Bhimashankaram is located at Bhuvanagiri village in the Puna district of Maharastra. The Bhimashankara lingam measures around one and a half feet and is quite narrow. The Goddess aspect of the divine is worshipped as Kamalaji here. There is a root lingam on the lower level.
Lord Shiva is considered to be taking rest at Bhimashankar after the destroying of the demon Tripura. Tripura's sole aim in life being the conquest of the Universe. Unlike his predecessors and successors who pursued the same grand objective, he never launched himself on crusade/ war path. Instead, he undertook a severe penance. He discarded even the ordinary necessities of life like food and water. With arms raised towards the sky, he stood erect on the mountain Meru and was fed by nothing more than air. Centuries passed. Every passing moment added to his moral strength until the gods became apprehensive of Tripura's growing strength and warned their leader Indra about the danger.
Enter Lord Shiva, destroyer of demons. Tripura was destroyed. Shiva is said to have taken abode on the crest of the Sahyadri hills upon the request of the Gods. The sweat that poured forth from his body after the battle is said to have formed the Bhimarathi river which flows southeast and merges with the Krishna river. Today, at its very source, the River Bhima is completely dry.