Venkateshwara Devasthanam

Dajipeth, Solapur, Taluka & District Solapur

The ancient name of Solapur city, where Marathi, Telugu, and Kannada languages are spoken, was Sonalpur. In an inscription found on an ancient well, this city is mentioned as Sandalpur. During the British rule, the name Solapur became prevalent. Solapuri bedsheets and towels, which have received the GI (Geographical Indication) tag, are famous worldwide. This district is a leader in Maharashtra in bidi production. Siddheshwar is the presiding deity of Solapur city. This temple of Venkateshwara, located at Dajipeth in the city, is famous. Devotees believe that the awakened deity here grants their prayers.

In the scholarly book ‘Shri Vitthal: Ek Mahasamanvay’, the great researcher Ra. Chi. Dhere has noted that Pandharpur’s Vitthal and Tirupati’s Venkatesh are both deities of the same nature. Neither has a connection to the Puranic avatars or forms of Vishnu, yet both have attained the form of Vishnu. Vitthal is considered to be Balakrishna, while Venkatesh is known by the name Balaji. Vitthal’s wife, on the pretext of Radha, sat sulking in Dindirvana, while Venkatesh’s wife, angered because her husband endured the insult by Bhrigu, stayed away first in Karvir and later in Tiruchanur. Like Vitthal, Venkatesh is also weaponless and silent, keeping his left hand on his waist and bestowing blessings upon devotees with his right hand. Such devotees of Balaji are found in large numbers in Maharashtra, just as they are in Andhra.

To enable these devotees to have the darshan of Tirupati Balaji in Solapur itself, this temple was built in the year 1950. The Tirupati Balaji temple is situated on the Tirumala hills in Andhra Pradesh. It is at least one and a half thousand years old. It is said that the Pallava Queen Samavai built the first altar of this temple in 614 AD. In the construction and maintenance of that temple, along with Chola and Pallava kings, Maratha commander Raghuji Bhosale also played a part. This is considered the richest temple in the world after Vatican City in Rome. This Tirupati Balaji temple is in the Dravidian style, and the Venkatesh Balaji temple in Solapur has also been built in the same temple style.

This temple is located along the road in the Dajipeth area of Solapur. There is a strong fortification around the temple. There are two chambers on both sides of the entrance in the fortification. On both sides of the entrance, there are two ornate pillars with a balcony above them. On the balcony, there is a horizontal ‘Shala’ style spire. There are five finials in a horizontal row on the spire. In the niches of the spire, there are sculptures of Vishnu reclining on Shesha and Lakshmi pressing Vishnu’s feet. One enters the temple courtyard through this entrance. In the courtyard, there is the Venkatesh Balaji temple with a structure consisting of a Sabha Mandap (assembly hall), Antarala (vestibule), and Garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum). On the ceiling of the open Sabha Mandap, mythological episodes of Shri Vishnu and Lakshmi are depicted on all four sides. In the Sabha Mandap, on both sides of the Antarala, there are staff-bearing guardian sculptures. The entrance to the Antarala is covered with silver plating, and the door frames have floral carvings. There is a discus on the lintel. Above the entrance, on the front wall, auspicious symbols like the conch, discus, and lotus are inscribed. At the entrance of the Antarala, there are lotus sandals on a table and a brass processional idol of the deity. From here, devotees are given darshan of Venkatesh Balaji in the Garbhagriha. The entrance to the Garbhagriha is covered with gold plating. The door frames have floral carvings and a discus on the lintel. In the Garbhagriha, there is an idol of Venkatesh Balaji made of black stone. Sculptures of Padmavati and Lakshmi are carved near the feet of the deity. The idol wears a golden crown, various garments, and ornaments. There is a circumambulation path around the exterior of the Garbhagriha and Antarala. The Mandovara has a Makara-mukha (crocodile face) from which the holy water of the deity’s abhishekam flows out. On the roof of the Garbhagriha, there is a three-tiered square spire in the Dravidian style. The spire features various deities and animal sculptures. In the second tier of the spire, there are twenty niches on all four sides containing idols of various deities. At the top of the spire, there is a stupika and a finial.

Next to the Venkatesh Balaji temple is the Padmavati Devi temple. On the entrance of the open Sabha Mandap of this temple, which has a Sabha Mandap and Garbhagriha structure, there is a Gajalakshmi sculpture. The entrance has iron grilled shutters. In the Garbhagriha, there is an idol of Padmavati Devi on a Vajrapitha. On the roof of the Garbhagriha, there is a three-tiered square spire in the Dravidian style. In the first lower tier of the spire, there are sculptures of Padmavati Devi on all four sides. The second tier has Kuta and Shala structures, and the third tier has idols of various deities and animal sculptures. At the top of the spire, there is a stupika and a finial.

Next to the Padmavati temple is the Harihareshwar temple. In the courtyard in front of the entrance of this temple, there is an idol of Nandi and a Shiva Linga on a pedestal. In the Garbhagriha of the temple, in the center on the ground, there is a Shiva Linga with a brass cobra holding a canopy over it. On the roof of the temple, there are sculptures of Shankar-Parvati on the front side and Nandi sculptures on all four sides. On the roof, there is a dome-shaped spire in the center, with a stupika and a finial at the top. In the courtyard, on the left side, is the grand building of the Annachhatra (free food distribution center). Here, Mahaprasad is distributed to the devotees. Adjacent to this building is the Devasthanam office. In the courtyard, there is a brass Vishnu-dhwaja on a stone pedestal. In front of the temple, there is a Garuda, Hanuman, and Navagraha temple. The courtyard includes Bhaktaniwas (pilgrim accommodation), residences for priests and servants, and a Goshala (cow shelter) and a garden in the premises.

All the rituals and annual festivals held at the Tirumala Tirupati Balaji temple are also celebrated in this temple. Priests from the Tirupati temple are present to perform the rituals and festivals here. There is also a facility in this temple’s office to register devotees going to the Brahmotsavam celebrated at the Tirupati Balaji temple. Festivals like Chaitra Padwa, Kartik Purnima, Sharadiya Navratri Utsav, Dussehra, Diwali, Ashadhi Ekadashi, and Kartiki Ekadashi are celebrated in the temple. During all festivals, special worship and abhishekam of the deity are performed. There is a tradition of placing the deity’s mask in a palanquin and dancing the palanquin during festivals. Classical music, dance, and plays are presented at this time. During the festival period, thousands of devotees come for the darshan of the deity and to fulfill their vows. The number of devotees coming to the temple for daily darshan is large. Devotees can have darshan of Venkateshwara in this temple every day from early morning until 7:00 PM.

Useful Information

• 3.5 km from Solapur Railway and Bus Station
• ST bus and railway facilities available to Solapur from many cities in the state
• Private vehicles can reach the temple
• Accommodation and breakfast facilities available in the area
• Contact: Temple Office, Tel. 0217 2631809, Mob. 9325030008