History of sixth Jyotirlinga Beemashankar Mahadev

• the sixth Jyotirlingam which is another unique Jyotirlingam, just like Omkareshwar. We’re talking about the Bheemashankar Jyotirlingam, situated on the Sahyadri hills, and almost 110 kms. 
• away from the city of Pune in the state of Maharashtra Since the shape of the Jyotirlingam is quite wide and thick, this is why the temple is also known as Moteshwar Mahadev A river named Bheema also flows from here, which later merges with the Krishna river. 
• According to the Puranas, it is said that whoever worships temple while chanting the name of all the Jyotirlingas, every day after the sunrise, he / she is absolved of all the sins for his / her seven births, and the doors of heaven also open for the same. Bheemashankar Jyotirlingam has been glorified with the following shloka Who is served continuously by the Pretas in the Dakini and Shakini Vrind, I bow to that Bhagwan Bheemashankar, who never leaves his devotees unattended. 
  

• There is an interesting anecdote in the Shiv Purana as to how the Bheemashankar Jyotirlingam was officially established  According to the chapter devoted to Bheemashankar, Kumbhakarna had a son, Bheema, who was born just after the death of his father. He did not how his father was slayed by Shri Ram, and he also never knew why his father was killed.
• When he came to know about his father’s death at the hands of Shri Ram, Bheema went berserk and decided to kill Shri Ram. In order to complete his mission, he undertook severe penance, which pleased Bhagwan Brahma, who gave him the boon of near invincibility.
•  Following the grant of the boon, Bheema unleashed a reign of terror that was feared by humans and the Devas alike. He ordered all kinds of pujas to be canceled with immediate effect. When Bheema’s atrocities crossed all limits, the agonized Devas went to Mahadev for his help. Analyzing the grave situation, Bhagwan Shiva decided to fight the tyrant Bheema himself. 
• After a fierce battle, Bhagwan Shiva reduced the wicked demon to ashes, and in this way the tyranny of Bheema came to an abrupt end. Pleased by his actions, the Devas requested Mahadev to reside at the same place. Accepting their request, Bhagwan Shiva converted himself into a Jyotirlingam and continues to reside at the Sahyadri Hills. 
• In terms of history, Bheemashankar has a very close bond with the Maratha Empire. Chhatrapati Shivaji Bhonsle himself donated a significant amount from his exchequer for the expansion of the temple.
•  It is said that Peshwa Bajirao Ballal’s younger brother and his close aide Chimaji Rao Appa  had once set out to teach the Portuguese a lesson for heaping atrocities on the innocent masses, After defeating the Portuguese in a fierce battle, Chimaji Rao Appa and his soldiers took many bells from the Portuguese churches in Goa in their possession, which were later installed in the Empire’s various holy temples, be it the Shiv Mandir in Menavali, situated near Wai, or the Banashanker Mandir and Omkareshwar Mandir of Pune, or even the Ramalinga Mandir in Shirur.
•  One of these bells is also installed at the Bheemashankar temple. Nana Fadnavis, the Pant Pradhan of the Empire and a close friend of Peshwa Madhavrao, was instrumental in giving shape to the modern structure of the temple. So this was the tale of the holy Jyotirlingam of Bheemashankar.