Raghaveshwar Temple,

Kumbhari Village, Taluka Kopargaon, District Ahilyanagar

There are many beautiful temples on the banks of the Godavari in Kopargaon Taluka. There are about two hundred large and small temples in this area. These include important religious sites such as the Guru Shukracharya Temple, Sanjeevani Par, Kacheshwar Maharaj Temple, Saibaba Tapobhumi, Swami Janardan Maharaj (Maungiri), Janglidas Maharaj, Upasani Maharaj, Vibhandak Rishi Ashram, Shringeshwar Temple, Mahanubhav Ashram, and the Changdev Maharaj Samadhi at Puntamba.

The Raghaveshwar Temple, which holds an important place among the ancient temples in Kopargaon, is situated at a height of about 25 feet from the banks of the Godavari river. This temple stands in a spacious area of one acre. It is said that the temple is built upon a foundation of stones filled to a depth of about 100 feet. The temple courtyard is paved with tiles throughout, making the premises appear beautiful and clean. In the Sai Janardan Temple located within the temple complex, there are idols of Shri Saibaba and Janardan Swami (Maungiri). The Raghaveshwar Temple has two entrances, one facing north and the other facing west. Distinctive craftsmanship can be seen on them.

The Raghaveshwar Temple in Kumbhari, located in the Kopargaon taluka, is renowned as the only temple in the state where the Shivalinga of Lord Mahadeva faces the east. Situated on the banks of the Godavari River, this temple, built in the Hemadpanti architectural style approximately 1,000 years ago, features a unique design in its sanctum sanctorum that allows the rays of the sun to fall directly upon the Shiva Linga at sunrise during certain days of the year. It is said that Sage Gautama performed penance at this sacred site for several years.


According to the information provided by historian and Shivshahir Babasaheb Purandare, when the Peshwa armies traveled from Pune to Gwalior, they would stop for some time in the vicinity of the Raghaveshwar temple while passing through the route of Pune, Sangamner, Wavi, Manjur, Mukhed, and Yeola. It is said that this was a place of reverence for Raghunathrao Peshwa. In this temple, he used to come for darshan through an underground passage connecting Kopargaon-Hingani-Kumbhari. The temple has been named Raghaveshwar Devasthan after Raghunathrao.

This temple stands upon a plinth approximately four feet high, with steps leading up to the main assembly hall (sabhamandapa). On both sides of these steps are sculptures of two seated elephants. Upon entering through the doorway, one beholds a graceful stone Nandi. Near the second entrance, there are lion sculptures on both sides. The assembly hall is spacious, and its twelve pillars are intricately carved with figures of various deities and diverse motifs. The ceiling of this temple is literally filled with captivating sculptures. The craftsmanship on the ceiling is so exquisite that it appears as if a stone chandelier is suspended above.

The Shivlinga in the sanctum sanctorum, located in front of the assembly hall, is adorned with a brass covering. Inside the temple, there are distinctive idols of Ganapati, Bhairavanath, Kartikeya Swami, Shri Dattatreya, and Radha-Krishna. On the outer walls of the temple, the idols of the Navagrahas are placed within the niches. Apart from this, numerous sculptures are carved on the exterior.

A grand fair is held here on Mahashivratri. On this occasion, crowds of devotees gather for darshan from early dawn. The day begins with Mahabhishek, Kakada, and Maha-aarti at dawn, followed by Kirtan in the afternoon, and a procession of Lord Raghaveshwar through the village in the evening. On the day of the festival, wrestling competitions are held in the afternoon, and a Bharud performance takes place after the procession at night. On this day, the temple trust provides Mahaprasad for the visiting devotees. The festival of Diwali is also celebrated here on a grand scale. Thousands of lamps are lit within the temple premises during this time. The temple is adorned with floral decorations and illuminated with electric lights. Thousands of devotees attend these festivals of Mahashivratri and Diwali. Daily, the Kakada Aarti is performed in the temple at dawn. Devotees can have darshan of Lord Raghaveshwar from 6 in the morning until 6 in the evening.


Useful Information:

• Eight kilometers from Kopargaon and one hundred nine kilometers from Ahilyanagar
• ST bus facility available from Kopargaon
• Private vehicles can reach directly up to the temple.
• There are no accommodation or breakfast facilities available in the vicinity.
• Many accommodation options available in Kopargaon