Samarthishtha Ekara Maruti Darshan
It was a
totally spiritual trip for worshipping Lord Hanuman, the God of strength and
devotion! It was planned to see how in the 17th century Samartha
Ramdas Swami found places where people from totally rural areas too, could go
and worship his own worshipped deity Lord Hanuman. In those times of invasions
and external rulers, the Maruti temples were established so that the youth
could understand the significance of physical fitness and join the army of
Shivaji Maharaj and fight for Swarajya. After completing the reading of
Dasbodh, the scriptures for masses, worded by Samartha Ramdas Swami, we decided
to visit all eleven Maruti temples established by him.
Samarth Ramdas Swami or Narayan Thosar was born in 1608. In 1619, at the age of eleven, or Ramdas Swami, travelled extensively across North India. In 1640, at the age of 32, he returned to his birthplace Jamb. After four years of pilgrimage to the south, he came to Satara in 1644 and established 11 Maruti temples in this area in a span of 10 years from 1644 to 1654.
As a spiritual and social endeavor, we planned a visit to these 11 temples. We started at 6
am and in one day, as planned, covered all the holy sites and came back after
12 midnight. Though a very tedious drive, all the temples are not very far away
from each other. Some have good accessible roads while some don’t, which made
it difficult. Most are in the hearts of the villages or towns, where the big vehicle
couldn't enter. But all in all, we could satisfactorily achieve what had been
in our minds for very long. The temple idols are the original ones from the 17th century.
The temples have been renovated. Some of the temples are dilapidated or
derelict.
Swami’s devotee
saint Venna poetically rightly described the temple locations;
Two in Chafal, one in Umbraj,
Visit Pargaon for the fourth one!
Fifth in Masur, Sixth in Shahapur,
Visit Shirala and the seventh done!
Eight in Shinganwadi, ninth in Manpadale,
Tenth in Majgaon, for your worship and devotion!
Eleventh in Bahe, in the midst of Krishna waters,
He established the famous eleven, creating emotion!
Visit them, take inspiration,
Build your mind, body and nation,
For your faith, worship and belief,
Lord Hanuman will bless generations!
(Translated by: Dr. Jaya Kurhekar)
1.
Shahapur - Pratap / Chunyacha Maruti:
'Chunya Maruti 'of Shahapur was the first of all eleven Hanuman temples established by Samarth Ramdas Swami in Maharashtra. It was founded in 1644, on the banks of the river Krishna at village Shahapur on the Karad-Masur road, in taluka Karad, district Satara, about 10 km from Karad.
The statue is around 6 feet tall and is made of lime primarily. The fierce faced statue faces east and is adorned with a special cap with an ornamental tassel on the top. On full moon day of Indian month Chaitra, Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated every year. The temple has three gopurams.
2. Shri Maharudra Maruti Mandir:
It is at Masur (Karad, Satara) is a very lively, wish fulfilling and historical pilgrimage centre, one of the 11 famous Maruti temples established by Samarth Ramdas Swami in 1645. It was founded to awaken the patriotism and spiritualism in people as well as the spirit of power and devotion. Located in Brahmapuri, Masur, near Karad, it is famous because the world famous' Maruti Stotra, “Bhimrupi Maharudra” was composed by Samarth Ramdas Swami, in praise of this Maruti. Its recitation keeps all kinds of fears, troubles, and diseases away. Samarth's travels, kirtans and super powers attracted people to him. He set up Hanuman temples at strategic places, like Maruti of Masur where festivals of Ramjanma and Hanumanjayanti could be celebrated so as to bring people together and be united.
This maruti, carved from stone, was also known as ' Maruti of Masoor' or 'Hanuman Gadhi”. With a height of about 5 feet, it faces east. This is the most beautiful statue of the eleven statues of Samarthas. Beautifully painted, it is a gentle, pleasing idol with a fine crown on the head. The necklace, coat, the edges of the coat, fingers of the hands are meticulously painted. It is flanked by portraits of Shivaji Maharaj and Samarth Ramdas on the left and right hands. The temple has a square sabha mandap, 13 feet long with a solid roof supported on six stone pillars. The temple is under the management of Sri Ramdas Swami Sansthan, Sajjangarh, who celebrate Ramvanami here. In Chaitra, on full moon day, Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated here.
3. Chafal Das Maruti:
Chafal Das Maruti temple
is a historical and religious temple at Chafal in Patan taluka of Satara
district, where Samarth Ramdas Swami had installed it in in 1648 standing in
namaskar posture with folded hands in front of Lord Rama. The idol is about 6
feet high and it gazes directly at the feet of Shriram. Shriram Mandir is huge,
in the courtyard of the main temple, in front of Das Maruti. Behind the temple
is an ancient DhyanGumpha where behind the temple. It is believed that Samarth
Ramdas Swami and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj used to have secret meetings and
discussions at this place.
4. Pratap Maruti: (Bhim / Veer) Chafal:
Just behind the main temple is the statue of Veer Maruti or Pratap Maruti installed by the Samartha. It is 8 feet high, bright and slim! The temple is located in Chafal, Patan taluka of Satara district and was built in 1648 AD. Its tail is wrapped around the head, at the waist is a golden kasoti and a demon below the feet.
Das Maruti stands with folded hands in front of the Shriram Mandir in Chafal and Pratap Maruti stands behind the temple.
5. Shinganwadi Bal Hanuman: Khadicha Maruti:
This stone idol of Maruti of Shinganwadi village is located on a hill, near the Chafal Ram temple. It was established by Samarth Ramdas Swami for himself for spreading the worship of child Hanuman or Balopasana, in 1649. It is a stone idol, the temple being very beautiful and peaceful. Since the idol of Hanuman in the temple is in the form of a child, it is also called Bal Maruti. Since there is no crowd of devotees in this temple and it is a very holy, lively and awakened place, it is an excellent place to meditate, sit and worship for quite some time.
6. Umbraj Maruti: (Math Maruti):
Samarth
Ramdas Swami bathed at Umbraj everyday, walking down from Chafal. It was his place so at the
banks of Krishna river ghat, he established a maruti temple, in 1649, which he
went to after bath. Worshipping the idol of Lord Maruti idol was his ritual.
The temple faces east and though the temple is simple, the idol is pleasant. It
is the youngest 'Bal Maruti' among the eleven Marutis established by Samarth. Idol
is 6 feet with silver eyes. It is made of sand and clay.
Two
legends are associated with this temple.
The
first says that one day while bathing, Samarth cried 'I am drowning!’. In
panic, the disciples, who were bathing downstream started coming to him but
before they reached, Lord Maruti jumped off the cliff into the river and pulled
out Samarth. He told him that he was instructed by Lord Shriram to take care of
him. From the rock cliff, from where the Marutir jumped, his footmarks have
been etched. Presently, they are covered in sand.
The
second legend says that a brahmin became a disciple of Samarth, took a mantra
from him and stayed with him. His idea was to live comfortably in the
monastery. But when Samarth started taking him with him everywhere, he got
tired and left Samarth and went to saint Tukaram. Tukaram enquired from where
he had come and after knowing the fact, he told the Brahmin to go back to
Samarth and return his mantra! On going back, Samarthtold him to take mouthful of
water, chant the mantra and spit on the rock in front. On complying, the
letters of Rama's Trayodashakshari Mantra 'Shri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram'
appeared etched on the rock! At the same moment, the Brahmin lost his speech.
Saddened he went back to Tukaram, who took him to the Samartha and prayed Samarth
to return his speech. Samarth asked him
to lick the letters of the Trayodashakshari mantra on the rock. On complying,
his lost speech came back.
Traces
of both Hanuman's footmarks and the Trayodashakshari Mantra on the rock are
still there, but submerged in sand and lake. Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated here
on full moon day in Chaitra.
7. Shri Kshetra Majgaon Maruti:
8. The Maruti of Bahe – Borgaon:
This is a famous place where one of the eleven Marutis' founded by Samarth Ramdas Swami in 1651, is
situated on Ramling Island in the basin of the river Krishna, in Walva taluka
of Sangli district.
It is
said that Lord Rama stayed here while returning to Ayodhya after killing
Ravana. While Shri Rama was performing Sandhyavandana, Krishna River suddenly
flooded. To stop Krishna, Hanuman spread both his arms and blocked the flow of
water. The river bifurcated and formed an island. The idol here is 5 feet high,
facing north and very simple. While meditating in front of this Maruti, Samarth
Ramdas Swami had thought of the hymn 'Bhimrupi Maharudra', hence the
significance. The site is beautiful and now considered as state heritage site,
being developed as a tourist spot!
9. Manpadale Maruti:
10. Pargaon Maruti:
It
is believed that this temple was built in the year 1652. Pargaon is close to Panhal
fort, hence Samarth, considering its political importance, probably installed
the Maruti idol here. It is said that both Shivaji Maharaj and Samarth Ramdas
used to come to this place for political discussions. This is considered to be
the last of the eleven Marutis established by Samarth. It is the smallest idol,
amongst all eleven Marutis.
It
is a belief that Samarth made all eleven Maruti idols in one night. As the sun rose,
this last idol turned out smaller. The height of the statue is one and a half
feet, mounted on a stone pedestal. It wasn’t installed. Its hair is tied in a
braid. It is turning to the left. It is so different from the other idols of
Samarth that it is suspected that it may not be that of Samarth. The original
dome of this temple is 8 feet long. In 1972, a 40 feet long and 16 feet wide hall
was built around it. But from outside, this structure looks like a hall without
a temple. There is no name plate or flag on the walls of this temple.
11. Veer Maruti Battis Shirala:
One of
the important places where Samarth established a Maruti idol was at Battis Shirala
in Sangli district, in 1655. It fulfils the wishes of devotees, if they pray. "There are about 25 steps leading to the
courtyard of this temple on a hillock, a little higher than the road. The
temple has a compound wall on all the four sides, with a narrow gate. The
temple consists of a prime pious space, a mandapa and a porch. The roof of the
hall has a circular arch in the middle. Next to it is the temple space with
four pillars and three arches over it. There are entrances on the left and
right sides of the orbital path. There are ancient idols of local deities near
the front wall of the central garbhgruha. Next to it is the entrance of the
temple. On the doorposts of the entrance, lotus flowers are carved below and vertical
stripes on the top. There is a sculpture of Lord Ganesha on the lalatamba and
Kirtimukha on the mandaraka. In the sanctum sanctorum on the Vajra-pitha there
is a standing statue of Maruthi in the form of a crescent made of stone of
about seven feet height. The cut clothes of the idol, waist belt and its bells
are carved with fine artistry. On both sides of the statue there is a pillar
and on the arch above it there is an engraving of leaf flowers. In the garbhgruha,
there are windows on both sides. The sun shines on the idol in the morning and
evening. There is a pond on the roof of the temple. There is a five-tiered
square top on the roof of the garbhgruha, lotus motifs on top and a kalash on
top. Hanuman Jayanthi is celebrated in a grand manner in this temple. A large
number of devotees visit the temple every day.
This visit took us around 18 hours to complete by road and it was facsinating!
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