Author name: riye

Paadhupeshwar To the east corner of old Ramtek there is a wonderful religious place namely “Papdhupeshwar”. Atmosphere here reminds of a Hillstation.Yet eastward there is the historical Gadmandir to the north.There is a hillock named ‘Patang Tekadi’ with the grave of a well known athlet. Still the younster comes  here for body building and physical exercise. From here  there is a shortcut to Gadmandir.To the far west there is yet another hill, ’Kaikai Takadi’. Papdhupeshwar temple also has a Bawli a sacret basin with perennial water source.Its a temple of Lord Shiva previously known as  “Papdhupeshwar Madhi”.In the past many Sages and Seers spend time here in hard pennancp. One motherly figure “Mataji” also lived at Papdhupeshwar. Those older people knew the art of constructing stone building with the adhesive made of  bilwa fruit.The surrounding of Papdhupeshwar has variety of medicinal plants.the water streams cascade down with the medicinal power of roots of the trees. Naturally the water stored in the bawli contains all those medicinal boons.Even today the water is used by the people in neighborhood. The sight of Papdhupeshwar is enchanting and one does not  wish to turn back from the natural bounty..

Nagarjuna The hill in the north of  Ramtek  town are geographically one diverted line of Satpuda hills.Nagarjuna hill is one of them.The hill has variety of Ayurvedic  medicinal   plants an incurable diseases. The father of Ayurweda research in this area was the great scholar ‘Nagarjuna Swami’.An ancient Shivalaya perched on the hill top where devotees of lord Shiva gathered on every Monday in the month of ‘Shravan’. Neighbouring   village also arrange ‘Bhajans’,’Dindi’,’Pohas’ during the sacred month of ‘Shravan’. They sing song in local dilects and enjoy the GopalKala on the final Monday in shravan.

Jaypaleshwar Jaypaleshwar is situated in country  side far away the northword  of the town.This  place has reference even from the reign of Maharaj Dashrath.In those days it was difficult to reach this point .’Jaypala’ means the place ‘ Japtap’.The great seer ‘Jaymal’ alis ‘Jaypal’ lived here.Hence it is ‘Jaypaleshwar’.It has a temple of  lord Shiva(one of the  twelve temple in the Ramtek peripheri).We also find big Idol of Nandi,Jaypala also has fresh water leg.It is said that the well known ‘Shravan Bal’episod from Ramayan occurred at this place.Shravan  Bal was killed by the king Dasharat by missunderstanding.The young Shravan was carring his sightless parent to ‘Kashi Yatra,Indore’.With his unfortunate death at the hand of king Dasharat the pilgrimage discontinued.It was here that grieved parent of Shravan cursed Dasharat to die of parting away from his own child.This place is supposed to be ‘Jaypaleshwar’.

Atharabhuja There are eight Ganesh points namely Ashtavinayaka in Maharashtra.In the same way there are eight points in the  vidarbha.The Ashtavinayaka of vidarbha includes Tekadi Ganesh Nagpur,Chintamani Kalamb, Bhadravati, Kelzar, Paoni, Bhandara, Adasa and Ramtek. Atharabhuja Ganesh temple Ramtek is at the fort of famous Ramtek Gadmandir. Though not very big,it has long history since 16th century.The temple is a matter of faith for the people of  Ramtek and surrounding. In this temple you will find three archaic idols of lord Ganesh.In the very center  rests MahaGanpati ,to the east of which is Ridhhi-Sidhhi Ganesh and to the West  side we have the glorious idol made of white crystals.This idol has 18 hands having variety of weapons,hence it is Atharabhuja .All and one consider it has savior of the troubled source and destroyer of evil powers. It is consider that the place is the ultimate destination for all those who are world forsaken. The devotes are sure to get their wishes fulfilled. Adjoining it there is Bholeshwar in the form of sacred linga.Recently a beautiful Mahalaxmi idol has been installed in the temple. An attractive idol of  standing mouse in front of lord Ganesh. In Atharabhuja temple variety of celebrations takes place.On Chaturtis a specially Tili Chaturthis during  Sankranti, Navratri, Dip Pujan, Hanuman Jayanti etc days are celebrated with enthusiasm.Number of visitor increasing year by year.On all the festivals ‘Open Mahaprasad’ is arranged for all.The sweet water well by the temple provides adequate drinking water.Its remarkable that most of the temples of the town have their own water resource as in the case of Atharabhuja.

Kalanka Mata Temple To the north of town there is ‘Kalanka Mata’ temple with a tiger ridden goddess, marble idol with smiling face.This is form of Mahakali which is suppose to be changed  it’s facial expression according to time of the days.Every morning rays of the sun touches the feet of the idol.The old stone construction was reconstructed by a group active youth.The goddess is on the out skirt of town and she protects the town,is the faith of generations.

Shri Ram Temple The Dhomreshwar Mahadeo temple marks Lord Ram’s promise to a Shudra named Shambuka who lived in Ramtek in primeval times. The Shudra had prayed that Lord Rama abide at Ramtek forever and that he,the Shudra,might also be worshipped there.It is believed that Lord Ram took up abode on the hill and the Shudra turned into a linga over which the temple of Dhomreshwar Mahadeo was built.          Further along the hill is a plain mosque said to have been built in memory of one of Aurangzeb’s courtiers.A flight of steps leads to a gate,built by Raghuji-1,which is called the Varah Darwaza from a huge figure of the Varah or the boar incarnation of Lord Vishnu placed just inside.There is also a temple of Lord Krishna belonging to the Mahanubhaos.Through the Singhpur gate,the Bhairava Darwaza and the Gokul Darwaza is a court that is an arch on a platform,half is claimed by the Kabirpanthis. Lakshman’s temple stands in front and beyond it,the great temple of Ram and Sita.Temple of various other deities are arranged around the sides.The outer door frames of Lord Ram and Lakshman’s temple are plated with brass and the inner with silver. The idol are of black marble and are said to have been found in the Dudhala tank.The  temple are in the mediaeval Brahminic style.The entrance court to the shrine is supported by eight massive pillars.There ia an inscription in Lakshman’s temple that shows that they are more than 600 years old.