Ancient Vindhyavasini Temple Rawatle, Chipalun, Ratnagiri

Instead of Shri Krishna, who was born in the prison, Yogamaya, who fell into the hands of Kansa, slipped from his grasp and ascended into the sky, where she vanished after pronouncing the curse of Kansa’s impending death. Later, she manifested on the Vindhyachal mountain. Among the twelve Shaktipeeths of India, the original seat of Vindhyavasini is located at Vindhyachal in Uttar Pradesh. The Goddess enshrined in the Vindhyavasini temple in the Rawtale area of Chiplun city is believed to be a manifestation (Anshapeeth) of the same deity. This temple of the Goddess is a center of deep faith for the devotees of Chiplun and the surrounding regions.

The legend of the temple states that during the reign of Emperor Pulakeshin I of the Chalukya dynasty in the sixth century, a grand sacrificial ritual (Yajna) was performed in Chiplun. This Chalukya Pulakeshin’s mother belonged to the Shilahara dynasty. She had organized this ritual at her maternal home. During this same period, she brought the idol of Shri Vindhyavasini Devi, which is currently in the temple, from South India. During the Adilshahi era, the Bararao Koli clan ruled over Chiplun and the Konkan region. Due to their residence here, this area is famous as Rawtale. Vindhyavasini was their family deity (Kuldevata). Adilshah had sent Sheikh Bahadur to defeat these Kolis. Fearing that if they were defeated in this war, Sheikh Bahadur would desecrate the temple of their family deity, the Bararao Kolis stacked stones and buried the entire temple under the earth. For many years thereafter, this temple remained underground. During the reign of Chhatrapati Rajaram Maharaj, the pinnacle was spotted while plowing a field, and this temple was brought to light. Subsequently, there is a record that in the year 1769, Yagneshwar Dikshit Chitale renovated the temple.

It is believed that the Goddess Vindhyavasini is originally from the Vindhyachal region She was the family deity of the tribal communities of Bhil, Nivad, Kirat, and Shabar. Over time, she also became the family deity of Brahmin, Kshatriya, and Vaishya households. Vindhyavasini of Ravtale is primarily the family goddess of the Dikshit, Awalkaskar, Chitale, Bhajekar, Mone, Joshi, Rele, Sanv, Dhebari, Pitre, and Pradhan families. She is also a place of reverence for all the citizens of Chiplun. This shrine is situated on a hillock in the lap of a mountain amidst lush greenery, one kilometer away from the Mumbai-Goa highway.

Near the entrance arch here stands a tall lamp pillar, and from there, one must climb 20 steps to reach the main assembly hall of the temple. The temple structure consists of an assembly hall and a sanctum sanctorum. The assembly hall here is two-storied, and during festivals or special programs, seating arrangements are made on the upper floor for devotees (especially for female devotees). Although the pillars in the assembly hall do not feature intricate carvings, they are connected to each other through arches. In the sanctum sanctorum, the idol of Goddess Vindhyavasini is placed in the center on the divine pedestal. Beside the idol are the well-sculpted idols of Lord Ganapati and Lord Kartikaswami.

The idol of Goddess Vindhyavasini, depicted with a serene expression, is said to date back to the Shilahara period. This idol is counted among the finest sculptures of the Shilahara era. The three-foot-tall Goddess is seen slaying Mahishasura. She wears a crown on her head, various ornaments around her neck, bangles on her wrists, and anklets on her feet. Around her waist is a garment adorned with small bells, with strings of pearls hanging down. In her upper right hand, the Goddess holds a sword, and in her upper left hand, a shield. She has pierced the demon’s abdomen with the trident held in her lower right hand. With her lower left hand, she has gripped his head. Mahishasura is seen trying to hold the Goddess’s trident to prevent it from piercing him. The lion, which is the vehicle of the Goddess, is attacking Mahishasura from behind, positioned below the Goddess near her right hand.

There is a sacred pond (Kund) adjacent to the temple, the water of which is used for the temple’s worship rituals. The Vyadeshwar Mahatmya, a scripture written by Pandit Vishwanath Pitre in the year 1637, mentions Lord Kartikeya and Goddess Vindhyavasini here. This proves that this holy site has existed since before the 16th century. The Vasantik festival is celebrated from Chaitra Shuddha Dwadashi to Vadhya Pratipada, the Navratri festival from Ashwin Shuddha Pratipada to Dussehra, the temple renovation anniversary on Magh Shuddha Chaturdashi, the Kartika Swami Darshan if the Krittika Nakshatra falls on Kartik Purnima, and the Ganpati festival is celebrated in the temple on Magh Vadhya Panchami. Accommodation facilities are also available for devotees. (Contact: Suresh Chitale: 9421185940)

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