Pavitra Sant Bhojaji Temple Ajansara, Hinganghat, Vardha

The Samadhi temple of Saint Bhojaji Maharaj, located at Ajansara in the Hinganghat taluka of Wardha district, is considered one of the most important and famous religious sites in Vidarbha. To visit this Samadhi site, more than 50,000 devotees from every corner of the state, including Vidarbha, arrive especially every Wednesday and Sunday. Apart from this, for the fulfillment of vows, at least 500 to 1,000 families cook Puran Poli on hearths within the temple premises every Wednesday and Sunday of the year and offer it as Naivedya to the deity. This temple, famous for its Puran Poli offering, has been included in the ‘Central Prasad Scheme’, and as a result, this pilgrimage site will be developed in the coming times just like Shegaon, Shirdi, and Pandharpur.

Ajansara village is located near Wadner on the Nagpur-Hyderabad highway. This is the village of Saint Bhojaji Maharaj, a supreme devotee of Lord Vitthal. The Samadhi shrine of Bhojaji Maharaj is situated in this very village. Devaji Maharaj, who resided here, began celebrating the Bhojaji Maharaj Punyatithi Mahotsav on Chaitra Dwadashi starting from the year 1955. Even today, after 70 years, this tradition of the festival continues. During this festival, approximately 2 lakh devotees are present here. Devotees firmly believe that Bhojaji Maharaj still resides at this Samadhi Sthala. As the greatness of Bhojaji Maharaj continues to grow day by day, the number of devotees visiting here is also increasing by thousands every day.

Although there is no definitive information available regarding exactly when and by whom the tradition of offering Puran Poli as Naivedya was started at the Bhojaji Maharaj Temple, there is a legend that Bhojaji Maharaj appeared in a devotee’s dream and gave a vision regarding the offering of Puran. It is said that the tradition of offering Puran Poli as Naivedya began at this place from that time onwards. Accordingly, Puran Poli is prepared here after the fulfillment of a vow. Every Wednesday, approximately 5,000 kilograms of lentil Puran is cooked here, and on Sundays, 7,000 kilograms is cooked. Here, According to records, approximately 45,000 to 50,000 kilograms of lentil stuffing (puran) is prepared by devotees every month.

Ten to twelve years ago, due to the lack of facilities in the temple premises, Puran dal was ground using the traditional method on a grinding stone (Pata-Varvanta). However, due to the increasing number of devotees and the rise in the quantity of Puran required, the Devasthan Committee has installed modern machines for grinding Puran here. Devotees can get their Puran ground using these machines for a nominal fee. Thousands of devotees from across Vidarbha come here on Sundays and Wednesdays to cook this Puran. Currently, ten sheds have been constructed in the temple premises for cooking purposes. Arrangements have been made in each of these sheds to accommodate one hundred hearths (chulis). Although there is a facility to light more than one thousand hearths in a single day, devotees must register in advance for this. There is also a waiting list for the same. Apart from this, every Wednesday and Sunday, a large gathering of thousands of devotees is present here for the darshan of Bhojaji Maharaj and to partake in the Puran Prasad.

The Samadhi shrine of Saint Bhojaji Maharaj at Ajanasara is structured with a Sabha Mandapa (assembly hall), Antarala (vestibule), and Garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum). In front of the Sabha Mandapa stands an arched gateway, through which one enters the assembly hall of the temple. From this Sabha Mandapa, devotees can have a glimpse of the face of Bhojaji Maharaj. The Sabha Mandapa houses idols of Radha-Krishna and Ganesha. A large queue complex built behind the temple provides devotees with the facility to proceed to the sanctum sanctorum. Due to the high number of devotees visiting on Wednesdays and Sundays, it typically takes one to one and a half hours to have darshan through the queue. Inside the sanctum sanctorum, there is an idol of Bhojaji Maharaj with a sculpture of a horse behind it. Within the temple premises, there is a grand four-story dining hall building where one thousand to one thousand five hundred devotees can be seated for a meal at a time. Such meal sessions continue throughout the day on Wednesdays and Sundays, during which fifty thousand to sixty thousand devotees partake in the Mahaprasada, which includes Puran Poli.

The Government of Maharashtra had granted this temple ‘C’ grade pilgrimage status; however, due to the devotion of millions of devotees and its growing popularity, this temple was included in the central PRASHAD scheme in 2023. Like Shegaon, Shirdi, and Pandharpur, the Jagdamba Temple in Koradi, Vidarbha, has been included in this scheme. The PRASHAD scheme, which stands for Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive, is implemented by the Union Ministry of Tourism. Through this, a direct fund of 100 crore is made available to the temple. Consequently, this will help in creating high-quality infrastructure in the premises of this temple in the coming times.

There are more than 50 permanent shops selling worship materials within the temple premises, while every Wednesday and Sunday, the place takes on the form of a fair. At that time, the number of these shops reaches 250 to 300. Apart from this, a pilgrimage festival is also held here on the death anniversary of Bhojaji Maharaj. A health center is run here on behalf of the Bhojaji Maharaj Devasthan. In this, devotees can get health check-ups and treatment at nominal rates.

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