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| Khandoba temple Jejuri, with lamp posts. MH Deccanherald.com |
Khandoba temple at Jejuri in Pune district off Maharashtra and is about 39 km from Pune city. Set atop a hill of 718 m (2,356 ft) and the devotees have to climb 200 steps to reach the temple. Maharashtra is said to be a primary center Khandoba worship. Devotees emphasize that Khandoba is a full avatar of Shiva, and not a partial avatar like Bhairava or Virabhadra. He accepts the attributes of the demon king - his horse, weapons and royal insignia. In iconography he carries four weapons in his arms and wear the dress of a Maratha Sardhar.
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| Khandoba temple Jejuri, MH .gettyimages.in |
The worship Bhairava, a Hindu deity common in the states and for countless families in the Deccan region Khadamba or Bhairava is the family deity - most popular Kuladevata. To the select warrior farming castes, Dhangar community, Brahhmin (priestly) castes as well as several of the hunter/gatherer tribes (Bedar, Naik) that are native to the hills and forests of this region god Shiva is a patron deity of valor and courage (qualities of a warrior).
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| Location map Jejuri, Maharashtra. caronrentals.com |
The sect of Khandoba has attributes of Hindu and Jain traditions and also other sects. This sect - 9th or 10th C of origin is a blend of attributes of of other gods - Shiva, Bhairava, Surya and Kartikeya (Skanda). More or less a folk deity depicted either in the form of a linga, or as an image on a bull or a horse. In the sanctum - garbagriha God shiva is in the form of Linga (an anionic symbol of Shiva) with his consort goddess Mhalsa.
A massive plan is on the anvil to repair and restore the historic Khandoba temple of Jejuri covering 167 sq. meters and the fort covering 1,240 sq meters and the Maharashtra government in May 2022 announced that they had sanctioned Rs 109.57 crore for the proposed development plan. There are many shrines and 350 Deep-stambha (lamp-pillars) in this area. The worship of Khandoba (or Martanda Bhairava, Malhari, Malhar) as a manifestation of Lord Shiva has been around in this region for a long time, the government had chipped in to improve the facilities for visitors to this place.
To retain the old legacy and the heritage value of this place the state government is planning to rope in the expert advice of ''archaeological experts,” The fort and temple would be restored and water supply facilities would be created.
More than 50 lakhs people visit the temple and around 2 lakh devotees come here for the annual Jatta.
