Bhuleshwar Sansthan

Malkapur, Malkapur Taluka, Buldhana District

The Bhuleshwar Sansthan, nestled in the Kulmakhed area of Malkapur city, holds a renowned place with its ancient history. Within this temple complex stands the principal shrine of Shri Dattatreya, dating back over one hundred and twenty-five years. Here, devotees are blessed with the darshan of various deities, including Shri Ganesh, Shani Dev, Shri Ram, and Santoshi Mata. Situated in the heart of the city, this temple complex also houses the Bhuleshwar Mahadev Mandir and the Mandir of Shri Gajanan Maharaj. Furthermore, the samadhi sthal of Gangabharti, a revered disciple of Shri Gajanan Maharaj, is also located here. On occasions such as Datta Jayanti and various other festivals, this sacred place witnesses a joyful gathering of devotees.

Malkapur, nestled in the Ajanta mountain range in Buldhana district, is a significant taluka. Situated on the banks of the Nalganga River, Malkapur boasts an ancient history. It finds mention even in the ‘Ain-i-Akbari’, where it was a pargana headquarters under the Narnala Sarkar. In earlier times, the Faruqi kings ruled over Khandesh. A Faruqi king of that era founded this city. He had a daughter named Malika. Legend has it that the city of Malkapur was named after this princess.

Dr. V. B. Kolte, former Vice-Chancellor of Nagpur University and a renowned historian, in his research on the etymology of the village name Malkapur, has put forth the view that there is an ancient shrine of Mallika here. There is also an ancient temple of Mallikarjuna. From this, the village came to be known as Mallika + pur = Mallikapur. ‘Malkapur’ is its corrupted form. This temple is also mentioned in ‘Central Provinces and Berar District Gazetteers – Akola District, Volume A’ (१९१०). The fortifications around this village, built in the year १७२९ during the time of Muhammad Malikhan, still exist today. The Nalganga River divides this town into two parts: Salipura and Parpeth. Both bridges connecting Parpeth and Malkapur were built by Raghujiraje Bhonsale of Nagpur. Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs, stayed in the Salipura area for a few days before proceeding to Nanded. To perpetuate his memory, a Gurdwara has also been erected in the city on a ten-acre plot of land. Malkapur, a significant centre for political movements in Vidarbha during the pre-independence era, continues to maintain its distinct identity in political, social, cultural, agricultural, industrial, educational, and other fields.

In this sacred city, there are ancient temples such as the Devi Durgā Mandir, Raje Nemivantāñce Śrī Rām Mandir, Mallikārjun Mandir, and Gaurīśaṅkar Mandir. Among these is the Datta Mandir, nestled within the Bhuleśvar Saṁsthān in the city’s Gāndhī Chowk. This Datta Mandir was consecrated in eighteen ninety-nine. The Śani Mandir here is also more than a century old. The Hanumān murti here was consecrated in nineteen ten.

Here also rests the samādhi of Gaṅgābhāratī, a revered disciple of Gajanan Mahārāj. It is said that Gaṅgābhāratī suffered from leprosy, but by the divine grace of Gajanan Mahārāj, he was cured. Thereafter, as per Gajanan Mahārāj’s command, he settled in Malkāpur—so goes the sacred lore. His samādhi, located within this very complex, was built in nineteen fifteen. On the twenty-sixth of December, nineteen seventy-one, a Gajanan Mahārāj Mandir was also erected within this complex. This complex also houses a Śiv Mandir. A few years ago, a Śrī Rām Mandir was also built here.

Upon entering through the temple’s main doorway, one steps into the courtyard of the temple complex. On the walls to the right in the courtyard, there is a painting depicting Śrī Rāma hunting a deer. The Datta Mandir here houses a three-faced marble idol of Dattātreya. This six-armed idol holds a japamālā, kamaṇḍalu, and triśūla in its hands. A cow is near the idol’s left foot, and a dog is near its right foot. Behind the idol is a prabhāvaḷa (halo). To the right of the idol is a seated idol of Devī in a namaskāra mudrā, and there are also some other idols on the right. The main temple has a large sabhāmaṇḍapa with arched entrances. Here, there is an idol of Hanumāna as well as a Gaṇeśa Mandir. In the Śivālaya within this complex, there is a small Śivaliṅga in an octagonal śāḷuṅkā. In front of this garbhagṛha is a stone idol of Nandī. In the centre of the garbhagṛha here is an idol of Santoṣī Mātā. To her right are idols of Durgādevī, and to her left are idols of Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa. In the Rāma Mandir within the complex, there are marble idols of Śrī Rāma, Sītā, and Lakṣmaṇa in the centre. To the left of these idols are idols of Svāmī Samartha, and to the right are idols of Sāī Bābā. This complex also has a Gajānana Mahārāja Mandir which has been recently renovated. The temple’s structure consists of a garbhagṛha, excluding the sabhāmaṇḍapa and pradakṣiṇā mārga. In the garbhagṛha, there is a marble idol of Gajānana Mahārāja on a large vajrapīṭha. Within this temple complex itself is the samādhi sthala of Gaṅgābhāratī. Adjacent to the temple complex is a Śanideva Mandir.

Many devotees from the city come here for darshan. On Saturdays, the Shani Mandir here is thronged with devotees. On Amavasya, many people come here to perform abhishek to Shri Shani Dev. Within this temple complex, festivals such as Datta Jayanti, Mahashivratri, Hanuman Jayanti, Ganesh Utsav, Sharadiya Navratrotsav, and Gajanan Maharaj Pragatin Din are celebrated.

Upon entering through the temple’s main doorway, one steps into the courtyard of the temple complex. On the walls to the right within the courtyard, a beautiful mural depicts Śrī Rāma hunting a deer. Within the Datta Mandir here, a three-faced marble murti of Dattātreya Bhagwān is enshrined. This murti, possessing six arms, holds a japamālā, a kamaṇḍalu, and a triśūla. Near the murti’s left foot rests a cow, while a dog is positioned near the right foot. Behind the murti, a prabhāvaḷa (halo) is present. To the right of the murti, there is a seated murti of Devī in a namaskār mudrā, along with several other murtis. The main temple features a grand sabhāmaṇḍapa adorned with arched entrances. Here, one finds a murti of Hanumān-ji, as well as a Gaṇeśa Mandir. Within the Śivālaya of this complex, a small Śivaliṅgam is enshrined within an octagonal śāḷuṅkā. In front of this garbhagṛha, there is a stone murti of Nandī. At the centre of the garbhagṛha here, a murti of Santoshī Mātā is present. To her right are murtis of Durgā Devī, and to her left are murtis of Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa. In the Rāma Mandir within the complex, marble murtis of Śrī Rāma, Sītā Mātā, and Lakṣmaṇa are enshrined at the centre. To the left of these murtis are murtis of Swāmī Samarth, and to the right, murtis of Sāī Bābā are gracefully seated. This complex also houses a recently renovated Gajānana Mahārāj Mandir. This temple is structured with a garbhagṛha, separate from its sabhāmaṇḍapa and pradakṣiṇā patha. Within the garbhagṛha, a marble murti of Gajānana Mahārāj is installed upon a large vajrapīṭha. The samādhi sthala of Gaṅgābhāratī is also located within this temple complex. Adjacent to the temple complex is a Śanidev Mandir.

Many devotees from the city come here for Darśana. On Saturdays, the Śani Mandir here is thronged with devotees. On Amāvāsyā, many people come here to perform Abhiṣeka to Śanidev. Within this temple complex, festivals such as Datta Jayantī, Mahāśivarātri, Hanumān Jayantī, Gaṇeśotsava, Śāradīya Navarātrotsava, and Gajanan Mahārāj Pragaṭdin are celebrated.

Useful Information:

• १.५ kilometres from Malkāpur Bus Stand
• ४६ kilometres from Bulḍāṇā
• State Transport (ST) bus facilities available to Malkāpur from many towns in the district
• Private vehicles can reach up to the temple
• Many options for accommodation and breakfast in the vicinity