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The last point to be visited is the ‘patanasthala’, the great fall. Situated some distance to the west of the temple, this is a steep gorge descendinghundreds of feet in the valley. The local legend says that no one would be hurt even if he jumps down to the valley. This is because Shiva had given this boon to a pupil of Jabali, a famous rishi of old.The boon also assured him that all the sin of a pilgrim would be dissolved if he pays a visit to the ‘Patanasthala’. Be that as it may, one thing is certain. The point has great natural beauty and the story of how the ‘fall’ became famous is romantic in theextreme. It certainly is worth repetition for its own sake.
This also comes from the Bhimashankar- mahatmya. Once upon a time there was a rishi, Jabali, who had his ashram near Bhimashankar. lie used to perform daily, abhisheka with milk on the ling and had maintained a cow for this purpose. Some one of his pupils looked after the cow when she went out for grazing. There was a dear little calf to her who always followed its mother.
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