Saptashrungi

Saptashrungi Devi Temple
Navratri
Location
Location	Vani/Nanduri village
State	Maharashtra
Country	India
Location in Maharashtra
Geographic coordinates	20°23′25″N 73°54′31″E / 20.39028°N 73.90861°E / 20.39028; 73.90861

Saptashrungi or Saptashringi (Marathi: सप्तशृङ्गि, Saptaśrr̥ṇgī) is a site of Hindu pilgrimage situated 60 kilometres (37 mi) from

Saptashrungi is a hill range consisting of seven hills locally called Ghads and form part of the

The Devi Bhagavata Purana mentions Saptashringa hills as a Shakti Peetha.^[6][10] However, no other major religious scriptures accord the Saptashrungi temple this status.^[6]

The presiding goddess of the temple is also known by other names as: Saptashrungi ("(goddess) of seven hills"), Saptashrunga-nivasini ("one who resides on Saptashrunga – the seven hills"), Saptashrunga-mata ("the mother-(goddess) of Saptashrunga"). The suffix Devi (goddess) may be added to the first two names. She is also known as Brahmasvarupini ("one who has form of Brahman"). The goddess is reported to have appeared from the kamandalu (water-pot) of the creator-god Brahma.^[6]

The Goddess had taken the form of Durga (exalted in the Devi Mahatmaya) and slew the buffalo-demon Mahishasura, who troubled the universe.^[6] After that the Goddess is believed to be settled here. As the Goddess took form here and resided at Saptashrungi, it is considered the original location of the Goddess.^[8][11]

Legends

This temple is one among the 51 Shakti peethas located on the

In the epic Ramayana war, when Lakshmana was lying unconscious in the war field, Hanuman came to Saptashrungi hills in search of medicinal herbs to restore his life.^[1]

Saptashrung mountain was a part of the forest called Dandakaranya mentioned in the Ramayana. It is mentioned that Lord Rama, along with Seeta, and Lakshmana had come to these hills to pray to the goddess and seek her blessings.^[6]

In the hill of Markandeye, named after Sage Markandeya, there is a cave which is said to have been the abode of the sage. This hill is located to the east of Saptashringi and a deep ravine divides the two hills. While staying in this cave, Markandeya is believed to have recited puranas (Hindu scriptures) to entertain the Devi.^[12]

Another local myth is that a tiger resides in the garbagriaha (sanctum sanctorum) every night and a keeps a watch on the temple but goes away before sunrise.^[12]

Yet another myth is that when a person was trying to destroy a beehive, the Devi appeared before him to prevent the act.^[6]

There are many other recent narratives extolling the divinity of the goddess, which are also linked to

Saptashrungi Temple is two storied shrine with the Devi enshrined in the top floor. The Devi image is carved in a cave at the base of a sheer scarp rock face.^[2][12]

The Devi is said to be swayambhu (self-manifested) on a rock on the sheer face of a mountain. She is surrounded by seven (sapta in Sanskrit) peaks (shrungain Sanskrit), hence the name: Sapta Shrungi Mata (mother of the seven peaks).^[8][12]

The iconography of the Saptashrungi goddess is that of the Mahalakshmi of the Devi Mahatmya. The goddess is eighteen-armed (ashta-dasha bhuja), inaccurately sometimes described as ashta-bhuja (eight-armed). The image is about 8 feet (2.4 m) tall and appears saffron in colour, as it is covered with

The Devi is decorated with high crown (like a papal tiara), and a gold nose-ring and gold necklaces which are the ornaments used every day. Her attire is in the form of a robe with a blouse, which are changed with new dresses every day. Before she is dressed for worship she is religiously given a formal abhisheka or bath; warm water is reported to be used for two days in a week. The courtyard in front of the temple has a trident or Trishula decorated with bells and lamps. There are other precious ornaments of the goddess which are normally kept at Vani in safe custody but are used to decorate the deity on special festival days. The Devi's image is painted bright red with ochre called sindoor, which is considered auspicious in this region; however, the eyes are not touched by the colour but are made of white porcelain, which shine very brightly.^[11][12]

A portico like structure, an addition made to the main shrine of the goddess are attributed to the Satara Commander-in-Chief and the plain structure at the beginning of the last century. Subsequent additions were made by the Chief of Vinchur.^[12]

The temple has undergone renovations recently also with creations of many facilities. The facilities created at the shrine consist of over 500 steps ^[12]) cut into the rock slopes of the hill, from above the road point, leading to the temple entrance, a community hall, a gallery for devotees to form queues and have orderly darshan of the goddess.^[8] The steps were built by Umabai Dabhade in 1710 AD. The steps are also seen with figures of Rama, Hanuman, Radha and Krishna, Dattatreya, and of tortoise at a few places on many temples dedicated to Durga or Mata. Before the proper road was built that allowed the buses and vehicles to climb hill and travel till the foot of temple, various routes were formed to climb the hill on foot. One such route was built by Mr. Gopal Kulkarni (honoured with name Gadkari after building these steps) from Kasbe Vani.^[12]

It is believed that the Devi Mahatmya, a sacred book which extols the greatness of Devi and her exploits, was composed at this place by the sage Markandeya. He performed rigorous penance on a hill opposite the one where the Devi resides; it is now named after him.^[12]

It is said that there is one flag which is said to be hoisted at the top of the mountain where Saptashrungi Devi's temple is situated. It is said that the headman of the village of

During the descent from the temple complex there is a cave on the Mahonidri Mountain, which according to the local myth is from where the goddess Saptashhringi, after defeating the demons, disappeared.[2]

The work of conserving the idol of Shri Saptashrungi Devi, which is half of the three and a half

The most important festival of the Saptashrungi temple is Chaitrotsav, "the Chaitra festival". The festival starts on

On this occasion grain, flowers, coconuts, money or ornaments are the offerings made to the deity. After the daily service of abhishek (ritual bath) to the deity with water brought from the Surya kund, offerings of kheer made by boiling rice, milk and sugar is made to the goddess. Cakes made of flour and butter known as turis are also offered. All the offerings, except the ornaments, are then taken away by the Bhopas, who are the hereditary guardians of the temple.^[18][19]

In

The Kathar or Kutadi community of Maharashtra while observing the Pachvi ceremony, after delivery of a child in the family, offer worship to their family deity Saptashrungi and also offer a sacrifice of a goat following this they hold the naming ceremony of the child on the 12th day.[20]

The seven hills are in the geological formation of the

In 2018,a funicular train was inaugurated.This was done so that pilgrims can reach the temple within few minutes and comfortably rather than walking up the stairs.Also a elevator is made by which we can reach directly inside the temple.[21]

The route climbing up the hill is also tricky and has seen a few accidents resulting in fatalities. In 2008, a private bus fell into the valley while navigating along a U-turn resulting in deaths of 43 people. Post this incident, a few measures have been taken to prevent such accidents, like erection of barricades and warning signs. Toll collection has also started at the foot of the hill to financially provide for these measures. The measures taken were still reported to be insufficient in a news report by Sakal in 2010.^[22] Being a site of mass gathering on various occasions, the temple is also listed on the hit-list of terrorists. Mock drills of emergency situations are conducted by State police.^[23]

Providing various facilities for the pilgrims and taking corrective measures of security has been handled by the Shree Saptashrung Niwasini Devi Trust. This Trust was formed in 1975 and since then has brought in various developments.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Saptashrungi.

• Official temple site
• Temple trust site