Unkeshwar Shiva Temple

Unkeshwar, Taluka Kinwat, District Nanded

Maharashtra is blessed with a great legacy of natural beauty and spirituality. In many places across the state, hot water emerges naturally from the ground, which is referred to as ‘Ushnodake’ or hot water springs. These sites are considered highly sacred from a religious perspective, in addition to being tourist destinations. Devotees believe that divine energy resides in places where such hot water springs exist. Temples have stood in the vicinity of these springs since ancient times. For this reason, the hot water springs and their associated shrines in Vajreshwari in the Thane district and Unkeshwar in the Nanded district of Maharashtra are considered especially significant.

The Shiva temple near the Unkeshwar Kund in Kinwat taluka dates back to the thirteenth century, as evidenced by an inscription from the year 1281 found here. This inscription states that a mention of this holy site is found in the Ramayana. It also contains references to the Yadava King Ramchandra Deva, his feudatory King Bhavak Deva, and the Prime Minister Hemadri Pandit. Furthermore, the inscription mentions twenty villages that were granted as endowments to the temple. This inscription is in the Nagari script. are inscribed in the script and the Marathi language.

In the 13th chapter of the Ramayana, there is a story that Sage Sharabhanga, suffering from a skin disease, was performing penance at Unkeshwar while chanting the name of Lord Rama. At that time, Lord Shri Rama appeared there and released a fire-arrow towards the ground. Due to the impact of that arrow, a fountain of hot water erupted from the earth and fell upon Sage Sharabhanga. Through the touch of this medicinal water, Sage Sharabhanga was immediately cured of his ailment. Since that day until today, hot water has been continuously flowing from this sacred pond.

In front of the temple located along the road, there is a half-height fence, followed by an open ground. Beyond this, the main entrance of the temple is visible within the fortification wall surrounding the temple complex. On both sides of the main entrance, there are pillars featuring lamp niches. Above the pillars, there is a crescent-shaped arch, and an image of Lord Ganesha is carved on the lintel. There is a protective parapet on the roof of the entrance and along the fortification wall. Within the temple courtyard, on both sides of the main entrance, there are buildings for the pilgrims’ residence and other uses, attached to the fortification wall. Walking through a narrow path between these buildings, one enters the open courtyard of the temple. In this paved courtyard, to the left in front of the temple, there is a tank built of carved stone. It is believed that Lord Shri Rama created this tank by striking the ground with an arrow of fire. This tank contains hot water springs and is surrounded by protective railings on all four sides.

On the right side of the temple, there are two ancient lamp pillars (Deepastambhas) situated on platforms. One of them is circular and features an idol of Lord Dattatreya. The second lamp pillar is square-shaped, with a temple-shaped spire at its pinnacle. The temple architecture consists of a central assembly hall (Sabhamandapa), with the vestibule (Antarala) and the sanctum sanctorum (Garbhagriha) located on the right and left sides. The temple’s assembly hall has entrance gates facing each other on both sides. The entrance gate features three door frames with intricate carvings on vertical panels. An idol of Lord Ganesha is placed on the lintel. Ancient inscriptions are present on the front wall of the assembly hall, above and to the left of the entrance. One must descend three steps to enter the assembly hall, which is situated at a lower level than the courtyard. There is a water well in the center of the assembly hall. Around the well, there are four small pillars supporting a roof, and atop the roof sits a black stone idol of Nandi. The water from this well is used for the daily ritual bathing of the deities. The floor of the assembly hall is covered with tiles. In the chamber located here, the samadhi of Sage Sharabhanga is situated.

On the Vajrapitha to the left in the assembly hall, there is a second idol of Nandi made of black stone. In the vestibule, there are niches on both sides containing idols of deities. Further ahead is the entrance to the sanctum sanctorum of Mahadeva. On the door frames, there are faint carvings of leaves and flowers along with pillar motifs. On the lintel, there is a sculpture of Ganapati, and on the upper section, there is a decorative arch design. There is a moonstone at the threshold. In the sanctum sanctorum, the Shiva Linga is situated in the center on a floor covered with tiles. Above this Pindi is a brass serpent holding a canopy, and an Abhishek vessel for pouring water is suspended from the ceiling. In the sanctum sanctorum, against the back wall, there is a combined idol of Mahadev, Parvati, and Ganpati placed on a Vajrapitha. There is a window in the enclosed sanctum for ventilation, and the inner side of the ceiling (canopy) features a circular design.

In the assembly hall, to the right, is the entrance to the second sanctum sanctorum. This entrance is similar to the sanctum on the left. Inside this sanctum, the idols of Shri Ram, Lakshman, Sita, and Hanuman are placed on a Vajrapitha. There are windows in the sanctum for ventilation. The roof of the temple has a parapet on all four sides. On the roof of the Shiva sanctum, there is a square, tapering Shikhara topped with a Stupi and Kalash. On each of the four walls of the Shikhara, there are two Angashikharas.

In the temple courtyard, upon a Vajrapitha, stands the four-armed idol of Goddess Saraswati, mounted on a swan. There is a canopy over the Goddess’s head. On a platform adjacent to the courtyard wall, there is an idol of Lord Krishna massaging the feet of Sudama. The courtyard also houses small and large temples and idols of Goddess Durga, a sculpture of Sage Sharabhanga performing a Yajna, Sai Baba, a tiger sculpture, a Mahadeva sculpture, a Shiva Linga, as well as various other deities.

At the temple, Maha Shivratri is the main annual festival, and festivals such as Chaitra Padwa, Ram Navami, and the holy month of Shravan are also celebrated with great devotion. During all these festivals, programs such as Maha Abhishek, Bhajan, Kirtan, Jagaran, and Maha Prasad are organized at the temple. During the annual festivals, many devotees from the states of Maharashtra, Telangana, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh come to seek the blessings of the deity and to fulfill their vows. The visiting devotees make it a point to bathe in the hot water of the temple’s sacred tank.

Useful Information:

• At a distance of 42 km from Kinwat
• At a distance of 𝟣𝟨𝟦 km from Nanded
• ST bus facility from Kinwat
• Private vehicles can reach the temple parking area.
• Bhakta Niwas is available within the temple premises.