Pavitra Someshwar Temple / Jogeshwari Temple Sadye-Pirandwane, Ratnagiri, Ratnagiri

The Someshwar Temple, the presiding deity of the villages, is situated at a central location between the three villages of Sadye, Pirandavane, and Wadajun in Ratnagiri taluka and serves as a place of deep faith for devotees in the surrounding region. Although this temple, which is approximately 700 years old, is dedicated to Lord Shiva, the celebration of Gokulashtami here is a unique feature. This festival has been celebrated here continuously since 1860. The famous actor Shankar Ghanekar, who famously said, “If death must come, let it be on the stage,” hailed from the village of Sadye-Pirandavane, and it was while performing on the stage of this very Someshwar Temple that he breathed his last.

Sadye, Pirandavane, and Wadajun in Ratnagiri are considered villages that preserve a glorious tradition. These three villages are situated adjacent to each other on the Ratnagiri-Kotawade road. In the village of Pirandavane, there is the Someshwar Temple, the presiding deity of the village. Although the ancient history of this temple is not known, it is said to be seven hundred years old. The archway of this temple is located right by the road in Pirandavane. Upon entering through the archway, one sees the Someshwar Temple and the Jogeshwari Devi Temple right next to it. The temple attained its current appearance following a renovation carried out in the year 2010. In front of the main temple entrance, there are five lamp pillars made of laterite stone, along with one large lamp pillar made of black stone. The temple structure consists of a assembly hall (Sabhamandap), an intermediate chamber (Antaral), and a sanctum sanctorum (Garbhagriha). This assembly hall is in the form of a semi-hall, with stone benches along the sides for devotees to sit. In the intermediate chamber, there is an idol of Nandi carved from a single piece of black stone, and an idol of Shri Ganesha is situated next to the door frame of the sanctum sanctorum. Inside the sanctum sanctorum, there is a Shiva Linga made of black stone, with a brass mask of Lord Mahadeva placed behind it.

These villages have preserved a legacy of festivals, traditions, and traditional games, along with songs from the past. Various festivals are celebrated throughout the year at the Someshwar Temple in the traditional manner. Among these, the Gokulashtami festival is the primary celebration, which holds a tradition spanning 164 years. The Gokulashtami festival held at this temple is devoid of gaudy displays, rowdiness, or eccentric dancing. Instead, the hallmark of this festival is traditional games, Tiprya, and the traditional songs accompanying them. Villagers from three villages come together to celebrate this festival with great enthusiasm. Through his conduct, Lord Krishna gave everyone the message of forgetting differences and uniting. The Gokulashtami festival is considered a symbol of that message. The Gokulashtami celebrations in Sadye, Pirandavane, and Wadajun still maintain that unique character today. Villagers who have moved away for work or business make it a point to attend this festival, which takes place from Shravan Krishna Shashthi to Ashtami.

Although the temple is dedicated to Lord Someshwara, meaning Lord Shiva, the Gokulashtami festival is celebrated here. It is said that long ago, the Sahasrabuddhe family lived in the nearby village of Kotawade. The Gokulashtami festival was celebrated on a grand scale at their home, and all the villagers from the surrounding five-village radius would go there to participate. On the way from Pirandwane to Kotawade, one has to cross two rivers. Once, due to heavy rains, the rivers were in flood, making it impossible for the villagers of Pirandwane to reach Kotawade for the festival. Disappointed, everyone turned back. Upon reaching the front of the Someshwar temple, they began chanting, “Gopalkrishna Maharaj ki Jai…” The seeds of the festival were sown right there. From this, the idea emerged to start the Gokulashtami festival in their own village. The first Gokulashtami festival was celebrated in this village in the year 1860, and it continues uninterrupted to this day. In 1960, a nine-day centenary festival was celebrated. In 1985, the post-centenary silver jubilee was celebrated, and in 2010, the post-centenary golden jubilee was celebrated.

The Jogeshwari Devi Temple is located adjacent to the Someshwar Temple. In front of this temple stands the Natvarya Shankar Ghanekar Open-Air Theatre. The temple, which features a structure comprising a Sabha Mandap (assembly hall), Antaral (vestibule), and Garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum), is topped by three dome-shaped shikhars. According to local records, in the year 1687, Shankar-bhat Panbhat, a cousin of Morbhat Mahadevbhat from the fifth generation of the Tolwadi family, installed a stone idol of the Goddess within the premises of the Someshwar Temple. In the year 1690, this temple with its three domes was constructed using lime masonry. In 1728, during the time of Shivbhat Balambhat, a new idol was consecrated in the temple. The temple attained its current appearance following a renovation carried out in 2002. There is also a Deepmal (lamp pillar) in front of this temple, and the idol of Jogeshwari Devi, which is approximately three feet tall, is enshrined in the Garbhagriha. The annual fair (yatra) of this Goddess is held on Chaitra Purnima.

Another identity of this village is that it is the birthplace of the great actor Natvarya Shankar Ghanekar. He was born in Pirandavane on 10 February 1926. After a difficult journey in life, Shankar Ghanekar won the hearts of theatre lovers by performing in many plays such as Bhaubandaki, Khadashtak, Punyaprabhav, Vidyaharan, Bhavbandhan, Ekach Pyala, Bebandshahi, Agryahun Sutka, Sangeet Sharada, Duritanche Timir Javo, and Katyar Kaljat Ghusli. Ghanekar was also a gifted orator. His speeches at various events used to entertain the audience. Because of his oratory skills, Pu. La. Deshpande used to call him ‘Vinodveer’ (Hero of Wit), while playwright Vasant Sabnis had remarked, “It is good that you only speak; if you start writing, there will be no work left for us.”

He had become a great name in the field of theatre, yet he never forgot his village. Every year, the village folk would perform a play on the open-air stage of the Someshwar Temple on the occasion of Tukaram Beej, and Ghanekar would unfailingly take part in it. On the day of 20 March 1973, he was to perform the play ‘Aatun Kirtan Varun Tamasha’ on the stage in front of Someshwar. As planned, the play began after the invocation, and in the first act, Ghanekar, who was playing the role of the Kotwal, was asleep in his character. The audience was eagerly waiting for the Kotwal to wake up and for the cascade of laughter to begin; however, the Kotwal fell asleep in his role forever. On that day, the final curtain also fell on the life of Ghanekar. In his memory, this stage has been named ‘Natvarya Shankar Ghanekar Open-Air Stage’.

Sacred History & Spiritual Significance

This sacred temple stands as a testament to deep spiritual devotion, ancient architectural grandeur, and rich local cultural traditions.

Temple Sanctum & Architecture

The sanctum sanctorum houses the divine idol consecrated according to ancient Vedic traditions, surrounded by serene courtyards and traditional temple architecture.

Sacred Darshan Gallery