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Khandoba Temple, Jejuri

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The Khandoba Temple of Jejuri is a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Khandoba, located on a hill in the town of Jejuri, Maharashtra, India.[4][5] It is one of the most prominent Hindu pilgrimage centres of Maharashtra.

Khandoba Temple
Khandoba Mandir of Jejuri
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
DistrictPune पुणे
DeityKhandoba खण्डोबा
Festivals
  • Chaitra purnima
  • Champashti cha utsav[1]
Ecclesiastical or organisational statusActive
Governing bodyShree Martand Dev Sansthan Temple Trust, Jejuri[2]
Location
LocationJejuri, Purandar taluka, Pune district, Maharashtra, India
StateMaharashtra महाराष्ट्र
CountryIndia भारत्
Khandoba Temple, Jejuri is located in Maharashtra
Khandoba Temple, Jejuri
Khandoba Mandir in Maharashtra
Khandoba Temple, Jejuri is located in India
Khandoba Temple, Jejuri
Khandoba Temple, Jejuri (India)
Geographic coordinates18°16′20″N 74°09′37″E / 18.27222°N 74.16028°E / 18.27222; 74.16028
Architecture
StyleHemadpanthi[3]
FounderUnknown
Specifications
Temple(s)3
Monument(s)One
MaterialsStone and limestone
Elevation798 m (2,618 ft)
Website
Khandoba.com

Jejuri's Khandoba is a Kuladaivata of many farming families, Brahmins and nomadic Dhangar tribe of the Maharashtra and Deccan region.[6]

According to legends and folklore, Khandoba was a human Avatar of Bhagawan Shiva; he used to live and rule the region from Jejuri-gad (transl. Jejuri fort), where the Mandir is now present. The Mandir is also known as Jejuri-gad. Khandoba killed the demon brothers Mani and Malla, when they harassed people.[7][5]

History

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The worship of Khandoba began in the 12th to 13th century. It was built by Yadavas in 12th century. The Khandoba temple was rebuilt during the reign of the Peshwas.[8]

In 1737–1739, Chimaji Appa, brother of Peshwa Baji Rao I, gifted Portuguese church bells from Vasai to the temple. He and his Maratha soldiers took the bells from Portuguese churches as conquest memorabilia, after defeating them in the Battle of Vasai (1737).[9]

Deity

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Main article: Khandoba

The central deity Khandoba, also known as Khanderav, Khanderay, Malhari-Martand and Malhar, is one of the most popular deities of Maharashtra.[10][11][12] Khandoba is regarded as an avatar of the God Shiva.[6]

Khandoba is the Kuladevata (ancestral tutelary deity) of many people of Maharashtra.[13] The Kunbi-Marathas casts', Dhangar tribe, herdsmen, nomadic folks of Maharashtra worship Jejuri's Khandoba.[14]

Legends

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According to legend, two rakshasa brothers, Mani and Malla, pleased the god Brahma with their austerities. By Brahma's boon, they became very powerful and started destruction on Earth, harassing people. This led the God Shiva to arrive on earth in the avatar of Khandoba to destroy Mani and Malla. In a fierce battle, Khandoba killed one demon, and forgave the other when he promised to serve the common people.[3][11]

 
Jejuri village in foreground and Khandoba mandir on the hill in background at Jejuri, somewhere between 1855 and 1862

Architecture

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The temple is on a hill at an elevation of 718 m (2,356 ft).[citation needed] The temple can be approached by three flights of steps from the east, the west, and the north. The northern steps lead to the main entrance of the temple.[15] The temple is accessed by climbing nearly 200 steps.[citation needed] The steps have around 18 arches, 350 Deep-stambha (lamp-pillars) and several shrines bordering them.[15] Around a third of the way up, the steps split and rejoin 50 feet (15 m) higher. On one pathway going up, the pilgrims visit the shrine of Khandoba's minister, Hegadi Pradhan. The other pathway used by devotees going down, has the temple of Banai, Khandoba's second wife.[15]

This temple looks like a hill fort, and is known as Jejuri gad (transl. Jejuri fort).[6] The eight-sided, 350 yards (320 m) long fort boundary encloses a cloister courtyard, with the main temple shrine at the center.[15]

In the courtyard is a brass-coated tortoise, 20 feet (6.1 m) in diameter.[15]

The temple is built in Hemadpanthi architecture style,[citation needed] consisting of an outer square hall and an inner sanctum. The sanctum includes a linga (symbol of Shiva) and three pairs of images of Khandoba with his first wife Mhalsa.[15]

The temple also has a murti of Khandoba mounted on a horse in warrior form.[16] Khandoba is worshipped with turmeric, belfruit leaves, and by offering naivedhya made from onions and other vegetables.[14] The devotees offer flowers and turmeric to the deity.[3] Devotees throw turmeric in the air as an offering to the god, and as a result the steps of the hill temple and premises have a yellow hue.[17]

It is 50 km (31 mi) from Pune.[18]

The temple is a Maharashtra state government protected site.[8]

 
Side view of this temple
 
Deepstambha at Khandoba Mandir, Jejuri

Literature

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  • Jejuri (poem) by Arun Kolatkar was based on this village and its deity.[19]
  • Peshwekalin Jejuricha Itihas (transl.  History of Jejuri in Peshwa times ), a book authored by Raj Memane about the history of Jejuri during Peshwa time.[20]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "सदानंदाचा उदो उदो.. लाखो गरीबांचा कैवारी खंडेराया का झाला एवढा लोकप्रिय? चंपाषष्ठीच्या निमित्ताने वाचा Special Report g". TV9 Marathi. December 9, 2021.
  2. ^ "New trustees appointed for Jejuri temple". punemirror.com. December 16, 2017.
  3. ^ a b c "खंडोबा मंदिर का रहस्य, प्रचलित हैं कई हैरान करने वाली कहानियां". Amar Ujala (in Hindi).
  4. ^ Swami, V.N. (2020). Jilha Madhyawarti sahakari Bank online pariksha margadarshak [District middle co-op bank online examination guide] (in Marathi). Latur: Vidyabharti Publication.
  5. ^ a b "येळकोट येळकोट जय मल्हार! जेजुरी गडावर दररोज २० हजार भाविकांना मिळणार दर्शन". Lokmat. 2021-10-06. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
  6. ^ a b c Devdutt Pattanaik (January 8, 2017). "Pilgrim nation: Jejuri: Shower of Turmeric". Mumbai Mirror. Retrieved 2022-01-13.
  7. ^ "... Temple in Jejuri..." Bhaskar.[permanent dead link‍]
  8. ^ a b "DNA SPECIAL: Centuries-old temples withered by vagaries of time to get new lease of life". DNA India. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  9. ^ "Why bells from Portuguese-era churches ring in temples across Maharashtra". Hindustan Times. 2018-12-22. Retrieved 2022-01-13.
  10. ^ "Touch of Turmeric". TheWeek. 2018-08-06. Archived from the original on 2022-05-27. Retrieved 2022-02-22.
  11. ^ a b "Champa Shashti today: All you need to know about this significant day". www.timesnownews.com. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
  12. ^ "Jejuri Temple | Film Facilitation Office". ffo.gov.in. Retrieved 2022-01-13.
  13. ^ "जेजुरी गडावर खंडोबाच्या दर्शनासाठी भाविकांची अलोट गर्दी; नियम व अटी बंधनकारक". Maharashtra Times (in Marathi). Retrieved 2022-01-12.
  14. ^ a b "Bhandara Festival: The Great Turmeric Festival Of Maharashtra You Must Know About". NDTV.com. Retrieved 2022-01-13.
  15. ^ a b c d e f "Jejuri". Maharashtra Gazetteer. 2006 [1885].
  16. ^ "यहां श्रद्धालु अपनी दांतों से उठाते हैं 42 किलो की तलवार, जानें मंदिर से जुड़ी 10 अनोखी बातें: Khandoba Temple in Pune is a boon for infertile parents". Patrika News (in Hindi). 2019-10-12. Retrieved 2022-01-13.
  17. ^ Bhasin, Shivani (2017-09-02). "Yellow is the colour of inclusion". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
  18. ^ "The Other India". The Indian Express. 2012-10-29. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
  19. ^ Ramakrishnan, E. V. (1997). "Jejuri". In George, K. M. (ed.). Masterpieces of Indian Literature. Vol. 1. New Delhi: National Book Trust. pp. 228–230. ISBN 81-237-1978-7.
  20. ^ "Know the temple town of Jejuri during the reign of Peshwas". Hindustan Times. 2019-12-28. Retrieved 2022-01-16.
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