Pune Then:

Today Pune is one of the best known cities of India. It is also known as the cultural capital of Maharashtra. Human dwelling and settlement always bloom adjacent to a river normally. In the same way from time immemorial, there was a settlement on the banks of river Mutha. The river Mutha confluences with Mula River and the settlement on the right bank of Mutha is the seeding or beginning of the present day Pune. This settlement area is presently known as Kasabe.

Kasabe of earlier days was destroyed completely by Murar Jagdeo commanding the Adil Shahi force in the year 1630. It was during Shivaji Maharaj time that the city was recreated as Kasabe Pune. With Kasabe Ganapati temple and Lal Mahal (built for his mother), Pune once again became habitable.

Peths of Pune

During the rule of Shahu raje, he gave the province of Pune to the Peshwas. During the Peshwas time, the development of Pune started. Real urbanization and development of Pune started once Bajirao Peshwa settled down with Pune as his headquarter of administration. New areas were developed and were known as Peth. Peth is basically a business location. [We could see that even Bangalore was developed with many Pet.] New peth were either named after the person who had developed it or it was called by the name of a day of the week.

For the purpose of extending facilities to citizens some time old peths were split, new areas added and thus reorganized with new names. As per the local practice, boundaries of the villages are marked by establishing a temple for Sri Maruti. This tradition is prominent/prevalent both in Andhra and Maharashtra. So whenever new path is formed in Pune a Maruti temple will be established in the border. It is one of the reason we see many temples for Maruti in Pune.

Sadashiv Peth

Sadashiv path is located south of kasba which is the then center of Pune. During 1769, Sri Madhavrao Peshwa curved the southwest Budhwar peth to form a path in the honor of the Commander-in-chief during the Third Battle of Panipat Sri Sadashivrao Peshwa.

After initial reluctance by the people to come and settle, Sadashiv peth went on to become the most affluent part of Pune City today. Today the boundaries of Sadashiv Peth can be traced by the location of - Nagnath Paar, Shani Paar, Bhikardas Maruti and Pavan Maruti.

Bhikardas

Saraf is a surname for people who deal in banking and money lending. Sri Bhikardas saraf a businessman from Gujarat had come to pune and was stationed at Sadashiva peth. He was dharmic in nature and was feeding sadhus and poor. As a devotee of Sri Maruti, he had built a mandir for Sri Maruti in the garden adjacent to his resident. Mohalla people were also offering prayers to Sri Maruti. Subsequently, people named this Maruti as “Bhikardas Maruti” as founder of this Maruti was Sri Bhikardas Saraf. In the course of time a trust was formed to take care of this mandir and religious activities. Sri Krishnadas Madiwale had built dharmasala during his trusteeship. A ved patsala is also being run by the trust. Presently Sri Upendra Madiwale and Sri Hemanth Madiwale are the trustees.

Bhikardas Maruti Mandir

The mandir is located near Maharana Pratap Udyan [garden] in Sadashiv peth. From near the entrance of the garden one has to enter the small lane leading to Madiwale colony. As one enters the lane the mandir can be seen. Sri Maruti mandir is south facing and Sri Ram mandir is north facing.

Sri Rama sannidhi is in the middle of a hall. Sannidhi consists of antarala and Garbhagraham. In the Garbhagraham, Sri Rama, Sri sita, Sri Lakshmana and Sri Maruti are seen on a high pedestal. Sri Maruti is seen in sitting posture facing Sri Rama parivar. The vigrahas of Lords are made of pure white marble. Pictures of Sri Samarth Ramdas, Akkalkot Sri Samarth, and Sri Dattatreya are also seen.

Sri Maruti mandir is seen just opposite to this mandir. Mandir comprises of a big hall and in the north side the Garbhagraham and antarala. Huge portrait of the main deity in near the Sri Rama patham welcomes the devotees. Sri Rama patham and kurma are seen facing the main deity. Main Sannidhi consists of antarala and Garbhagraham. While the antarala is closed with glass, Garbhagraham has no doors. One can have darshan of Sri Maruti through the glass. Deities Sri Ganesh and Sri Shankara facing east are also seen in the Garbhagraham. There is broad pathway around the Garbhagraham so as to enable the devotees to make parikrama of the deities.

Sri Maruti

The first sight of the Lord itself is bound to make the devotee spellbound. Lord of this kshetra is seen as “Sanjeeviraya” who is bringing the mountain which has medicinal herbs. The moortham is in artha shila form.

Lord is seen in walking posture. His both lotus feet are adorned with hollow anklet. While His right foot is firmly on the ground, slightly lifted left foot tramples a demon underneath. Lord is wearing dhoti in kacham style. He is wearing ornaments adorning His bosom. His both hands are adorned with keauram in upper arm and bracelet in fore-arm. In His left hand Lord is carrying medicinal mountain and His left hand is resting on His broad chest and the rising tail of the Lord is above His right shoulder. Neatly combed ‘sheka’ tied in a knot is covered by the decorative headgear. His slight tilt of the face adds more charm to the charming face. Thus the face is majestic and the immense eye adds majesty to majesty. The glittering eyes of Sri Maruti coveys the blessings to the devotees live.

Experience

Darshan of Lord of this kshetra who is mesmerising is bound to take away all ill wills from our heart and purify our thoughts and lead us in the right path.

Ed: March 2024