Shree Dev Gandhareshwar Temple / Devi Bhavani Temple Chiplun, Chiplun, Ratnagiri

The Swayambhu Gandhareshwar and Devi Bhavani Temple, situated on the banks of the Vashishti River in the city of Chiplun, Ratnagiri district, is a place of deep faith for thousands of devotees. The deity was named Gandhareshwar because the Shiva Linga was discovered amidst Gandhari bushes. It is believed that this ancient temple was built by the Pandavas in a single night during their period of exile (Agyatvas). Along with Gandhareshwar, the shrine of Devi Bhavani is also located here. This Goddess is the Kuladevat (family deity) of thousands of families in this region.

The legend of the Gandhareshwar Temple states that where the temple currently stands on the banks of the Vashishti River, there was once a dense forest. When a farmer’s cow stopped giving milk, he kept a watch on her. He discovered that the cow would stand amidst the Gandhari bushes here and release her milk. Upon investigating the spot, the farmer found a Shiv Pindi. Subsequently, the villagers built a small temple around this Pindi. In the vicinity of the presiding deity, Gandhareshwar, lies the temple of Goddess Bhavani, an incarnation of Parvati. The presence of two separate temples for Shiva and Parvati in one location is the unique feature of this place.

Shri Kshetra Gandhareshwar is situated on the banks of the Vashishti River in Chiplun, near the Ganesh Visarjan Ghat. This west-facing temple features the traditional Konkani style of tiled roofing. The temple courtyard is paved, and the Gandhareshwar Garden is located behind the temple. In front of the main temple entrance stands a 12-foot-tall deepmala (lamp tower) and a Tulsi Vrindavan. Near the Tulsi Vrindavan, there are large stone steps leading down to the river. The temple structure consists of a sabhamandap (assembly hall) and a garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum). The sabhamandap here is of the ardhamandapa type, featuring kakshasanas (stone benches) on three sides for devotees to sit. Above these kakshasanas, arched construction can be seen throughout the entire sabhamandap. Due to the prohibition of women entering the sanctum sanctorum (Garbhagriha) of the temple, an idol of Shri Ganesha, a Shivling, and an idol of Nandi have been placed on the left side of the assembly hall (Sabhamandap) for women to perform various religious vows (vrat-vaikalya) and Jalabhishek. One can reach the Gandhareshwar Shivling in the sanctum sanctorum by descending five steps from the assembly hall. The Shivling here is made of black stone and is situated in a slightly sunken area.

If the arrival of rain is delayed or a drought occurs, it is customary for the sanctum sanctorum (Garbhagriha) of the Gandhareshwar temple to be completely filled with water. Once the Shiva Linga is submerged, an appeal is made to the Lord to bring rain. Devotees firmly believe that rain begins after the prayers offered by the villagers and devotees. A festival is held here every Shravani Monday. A religious week (Saptah) is celebrated for seven days starting from Nag Panchami. During this festival, thousands of devotees come here for darshan. Due to the fame of this temple and the number of devotees coming for darshan Considering the number of devotees, the state government has also honored this temple and its premises by granting it ‘C’ grade pilgrimage status.

Next to the Gandhareshwar Temple is a beautiful temple of Goddess Bhavani. It is believed that Goddess Bhavani is a form of the Goddess of Power (Shakti) and Goddess Parvati. It is said that the Goddess Bhavani here is the same as Tulja Bhavani of Shri Kshetra Tuljapur, which is one of the three and a half Shakti Peethas (the full Peetha). This Goddess is the family deity (Kuldaivat) of thousands of families in this region. The presence of Goddess Bhavani here is considered to be extremely awakened (Jagrut).

The temple of Goddess Bhavani is situated on a three-foot-high plinth. The temple structure consists of a Sabha Mandap (assembly hall) and a Garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum). In the sanctum, the idol of the Goddess, enshrined within a decorative arch (makhar), is three-and-a-half feet tall and carved from a single piece of black stone. The eight-armed Goddess is seated on a throne, with locks of hair flowing from beneath the crown on her head. There is a Shiva Linga atop the crown. Of the Goddess’s eight hands, six hold the weapons: a trident (trishul), dagger (bichwa), arrow, discus (chakra), conch (shankh), and bow; the seventh hand holds a drinking vessel (panpatra), and the eighth hand holds the tuft of a demon’s hair. A quiver of arrows is strapped to the Goddess’s back. Her right foot rests on the demon Mahishasura, while her left foot is on the ground. Between her two feet lies the severed head of Mahishasura.

Every year, the Sharadiya Navratri festival is celebrated at the Devi Bhavani temple during the month of Ashwin. In addition, the Shakambhari Purnima festival is celebrated in the month of Paush. Every Tuesday, Friday, and on Purnima, there is a large influx of devotees for the darshan of the Goddess. Devi Bhavani is the Gramadevata (village deity) for the residents of the wadas and settlements located along the banks of the Vashishti River, including Mithagar, Saliwadi, Kumbharwadi, Bhoiwadi, Nalawada, and Shankarwadi (Muradpur).

In the temple courtyard stands the Mahatma Gandhi Raksha Kalash Samadhi Mandir. Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated on 30 January 1948. The great freedom fighter from Chiplun, Shantaram Dhondo Tambat, obtained the holy urn containing Mahatma Gandhi’s ashes, brought it to Chiplun, and built this Samadhi over it. On 12 February 1948, a Sarvodaya gathering was held here. On that occasion, Purushottam Patwardhan, also known as Appasaheb—often referred to as the ‘Gandhi of Konkan’—and other dignitaries were present. Since then, this sacred site has become a source of inspiration for those who admire Gandhi. Appasaheb was a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi. In 1930, he translated Gandhi’s original Gujarati autobiography into Marathi under the title ‘Maze Satyache Prayog’. To date, more than five lakh copies of this book have been sold.

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