Beleshwar Mandir

Pakharud, Taluka Bhum, District Dharashiv

The Bilva, or Bael tree, holds unparalleled significance from both a religious and Ayurvedic perspective. The three-lobed Bilva leaf is likened to the three eyes of Mahadev. Bilva is also one of the sacred names of Mahadev. Due to its sanctity, there is a religious custom that the wood of the Bael tree should not be burned as fuel. The importance of this tree is expounded upon in various scriptures such as the Sankhyayana Aranyaka, Yajurveda, Aitareya Brahmana, Shatapatha Brahmana, Taittiriya Samhita, and Valmiki Ramayana. The leaves and fruits of this tree hold special significance in the worship of Mahadev. Hence, Mahadev is also known by the name Beleshwar. There are many ancient temples of Beleshwar Mahadev across Bharat. The ancient temple of Beleshwar in Pakharud village, Bhum Taluka, is renowned.

This temple, built in the Hemadpanti architectural style, is recorded to have been completed in the year १७५३. Raja Sultanrao Nimbalkar of Kharda Sansthan brought seven Shivlingas from Kashi and installed them at various places within his kingdom. The Beleshwar Mahadev in the monastery of the King’s Guru, Tukaramteerth Maharaj, is one of them. As a Bilva leaf is carved on the large Shalunka of this Shivlinga, Mahadev came to be known as Beleshwar. The temple complex (Deulwada) was also built by the King.

Tukaramteerth Maharaj originally belonged to the Purandare family from Katgum village in Satara district. A sense of detachment arose in the Maharaj’s heart, and he wandered in search of the Divine, eventually arriving in the Beleshwar area. In the year १६८८, he performed penance in this dense forest. In those days, he would offer a portion of the alms he received to cows and dogs, and then present the prasad to the Lord. Pleased by his penance, Shri Dattatreya granted him darshan in His Ekamukhi (one-faced) form. As a sign of the meeting with Dattaguru, Shri Dattatreya planted His staff here. From that staff, a tamarind tree grew. This tree sprouted two branches. The leaves of one branch are sweet, while the leaves of the other branch are sour. Devotees believe this to be a divine miracle. Devotees partake of these tamarind leaves as prasad.

This temple is close to the village. There is a welcoming arch on the path to the temple. The temple is surrounded by a fort-like rampart, approximately २० feet high. On the upper part of this rampart, there is a Bashingi parapet. On both sides of the large entrance gate within the rampart, there are platforms. The doorframes of the entrance are adorned with carvings, and on both sides, paintings of doorkeepers are depicted. After descending a few steps from the entrance, one enters the temple courtyard. To the right of the stepped path are three samadhi shrines. Two of these are Sati samadhis in the form of Tulasi Vrindavans. Beyond the samadhis, there are verandas for devotees to stay.

Further on, there is a second rampart. Within this rampart is a two-storied entrance gate with a Nagarkhana (drum house) on the upper floor. Inside the entrance, on both sides, there are guard rooms, and from here, stairs lead up to the Nagarkhana and the rampart. After descending a few steps from the entrance, upon reaching the bottom, the tamarind tree is on the left side. It is said that this tree grew from the staff planted by Shri Dattatreya. Further on, in the stone-paved courtyard, to the right, there is an ancient stone stepwell with perennial water. There are steps to descend into the stepwell. In the courtyard, there is the samadhi temple of Tukaramteerth Maharaj and, beside it, the Vitthal-Rukmini temple. In front of the entrance to the Sabhamandapa (assembly hall) in the courtyard, on a platform, there is a black stone idol of Nandi.

Further ahead is the semi-open Sabhamandapa of the Beleshwar temple. On the outer side of the Sabhamandapa, there are seating arrangements (Kakshasanas) for devotees. These Kakshasanas have twelve half-pillars. In the center of the Sabhamandapa, there are six full pillars. The square pillars stand on broad pillar bases. Further ahead are three sanctum sanctorums (Garbhagrihas). On both sides of the entrance to all the Garbhagrihas, paintings of doorkeepers are depicted. The doorframes have vertical ridge carvings, and on the Lalatabimbas (lintel centers), there are Ganesha idols. There are also Ganesha idols in the Devakoshthakas (niches) on the front walls of the Garbhagrihas. In the Beleshwar Garbhagriha on the right side, there is a Shivlinga on the ground. Above the Shivlinga, there is a brass snake holding a canopy, and an Abhishekapatra (vessel for ritual anointing) hangs from the ceiling. In the central Garbhagriha, there is a Renuka Devi idol (Tandala) on a Vajrapeetha. The Devi has a silver crown on Her head and is adorned with various garments and ornaments. In the Garbhagriha on the left side, there is a two-armed idol of Ekamukhi Dattatreya. All three Garbhagrihas have ventilators for air circulation. On the Mandovara (outer wall of the sanctum), there are Ganesha idols in Devakoshthakas and Chakra (wheel) carvings in relief on the walls.

There is a circumambulation path (Pradakshina Marg) on the outer side of the temple. On this path, at the rear, is the Tapasya Guha (penance cave) of Tukaramteerth Maharaj. It is said that there was an ۸ km long underground passage from this cave to Kharda village, and Tukaramteerth Maharaj would go from here to Kharda to seek alms. The temple roof has a parapet on all sides. On the front wall of the parapet, there are many Devakoshthakas in a row, containing idols. On the front part of the roof, there are platforms with Nandi sculptures. On all four sides of the roof, there are square miniature Shikharas (spires), and Kalashas (finials) on their Amalakas (ribbed stone discs). On the roofs of the three Garbhagrihas, there are three main Shikharas. On all four walls of these, there are idols of various deities in Devakoshthakas. At the apex of the Shikharas are Amalakas with Kalashas on top.

At some distance from the temple is the samadhi of Vasudev Swami. Vasudev Swami came here after hearing of the fame of Tukaramteerth Maharaj and remained here permanently, accepting discipleship under him. He attained Sanjeevan Samadhi here on Ashadh Vadya Dwitiya in the year १८३७. Beside this samadhi is the samadhi of Sachchidanand Swami. He came from Kashi to accept discipleship under Tukaramteerth Maharaj. He attained Sanjeevan Samadhi on Shravan Shuddha Ashtami in the year १८८५.

In the temple, Mahashivratri, Datta Jayanti, as well as the Samadhi Utsav of Tukaramteerth Swami on Chaitra Vadya Ekadashi, Vasudev Swami on Ashadh Vadya Dwitiya, and Sachchidanand Swami on Shravan Shuddha Ashtami, are celebrated with great devotion. During all festivals, programs such as Bhajan, Kirtan, and Pravachan are organized in the temple. Thousands of devotees come here for darshan and to fulfill their vows during the festivals.

Useful Information

• २८ km from Bhum, and ९० km from Dharashiv
• ST bus facility from Bhum
• Private vehicles can reach the temple
• No accommodation or breakfast facilities in the vicinity