श्रीक्षेत्र शक्तिपीठ धाम
"ज्ञानं शक्तिं च मोक्षं च, यत्र तत्र समाश्रिता। तां देवि प्रणतोऽस्म्यहम्, या ब्रह्मसाक्षात्कारिणी॥"
Inspiration and guidance
Maa Tulja Bhavani – Tuljapur
Aai Tulja Bhavani Devi is an ancient and sacred Shakti Peeth in Maharashtra, situated at Tuljapur fort in Solapur district. Devi Bhavani is a form of Durga and is considered to be the protector, destroyer of troubles and the one who grants victory to her devotees. This form of the goddess has been worshipped since ancient times. It is believed that Bhavani Devi saved religion by killing demons like Mahishasura. The temple is built of stone and its history dates back to the Rashtrakuta and Chalukya dynasties. The idol of Tulja Bhavani is carved in black stone and her radiant, graceful and affectionate appearance attracts devotees.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was a great devotee of Tulja Bhavani Devi. It is believed that his resolve to establish Swarajya was due to the blessings of Bhavani Mata. There is a legend that he received the Bhavani sword from the goddess. Therefore, Tulja Bhavani Devi is not only a religious but also a political and cultural inspiration. During the Navratri festival, lakhs of devotees come to Tuljapur to have darshan of the goddess. Devotees offer their faith to the goddess by offering oti, saree, coconut, and bela. This goddess is the protector from troubles, increases self-strength, and is the center of faith of lakhs of devotees even today.
Goddess Mahalakshmi – Ambabai, Kolhapur
Ambabai i.e. Shri Mahalakshmi Devi of Kolhapur is an important and famous Shakti Peeth in all of India. Goddess Lakshmi is the consort of Lord Vishnu and is considered the presiding goddess of wealth, prosperity, religion, and beauty. The Mahalakshmi Temple in Kolhapur is more than 1300 years old. Built during the Chalukya period (around 7th-8th century), this temple is still known for its sculpture and design as a wonderful example of ancient architecture. The idol of the goddess is made of black stone and is a lion-headed figure – holding a shriphal, mace, panpatra, and shield in her four hands. This goddess is also called 'Karveer Niwasini', because the ancient name of Kolhapur was 'Karveer'.
Ambabai is not only Lakshmi, but also the form of Shakti. It is believed that after the destruction of Mahishasura here, the goddess resided permanently in Karveer Nagari. Interestingly, this Shakti Peetha is a very rare place where the blessings of both the half-sisters of Shri Vishnu, Lakshmi and Annapurna of Kashi, are received together. Lakhs of devotees come here for darshan during Navratri, Kirtan, Rathotsav, and Kartik Pournima. Some saints of South India, as well as Samarth Ramdas Swami, Sant Tukaram, and Dnyaneshwar, also had great faith in this goddess. Ambabai is the worshipped deity of Kolhapur people, and even today many people do not do any auspicious work without the blessings of the goddess. Shri Ambabai is the embodiment of faith, devotion, and wealth.
Renuka Mata – Mahur (Nanded, Maharashtra)
Renuka Mata is one of the three and a half Shakti Peethas in Maharashtra. This holy place is located at Mahurgad in Nanded district, and Goddess Renuka is worshipped as the wife of sage Jamadagni and the mother of Lord Parashurama. This goddess is a symbol of motherhood, sacrifice, and purity. Mahur is known for the grace of the goddess and lakhs of devotees bow down at the feet of the goddess, especially during the Navratri festival. This temple is located on a hill and is in the proximity of nature, and upon reaching here, one gets a different spiritual experience.
Legend has it that Renuka Devi lived a very pious and fast-living life. On one occasion, due to her austerity, Jamadagni Rishi got angry and ordered his son Parashurama to kill her. Parashurama obeyed his father's orders, but later due to his devotion, the goddess was reborn. That is why the temple of Renuka Mata in Mahur is known as the 'Goddess of Rebirth'. Other pilgrimage sites in this area are Anusaya Mata Temple, Shri Datta Temple, and Parashuram Kund. Renuka Mata is the refuge of Maya, a source of inspiration, and a motherly force that protects from dangers in the lives of devotees.
Saptashrungi Devi – Vani (Nashik District, Maharashtra)
The Saptashrungi Devi temple is situated on the slopes of seven hills near the village of Wani in the Nashik district of Maharashtra. This goddess is considered to be the "half Shakti Peeth" among the three and a half Shakti Peeths and is a place of great devotion for devotees. Her name 'Saptashrungi' means 'Goddess of Seven Peaks'. The original reference to the goddess in the Puranas is found in the Devi Bhagavata and the Markandeya Purana. It is believed that Goddess Durga incarnated in many Shakti forms to kill Mahishasura, one of which is Saptashrungi Mata.
The idol of the goddess in the temple is about 8 feet tall, and she has various weapons in her eighteen hands – such as trident, sword, mace, conch, chakra, etc. The goddess is very radiant and magnificent. There are seven high mountains surrounding the temple and about 550 steps have to be climbed to reach the temple. Recently, a ropeway facility has been made available here, which has made easy access possible for elderly and infirm devotees.
Thousands of devotees come to have darshan of Saptashrungi Devi, especially during Navratri, Chaitra Pournima, and the month of Shravan. The tradition, devotional atmosphere, and natural beauty here all come together to give immense peace and faith to the minds of the devotees. It is also believed that Saint Dnyaneshwar Maharaj and Saint Namdev also came here to offer their devotion at the feet of the goddess. Saptashrungi Devi is the one who saves from troubles, fulfills the wishes of devotees, and is the embodiment of sacrifice, strength, and compassion.
श्री दत्तगुरू – त्रिमूर्तींचं अद्वितीय स्वरूप
श्री दत्तगुरू, ज्यांना "दत्तात्रेय" असेही म्हटले जाते, हे ब्रह्मा, विष्णू आणि महेश – या त्रिमूर्तींच्या संयोगातून प्रकटलेले अद्वितीय दैवी रूप आहे. त्यांचे नाव "दत्तात्रेय" म्हणजे ‘अत्री ऋषींचा दत्त (प्राप्त) पुत्र’ असा अर्थ घेतला जातो. दत्तगुरू हे ऋषी अत्री व माता अनुसया यांचे पुत्र असून, अध्यात्म, योग, तप, आणि आत्मसाक्षात्कार यांचे मूर्तिमंत प्रतिक मानले जातात. त्यांच्या तीन डोक्यांनी ब्रह्मा-विष्णू-महेशाचे ज्ञान दर्शवले जाते, तर चार हातांत शंख, चक्र, गदा आणि कमंडलू ही दैवी आयुधे असतात.
श्री दत्तगुरूंचे जीवन हे योग, तपश्चर्या, आणि गुरुतत्त्व यांचं विलक्षण उदाहरण आहे. त्यांनी अनेक अवतार घेऊन जगाला ज्ञान व मोक्षाचा मार्ग दाखवला. श्रीपाद श्रीवल्लभ, नृसिंह सरस्वती, गजानन महाराज आणि श्री स्वामी समर्थ हे सर्व त्यांचे अवतार मानले जातात. दत्तगुरूंची उपासना महाराष्ट्र, कर्नाटक, आंध्रप्रदेश आणि गुजरातमध्ये विशेष लोकप्रिय आहे. त्यांच्या प्रमुख क्षेत्रांमध्ये गणगापूर (कर्नाटक), औदुंबर, नरसोबाची वाडी, अक्कलकोट, गिरीनार पर्वत (गुजरात) इ. येतात.
दत्तगुरू भक्तांना अध्यात्मिक दृष्टिकोन देतात आणि सांगतात की "गुरूशिवाय ज्ञान नाही". ते २४ गुरूंपासून शिक्षण घेतल्याचे उदाहरण देऊन आपल्या भोवती असलेल्या प्रत्येक गोष्टीतून शिकण्याचा संदेश देतात. त्यांनी समाजाला निष्ठा, भक्ती, आत्मनिरीक्षण, आणि त्याग यांचे महत्व पटवून दिले. दत्तगुरू हे फक्त एक देव नाहीत, तर एक मार्गदर्शक शक्ती, एक गुरुतत्त्व, जे प्रत्येक भक्ताच्या अंतरात्म्यात प्रकट होण्यासाठी सदैव सिद्ध आहे.
Navnath – Divine Pillar of Yogic Tradition
Navnath is a Nav Shaktipunja Yogi of the Nath sect, and it is believed that he has received the blessings of Shri Dattatreya. Navnath had a single purpose beyond religion, caste, and country – the establishment of religion, human welfare, and spiritual upliftment. Due to his work, the Nath sect spread to Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, North India, and Nepal. These Nathyogis were not just sadhus, but were Siddhapurus who worked for spirituality, siddhi, tantric knowledge, mantra-tantra, and public welfare.
Names of Navnaths : Machhindranath, Gorakshanath, Jalandharnath, Karpurinath, Charatinath, Kanifnath, Gahininath, Bharadwajnath, Revannath.
Among them, Machhindranath and Gorakshanath are the most famous, and Gorakshanath is considered the great teacher of yoga. Under his guidance, Hatha Yoga and Sadhana techniques developed. In Maharashtra, Gahininath was the guru of Saint Namdev and Saint Dnyaneshwar. He achieved self-realization through yoga and created saints who worked in society.
The Navnath sect is very mysterious and mysterious, and many wonderful Leelas are described in the stories of these Naths. These stories not only give faith to the devotees, but also show the embodiment of strength, dedication, and wisdom. Worshiping Navnath destroys the evil forces in the house, provides protection from troubles, and gives strength to the seeker on the path of spirituality. In Maharashtra, devotional songs of Navnath are spread as Ovi or Gatha, due to which their memory continues unabated in every household.
Shri Swami Samarth Maharaj – Datta Avatar residing in Akkalkot
Shri Swami Samarth Maharaj is considered to be an incarnation of Shri Datta Guru and resided in the holy land of Akkalkot in Solapur district of Maharashtra. The birthplace of Swami Maharaj is unknown, but he travelled to many pilgrimage sites like Himalayas, Nepal, Kashi, Badrikedar and finally settled in Akkalkot. There he worked for the welfare of devotees for more than 30 years. He uttered the name "Swami Samarth" while answering the call of devotees – "Who are we? We are Swami Samarth!" And from then on he came to be known as Swami Samarth.
Swami Maharaj was a protector, guide, and spiritual pillar of the common people. His speech, touch, and sight were extraordinarily divine. He would free his devotees from suffering not only with words but also with a glance. His teachings were simple, yet extremely effective – "Do devotion, surrender to the Guru, have faith." His life is a dedication to yoga, penance, knowledge, and devotion.
His place under the banyan tree at Akkalkot, his Samadhi, and the constant feeling of Navaspuri, are a reflection of his ongoing consciousness. His praise is continuously chanted as "Swami Samarth Tarak Mantra" or "Swami Samarth Jap". For crores of people in Maharashtra, especially in the Vidarbha and Marathwada regions, Swami Samarth is a living God. The faith of the devotees makes it clear that Swami is still active, and even today he saves from troubles.
गजानन महाराज – शेगावचे चमत्कारिक योगी
श्री गजानन महाराज हे उन्नत योगी, संत, आणि सिद्धपुरुष होते, जे बुलढाणा जिल्ह्यातील शेगाव येथे १८७८ साली अचानक प्रकट झाले. त्यांचं जन्मस्थान, वंश, आणि पूर्वायुष्य आजही गूढ आहे, म्हणूनच त्यांना "अवधूत" म्हटलं जातं. ते परब्रह्मस्वरूप मानले जातात – जे नांव, रूप, जात, धर्माच्या पलीकडील आहेत. शेगावमध्ये त्यांच्या आगमनाच्या दिवशीच त्यांच्या चमत्कारी कृतीमुळे लोक त्यांना नमस्कार करू लागले, आणि अल्पावधीतच त्यांची ख्याती दूरदूरपर्यंत पसरली.
गजानन महाराजांचं जीवन अत्यंत साधं, पण दैवी सामर्थ्याने परिपूर्ण होतं. त्यांनी भक्तांच्या व्याधी, संकटं, आणि मानसिक क्लेश दूर करून त्यांना आध्यात्मिक मार्गाकडे वळवलं. अनेक वेळा ते उपास, मौन, ध्यान आणि ध्यानस्थितीत असत. त्यांच्या भोवती सतत भक्तांची गर्दी असे. त्यांच्या वाणीतील गूढ संकेत, थेट कृपा, आणि चमत्कार यांमुळे अनेक जणांचे जीवनच बदलले. ते म्हणत – "या ! भक्ताशी भक्तवत वागीन..." म्हणजेच, जे भक्ताने प्रेमाने मागितलं, ते त्यांनी दिलं.
त्यांनी अहंकार, अज्ञान, आणि दुःखांचा नाश केला, आणि भक्तांना "नामस्मरण" व "सेवा" यांचा संदेश दिला. शेगावचे मंदिर हे आज लाखो भक्तांचे श्रद्धास्थान आहे, आणि गजानन महाराज संस्थान एक महान सामाजिक सेवा करणारी संस्था बनली आहे. त्यांचा "श्री गजानन विजय ग्रंथ" हा त्यांच्या जीवनातील चमत्कार व उपदेशांचं महान दस्तावेज मानला जातो, जो हजारो भक्त दररोज श्रद्धेने वाचतात.
गजानन महाराज आजही अनेकांच्या जीवनात दैवी कृपेचा जिवंत स्रोत आहेत. त्यांचे शब्द – "गण गण गणात बोते" – हे भक्तांच्या ओठांवर नेहमी असतात, कारण त्या मंत्रात संरक्षण, शक्ती, आणि श्रद्धेचा संगम आहे.
छत्रपतींचे आध्यात्मिक गुरू – समर्थ रामदास स्वामी
समर्थ रामदास स्वामी हे मराठी संत परंपरेतील एक तेजस्वी, प्रेरणादायी आणि क्रांतिकारी संत होते. त्यांचा जन्म इ.स. १६०८ साली जांब (तालुका घनसावंगी, जि. जालना) येथे झाला. त्यांचे मूळ नाव नारायण सूर्याजी ठाकरे. बालपणापासूनच रामभक्तीचा त्यांच्यावर प्रभाव होता. वयाच्या १२व्या वर्षी त्यांनी घर त्यागून रामनाम जप करत संन्यास स्वीकारला आणि पुढे "समर्थ रामदास" या नावाने संपूर्ण महाराष्ट्रात ओळखले गेले.
रामदास स्वामींनी आयुष्यभर शिवाजी महाराजांचे आध्यात्मिक मार्गदर्शन केले. त्यांच्या उपदेशाने शिवाजींना राज्यकारभारात धर्म, नीती, आणि जनकल्याणाची दिशा मिळाली. रामदासस्वामींनी महाराष्ट्रभर ११ मारुती मंदिरे स्थापन करून बल, बुद्धी, आणि भक्तीचा संदेश दिला. त्यांनी "दासबोध", "मनाचे श्लोक", "करुणाष्टके", "शिवलीला अमृत", इ. ग्रंथरचना केली, ज्यांतून त्यांनी वैराग्य, धर्मपालन, स्वराज्याची संकल्पना आणि मनोनिग्रह यांचं गूढ साधं करून सांगितलं.
त्यांच्या "मनाचे श्लोक" हे आत्मबल, सकारात्मक विचार, आणि आचारधर्म शिकवणारे अमूल्य ग्रंथ आहेत – "वेडेपणा सोडूनि दे मना रे..." अशा श्लोकांतून ते मनाला प्रबोधन करतात. त्यांनी समाजात एकोपा, धर्माचरण, आणि राष्ट्रभक्ती यांचे बळ निर्माण केले. समर्थ रामदास हे सक्रिय आध्यात्मिक नेता होते – जे उपदेश करीतच नव्हते, तर कर्तृत्वाच्या आधारे आध्यात्मिक उन्नती आणि सामाजिक सुधारणा घडवून आणत होते.
आजही सज्जनगड येथे त्यांच्या समाधीला लाखो भक्त भेट देतात. समर्थ रामदास हे रामभक्तीतून राष्ट्रसेवा करणारे संत होते, ज्यांच्या विचारांनी आजही नव्या पिढीला प्रेरणा मिळते.