Historic Thorla Keshav Sheer, Guhagar, Ratnagiri

In the Konkan region, after the temples of Lord Shiva, there are many small and large temples housing idols of Lord Vishnu. Among these, the idols of Keshav are the most numerous. The uniquely distinctive Keshav idols found in Kolisare, Sadave, Bivali, and Shedvai are considered the pride of Konkan. Another village in this chain located in the Konkan is Sheer, in the Guhagar taluka. In this very village, there are two Keshav temples situated right next to each other. Based on the size of the idols, they are known as Thorla (Elder) Keshav and Dhakta (Younger) Keshav. 

The village of Sheer is situated on the banks of the Annapurna River. According to historical records, there has been a settlement at Sheer since the tenth century. During the Yadava period, Sardar Pawar had built a fort named Kasardurg at Mauje Sir, also known as Velamb. This is the ancestral village of the Katdare family. In this village, there is a large temple of Thorla Lakshmikeshav, while the shrine of Dhakta Lakshmikeshav is located within the premises of the house of Bhaskar Purushottam Katdare. The idols in both these Vishnu temples are ancient and feature exquisite craftsmanship. Iconography experts believe they date back to the thirteenth or fourteenth century.

The Thorla Keshav temple here is a charming, tiled-roof temple built in the Konkan style. The temple, which is fortified on all sides, is constructed using laterite stones and wood. This two-story temple is designed with two assembly halls (sabhamandaps) and a sanctum sanctorum (garbhagriha). The temple stands on a two-foot-high plinth, and the first assembly hall has two-foot-high walls topped with wooden lattices. The second assembly hall is relatively larger and features several interconnected wooden pillars. In the sanctum sanctorum here, there is a beautiful and graceful idol of Shri Lakshmikeshav, approximately one meter in height.

The Vishnu idol stands in a ‘samabhanga’ posture (with equal weight distributed on both feet). There is intricate carving on the ‘karandaka mukuta’ (crown) worn on the head. The eyebrows are arched, and the fully opened eyes appear exquisite. The idol is adorned with locks of hair falling from under the crown over the ears, earrings, two single-strand necklaces, a long garland hanging down to the stomach, shoulder ornaments, armlets (keyura), thick bracelets on the wrists, and ornaments extending from the wrists to the palms. In this four-armed (chaturbhuja) idol, the upper right hand holds a conch, while the lower right hand holds the stalk of a lotus. The upper left hand holds a discus (chakra), and the lower left hand rests a mace (gada) on the ground. A figure resembling a ‘kirtimukha’ is carved on this mace. Additionally, there is a narrow band on the chest (urubandha), a garland hanging from the left shoulder to the knees (pralambahara), a sacred thread (yajnopavita) draped from the left shoulder, garlands hanging from the waist belt to the thighs, anklets on both feet, and ornate bangles on the ankles. At the right foot, Garuda is depicted sitting in a heroic posture (virasana) with a woman waving a fly-whisk (chauri) behind him. Near the left foot, the lotus-bearing Goddess Shri, i.e., Lakshmi, is carved, with a female figure waving a fly-whisk behind her. According to the order of the attributes—lotus, conch, discus, and mace—this idol is identified as Keshav-Vishnu, and because of the presence of the lotus-bearing Lakshmi on the left side, it is identified as Shri Lakshmikeshav.

The ‘prabhavali’ (arch) behind the idol features carvings of the Dashavatara (ten incarnations). On the right side of this arch, five incarnations are visible: Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Yoga-Narasimha, and the seated Vamana holding an umbrella. In the center of the arch, above the crown, is a kirtimukha. On the left side of the arch are Balarama, Shriram, Parashurama, Buddha, and the horse-mounted Kalki.

Near the temple, across the road, is a small temple within the premises of Bhaskar Purushottam Katdare’s house. It houses a two-foot-tall idol of Shri Lakshmikeshav. This idol is known as Dhakta Keshav. Carved in black stone, this idol is also unique. The distinctiveness of this idol lies in the fact that Goddess Shri (Shri Lakshmi) is near Vishnu’s left foot, while Garuda is near the right foot, with an idol of Shri Ganesha carved behind him. This image of Vishnu also stands in a ‘samabhanga’ posture. On the head is a short, upright crown. The idol wears earrings, and around the neck, there is first a single-strand necklace, then a flat necklace, and finally a long, three-layered bead necklace. There are rings on the fingers, bracelets on the wrists, and armlets on the arms. There is a waist belt with a clasp. In this four-armed idol, the upper right hand holds a conch and the lower right hand holds a lotus flower. The upper left hand holds a discus, and the lower left hand holds a mace that rests on the ground. The idol has anklets on its feet.

In the arch behind the idol, the right side features sculptures of the horse-mounted Kalki, the archer Rama, the seated Buddha, Varaha, and Matsya. Near the crown in the center of the arch, the Vamana incarnation is visible. On the left side of the arch, there are sculptures of Kurma, Narasimha tearing open the stomach of Hiranyakashipu while holding him on his lap, Parashurama, and Balarama instead of the Krishna incarnation. The unconventional order of incarnations is a unique feature of this idol.

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