Pune has always been famous for its lush green parks. The peace and serenity that characterizes most of the gardens of Pune provide them with the much-needed respite from the hustle and bustle of city life.
In the following lines, we have provided more information about the Temples of Pune, India.
Sarasbaug Temple
In the 18th century soon after completion of Shree Devdeveshwar Temple on the crest of Parvati hill, Shrimant Nanasaheb Peshwa turned his attention towards the development and beautification of environs of Parvati hills.
He constructed a lake along the Ambil odhha(stream) near Parvati foot hill. This lake was to be used for boating and creating gardens in the area. The excavation of the lake started around 1750, after completion of Parvati Temple and was still going on in 1753. One day, on his way to Parvati Temple, Shrimant Nanasaheb Peshwa noticed the slow progress of this work. Annoyed Shrimant got down from his elephant and himself started picking up boulders for erection of the dam wall. The shirking labourers were ashamed by Nanasaheb Peshwa's act and the citizens also felt equally embarassed. Following this, It is said that the work got better momentum and was completed soon.
This lake at the Parvati foot hills had an area of about 25 acres(2000 Sq.mts.). An island of about 25000 Sq.ft. area was retained in the middle of this lake. Later on, a beautiful garden was created on this island. Shrimant Nanasaheb Peshwa gave it a rather poetic name, “Sarasbaug”.
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Kasba Ganapati Temple
The Kasba Ganapati refers to both a particular idol of the god Ganapati in Pune, India, as well as to the temple built around the idol. The Kasba Ganapati is the presiding deity (gramadevata) of Pune.
The temple was commissioned by Jijabai, after Dadoji Konddeo reported to her that an idol of Ganapati had been found in Pune. The idol's status as the premier idol in Pune was decided by Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
In the year 1630. The Royal Queen Jijabai Bhosale arrived in Pune with her son Shivaji. Shivaji was disturbed by the pathetic plight of the mavals, at a very young age. At the tender age of 12, he vowed to liberate the mavals from the mughal powers. Around this time, an idol of Lord Ganesh was found near the house of Vinayak Thakar, close to the residence of Jijabai. Jijabai perceived this as an auspicious moment and promptly decided to build a temple, which is popularly known as the Kasba Ganpati Mandir.
Since then, Pune is also known as the city of Ganesh. The Peshwas were ardent followers of Lord Ganesh. During their regime Shaniwarwada has witnessed grand celebrations for Lord Ganesh.
In 1893, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, the great freedom fighter and Cub of India, initiated the now famous Ganesh Festival. His intention was to gather people sharing similar ideas and exchange thoughts to deal with the British ruler. He started celebrating Ganesh Festival from his own house Kesari Wada. Due to his influencing personality and initiative, everyone started celebrating this festival and thus it became a public festival in 1893.
There was rivalry among the various mandals regarding the privilege of immersing the idol on the last day of the Ganpati festival. Bal Gangadhar Tilak resolved the rivalry and declared the privilege of immersion to Shri Kasba Ganpati, as it is the local deity of Pune.
Till 1925, Shri Kasba Ganpati Mandal celebrated the festival within the premises of the temple and from 1926 it is celebrated in an enclosed mandap. Presently, the ten days of the festival is a platform to display ones talents through various cultural programs thus allowing a large number of devotees to participate in the celebrations. On the last day, Shri Kasba Ganpati plays the leading role during the immersion procession. For more information on Immersion Procession. Get Direction
Chaturshringi Temple Chaturshringi temple is one of the famous temples in Pune, and one visiting Pune should not forget to seek the blessings of Devi Ambareshwari, the presiding deity of the temple.
Like most of the temple in Pune, Chaturshringi temple also has its own tale that dates back to many centuries from now. Legend says that Goddess Chaturshringi bade a merchant in Pune to built a temple for her. The merchant who was a staunch believer of the Devi, used to visit the temple of the Goddess during his visit to other places.
But when old age fell on him, he could no longer afford to reach to the goddess. Thus, he felt hurt. It is during this time that the Goddess came to him in his dream and made her presence felt. The merchant was deeply moved by this gesture, and he built the Chaturshringi temple to show his reverence to the Goddess.
The famous Chaturshringi temple, situated on the Senapati Bapat Road, was built during the reign of Shivaji Maharaj. Although, the temple is situated amid the big IT companies and gigantic commercial buildings, the Chaturshringi temple has not lost its grandeur. One of the fascinating things about the temple is that the Chaturshringi temple has a scale model of its entire premises displayed at the entrance.
In Pune, we also find other reincarnations of Devi Chaturshringi. These reincarnations are manifest in the forms of Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, Mahasaraswati, and Ambareshwari.
An annual fair is held in the temple during 'Navratri', a Hindu Festival. The entire temple is lit up with lamps and is also decorated in traditional Indian style.
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Pataleshwar Temple
The Pataleshwar Cave Temple (also called Panchaleshvara or Bamburde) is a rock-cut cave temple, carved out in the 8th century in the Rashtrakuta period. It is located in what is now Pune, in the state of Maharashtra, India. It was originally situated outside the town, but the city limits have expanded so that it is now located on the downtown Jungli Maharaj Road.
The temple, made of basalt rock, is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. The sanctum - a cube-shaped room about 3-4 meters on each side - houses a linga - the symbol of Shiva and there are two smaller cells on each side. In front of the cave is a circular Nandi mandapa, its umbrella shaped canopy supported by massive square pillars. This mandapa is one of the peculiar structures of Pataleshwar.
The temple was left incomplete, possibly because of a fault line found at the back of the sanctum sanctorum, which made the further sculpting unsafe, or political upheaval resulting in loss of patronage. Still in use, the linga is anointed with ghee and yogurt. A brass temple bell hangs outside the basalt entryway. Get Direction
Dagdusheth Temple
The temple was founded in 1893 by Dagadusheth Halwai, a sweetmeat seller who became a wealthy businessman. Halwai had lost his son the previous year, and at the request of his guru created murtis (image of a deity) of Ganesha and Dattatreya. He later established the Halwai Ganapati Trust. Bal Gangadhar Tilak, during the British Raj, gave a public form to the Ganesh festival celebrations as a way of getting around an order that barred public meetings.
The temple is located a short distance from the historical Shaniwar Wada fort, which was administrative headquarters of Peshwas of Maratha Empire. The temple is popular in Maharashtra and is visited by thousands of pilgrims every year. Devotees of the temple include celebrities and Chief Ministers of Maharashtra who visit during the annual ten day Ganeshotsav festival. Get Direction
Tambdi Jogeshwari Temple
The slaying of Tambrasur had given goddess Jogeshwari the name Tambdi Jogeshwari. She sits in a beautiful temple built in the old style which is also known as a Panchayatan temple with four more temples surrounding it. It is said that Chhatrapati Shivaji and his followers had high faith in her. The temple still follows the old tradition of 'oti bharane' where sari, coconut, kumkum, rice, green bangles are offered to the goddess while women apply haldi to the forehead and offer a gold coin to the goddess. During the festival, colourful rangoli adorn her courtyard and women dressed in resplendent bright colours come early to pray.
She is the female presiding deity of the city. Located in Budhwar Peth, it is believed that the idol of Goddess Jogeshwari was found when Chhatrapati Shivaji ran a golden plough through the soil in this area. A temple for the goddess was built and it still stands. Since the colour of the idol of Jogeshwari is red, it is called Tambdi (red in Marathi) Jogeshwari. Tilak decided to install an idol of Lord Ganesh there as the temple was very popular. It is the Second Manacha Ganpati after Kasba Ganpati.
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In the 18th century soon after completion of Shree Devdeveshwar Temple on the crest of Parvati hill, Shrimant Nanasaheb Peshwa turned his attention towards the development and beautification of environs of Parvati hills.
The Kasba Ganapati refers to both a particular idol of the god Ganapati in Pune, India, as well as to the temple built around the idol. The Kasba Ganapati is the presiding deity (gramadevata) of Pune.
Chaturshringi temple is one of the famous temples in Pune, and one visiting Pune should not forget to seek the blessings of Devi Ambareshwari, the presiding deity of the temple.
The Pataleshwar Cave Temple (also called Panchaleshvara or Bamburde) is a rock-cut cave temple, carved out in the 8th century in the Rashtrakuta period. It is located in what is now Pune, in the state of Maharashtra, India. It was originally situated outside the town, but the city limits have expanded so that it is now located on the downtown Jungli Maharaj Road.
The temple was founded in 1893 by Dagadusheth Halwai, a sweetmeat seller who became a wealthy businessman. Halwai had lost his son the previous year, and at the request of his guru created murtis (image of a deity) of Ganesha and Dattatreya. He later established the Halwai Ganapati Trust. Bal Gangadhar Tilak, during the British Raj, gave a public form to the Ganesh festival celebrations as a way of getting around an order that barred public meetings.
The slaying of Tambrasur had given goddess Jogeshwari the name Tambdi Jogeshwari. She sits in a beautiful temple built in the old style which is also known as a Panchayatan temple with four more temples surrounding it. It is said that Chhatrapati Shivaji and his followers had high faith in her. The temple still follows the old tradition of 'oti bharane' where sari, coconut, kumkum, rice, green bangles are offered to the goddess while women apply haldi to the forehead and offer a gold coin to the goddess. During the festival, colourful rangoli adorn her courtyard and women dressed in resplendent bright colours come early to pray.