Preservation, Sattva Guna,Energy of Action, Mahalakshmi
Klim-Destruction,Tamo Guna,Energy of Wisdom, Mahakali
Chamunda -The Slayer of Passion and anger, Moves in the head
Yai-The Grantor of Boons
Vic- In the body of knowledge; in the perception
Ce - of consciousness

JAI MATA DI

Shri Trimbakeshwar Temple

Shri Trimbakeshwar Temple is located at a distance of about 30 kms from Nasik in Maharashtra. It is near the mountain named Brahmagiri from which the river Godavari flows. Trimbakeshwar Temple is revered as one of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines of Shiva and as the source of the river Godavari

Travel (Mumbai to Trimbakeshwar)
The road distance between Mumbai and Trimbakeshwar is around 180 kms. It should take around 3 to 4 hrs to reach Trimbakeshwar. One has to take Mumbai - Nashik Highway. After crossing Igatpuri, a village named Ghoti comes on the right side of the highway. ( One has to go through Ghoti to travel to Shirdi bypassing Nashik) Just after Ghoti, on left side there is road towards Trimbakeshwar. One can always travel to Nashik and then travel to Trimbakeshwar. It is advisable to avoid Nashik as the road runs through the city and one would be caught in traffic jam. The road sign mentions Trimbakeshwar is 68 kms away. There are two roads that goes to Trimbakeshwar, once left is taken from Ghoti. One Road goes west of Upper Vaitarna Lake and one goes east. One should take the road on the east as it shorter by around 25 kms. If you see Lake on your right that means you have missed the right turn. It is advisable to ask the locals at each intersection as there is very few milestones/directions on the road. The distance to Trimbakeshwar from Ghoti (on Mumbai Nashik Highway) is around 45 kms (even though the milestone says 68 kms. It takes the longer road into account.) The road is narrow but since there is very less traffic the journey is enjoyable. One can stop by Vaitarna Lake to enjoy scenic views.

Parking
There is plenty of parking lots. It is advisable to park in the lot just as you enter the town. This is only the paved lot. One can then walk to temple which may take 10-15 mins. One has to pay around Rs10 as entry fee.

Stay & Eating
There are lot of joints offering Maharashtrian Thalis. Off course one will get bhajias, misal pav, wada pav etc. I didn't see any restaurant offering South India food. There are few lodges around if one wants to stay overnite

Temple
Nanasaheb Peshwa built the main temple in 1786. It took 31 years to construct the temple and the cost of 16 lacs then. It is one of the twelve Jyotirlinga. The Jyotirlinga has three lingas symbolizing Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu & Lord Shiva. There is one replica of the linga just outside the main temple structure. There is a stream of water near the temple. But it is filthy and full of dirt. It is sad we don't take care of natural resources and the temple management has also not taken any efforts to keep it clean.
Cell Phones and Cameras are not allowed inside the temple. But if there is huge crowd then security doesn't check for it. Toilet facilities as usual is bad. One may go to open ground instead of stinky toilets.

Darshan
One should take a dip in a tank called Kushavarta. It is about 5 -10 mins walk from the main temple. Keep chanting 'Om Namaha Shivaya' as you the dip. The queue for Darshan in main temple depends upon the day you are going. There is no queue management. Devotees push each other and break queue. The area outside the temple is not paved (i believe it is on East of temple). One was to walk on pebbles bare feet.
There is small structure which houses Nandi, the cow. One has to pass that to goto main temple.
The Shivalingam is seen in a depression on the floor of the sanctum. Water constantly oozes out from the top of the Shivalingam. The view of the lingam is from higher ground. One may get only few second to see it and offer prayers. There is a mirror on top of the lingam. After the Darshan, one can see the mirror to a good view of the lingam. There are priests sitting near the main chamber. They will do Abhishek on your behalf and send you the prasad.

Om Namah Shivya