In the Trimbakeshwar temple, there are three self-styled lingams representing Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. They do not rise above the ground, but are in a pit below. Hence he is named as Trimurti or Trilochan. Trilochan means three eyes which only Shiva has.
The popular story is that a sage named Gautam lived on the Brahmagiri hill with his wife Ahilya. Due to his devotion, Varun Dev gave him a bottomless pit from which the sage received an inexhaustible supply of grains and food.
The other sages were jealous of her fate and arranged for a cow to enter Gautam Rishi granary, the cow was so thin that the cow died when Gautam Rishi tried to drive it away with Darbha grass.

To atone for the sin of this murder, Gautam Rishi started penance by establishing a Shivling to bring Goddess Ganga to his ashram. Pleased with the devotion of the sage, Shiva requested the Ganges to flow down to the ashram. Shiva asked Ganga to stay there forever. All the gods, Gautam Rishi and Ganga, started praising Lord Shiva together. He also requested Lord Shiva to live on the banks of river Gautami (Godavari) by the name of Trimbakeshwar (Jyotirlinga) and Shiva agreed to reside there in the form of Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga. Hindus believe that the Tryambak Jyotirlinga is the one that fulfills all desires and liberates from all sins and sorrows.
According to another legend, the cosmic lingam of Lord Shiva was installed as a pillar of light and asked Brahma and Vishnu to find the other end. Brahma lied that he had seen the top of the pillar of fire and Shiva had cursed him that he would not be worshiped on earth. In return, Brahma cursed Shiva that he would be thrown underground. Accordingly, Shiva came down the Brahmagiri hill in the form of Trimbakeshwar. Trimbakeshwar Temple is the only place where the Shivling is not on the floor but inside it. The temple is built of black stone in the Nagara style of architecture.

Service and worship
Darshan: 5 am to 8 pm
Three main pujas are performed daily: 7 am to 9 pm, 12 pm to 1 pm, 7 pm to 9 pm
Every Monday between 3 pm and 5 pm, a palanquin is taken from the temple to the Kushavarta shrine and back, wearing a silver five-faced crown, wearing a five-faced gold mask in a palanquin and walking around the village.
Mahashivratri, Kartik Purnima and Dussehra

Devotees circumambulate the Brahmagiri hill on the third Monday of Sawan

Best time to visit: October-March.
 

Interesting fact:

• Here Narayan Nagbali is worshiped for his ancestors.
• Rahu Ketu Dosh Puja or Kaal Sarp Dosh Puja is also performed here.
• The confluence of the Godavari and its tributary Ahilya is just outside the Trimbakeshwar temple.

Nearby Places:
Brahmagiri Hill, Gorakhnath Cave, Kedareshwar Temple, Nivrutinath Temple, Neel Parvat Peak, Sri Nilambika Temple, Kushavarta Tirtha