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Shree Tulaja Bhavani Temple

It's a Hindu temple dedicated to goddess Bhavani. It is located in Tuljapur in Dharashiv district of Maharashtra, India, and is considered as one of the 51 Shakti Pithas. It is situated 45 km from Solapur. The temple was built in 12th century CE by Maratha Mahamandaleshwara Māradadeva of the Kadamb dynasty.[1]Bhavani is a form of the goddess Durga who is worshipped in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Telangana, Northern Karnataka, and Nepal, Andhra Pradesh.[2] "Bhavani" literally translates to "giver of life", meaning the power of nature or the source of creative energy. She is considered to be a mother who provides to her devotees and also plays the role of dispensing justice by killing Asuras. [citation needed]

Along with temples of Renuka at Mahur, Mahalaxmi at Kolhapur, and Saptashringi at Vani, the temple of Bhavani at Tuljapur forms the four great Shaktipitha in Maharashtra.[3] Shivaji I, the founder of the Maratha kingdom, was reputed to frequently visit this temple to seek blessings.[citation needed] The history of the temple dates back to the days of ' Skanda Purana ' as it finds a mention in that holy script. According to the epic story, there was a sage "Kardam" and his consort "Anubhuthi’ with an infant, in this area. After his death his wife "Anubhuthi" performed a penance for goddess in the name of Bhavani on the banks of the river "Mandakini" to look after her child. There was a demon (Rakshasa) by name "Kukur" who tortured her. Then Goddess Bhavani rescued Anubhuthi and killed the demon. The goddess on the prayer of her favourite devotee settled on the hill of "Bala Ghat". Since then the Mother Goddess came to be called as Bhavani of Tuljapur or Tulja Bhavani.[citation needed] The Bhavani temple is the place where Shivaji I, the founder of the Maratha empire was blessed by the Goddess.[citation needed]

Tulajapur is at 45 km from Solapur. Historically this temple was built in the 12th century CE. There is another Tulja Bhavani temple built in 1537-1540 in Chhattisgarh. There is a third temple of Tulja Bhavani in the village of Patnakuva Gandhinagar in Gujarat. According to the priest, this Goddess came here from Tuljapur during 14th century. The Goddess is said to be swayambhu (self emanated).[a]

The Goddess is kuldevi (clan goddess) for many Maratha clans of Maharashtra.[4] The Goddess is either revered by or is the Family Deity for many other Marathi castes at different levels of social hierarchy[5]




Shri Swami Samarth Maharaj

also known as Swami of Akkalkot[4] was an Indian Hindu god (spiritual master) of the Dattatreya Tradition. He lived during the nineteenth century from 1858 to 1878[citation needed] and is a known spiritual figure in various Indian states including Karnataka and Maharashtra. Swami Samarth traveled all across the Indian subcontinent and eventually set his abode at Akkalkot, a village in present-day Maharashtra. He is thought to have arrived at Akkalkot on a Wednesday, during either September or October in 1856.

He resided at Akkalkot for close to 22 years.
Swami Samartha took a samadhi in 1878. His teachings continue to be followed by millions of people in Maharashtra, and his ashram in Akkalkot remains a popular place of pilgrimage.[5]


Swami Samarth's parentage and origins remain obscure. According to a legend, once when a disciple asked Swami a question about his birth, Swami responded that he had originated from a banyan tree (vata-vriksha in Marathi). On another occasion, Swami had said that his earlier name was Nrusimha Bhan.

He is considered to be the fourth (third in physical form) incarnation of Dattatreya, the Lord Almighty. He is also believed to be a reincarnation of Narasimha Saraswati,[6][7] another earlier spiritual master of the Dattatreya sect.


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