Panchganga Temple in Mahabaleshwar refers to the ‘Temple of 5 rivers’. It was built in 13th century by Raja Singhandeo and renovated later in 16th and 19th centuries. Also known as Krishnabai temple, it has a stone carved image of ‘Gomukh’ or the face of a cow. A legendary story explains the origin of this temple. When Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva came to Mahabaleshwar to perform a ‘Yagna’, Lord Brahma failed to bring along his consort, Goddess Savitri. Since his wife’s presence was essential to perform the Yagna, Lord Brahma hastily married a local woman named Gayathri. Upon knowing this, Goddess Savitri expressed her wrath by transforming all the gods into rivers, while the gods also transformed her into a river. Thus Brahma (Venna River), Gaythri River, Vishnu (Krishna River), Shiva (Koyna River) and Savithri rivers originated in this place and it is termed ‘Panchganga.’
