Historic Kapileshwar Temple Kelvad , Savner,Nagpur

Kapileshwar at Kelvad, a pilgrimage site sanctified by the presence of Sage Kapila and Ramswami Maharaj, a disciple of Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj, is a place of faith for thousands of devotees. It is said that Sage Kapila installed the Shiva Linga here, which is why this place is known as Kapileshwar. In front of the temple’s sacred pond (Kapil Kund) stands a 21-foot-tall statue of Lord Mahadeva in a meditative posture. This magnificent and exquisite statue is the main attraction here.

The legend regarding the temple is that there was a cave beneath the tank currently situated in front of the Kapileshwar Temple. Sage Kapila used to meditate there. He was accompanied by a cow named Kapila. Every morning, this cow would emerge from the cave, swim out of the tank, and go to graze in the fields along with a herd of other cows.As evening fell, she would descend into the kunda (sacred pond) again and return to the crevice there. Once, a cowherd became suspicious and followed the cow. Upon seeing the cow entering the water of the kunda, he caught hold of her tail and went into the crevice along with the cow. Seeing the cowherd, Sage Kapila asked him the reason for his arrival, to which he replied that this cow comes into my field and eats the crops, causing me great loss.

After listening to the cowherd, Sage Kapila took the coals lying nearby in his fist and gave them to him. Telling him that this would compensate for his loss, he asked him to leave. Upon coming out of the cave, the cowherd saw the coals given by the sage in his blanket. Thinking that he had been deceived, he threw the coals away. When he reached home, one coal was still stuck to the blanket, but it It had turned into gold. Upon seeing this, he realized the greatness of Sage Kapila and felt remorse for his actions. The news that a divine being in the form of Sage Kapila resided here spread from village to village, and since then, this place has become a center of faith for devotees. During the summer days, when the water in this sacred pond (kunda) recedes, this crevice can be seen. 

It is believed that this site of Kapileshwar, located on a hill to the west of Kelvad village, has been a land of penance for sages and seers since ancient times. One enters the temple premises through an arched main gateway. The path to the temple leads across a small iron bridge over a stream. While crossing the bridge, there is a *kund* (sacred water tank) on the right side, into which a continuous stream of water flows from a large *gomukh* (cow-faced spout). After crossing the bridge, there are 21 steps to climb to reach the temple, which is situated at a slight elevation. The temple consists of a *sabhamandap* (assembly hall) and a *garbhagriha* (sanctum sanctorum). In the center of the *sabhamandap*, there is a marble Nandi placed on a pedestal, and an ancient *Shivling* resides in the sanctum. Although the temple architecture is simple, the surrounding area is rich in natural beauty. A grand *yajna* ceremony is held here every year on Mahashivratri. During the holy month of Shravan, a large number of devotees gather here.

The temple courtyard is spacious and houses shrines dedicated to Lord Hanuman, the five-faced Nagadevta, Vitthal-Rukmini, the Samadhi of Bharti Maharaj, Lord Dattatreya, and Goddess Durga. Behind the main temple are the Samadhi of Rambaba and the site associated with Tukdoji Maharaj. Adjacent to this, rooms have been constructed for the accommodation of devotees.

At a short distance from the Kapileshwar Temple lies the Sati Temple of Banadevi. On the day of her wedding, the horse carrying the groom became startled, causing him to be injured, and he passed away before he could reach the wedding altar. Following this incident, Banadevi committed Sati; however, due to her divine radiance, her hand, adorned with the green bangles of a married woman, could not be consumed by the fire and remained intact. Even today, there is no idol of Banadevi in the temple, but rather her hand, and it is this hand that is worshipped.

Due to the Maharashtra government granting the Kapileshwar Temple ‘C’ category status for tourism, facilities for devotees have been made available through funds received from the government from time to time. Apart from the temple, Kelvad is an agricultural village and is a leader in cotton production. This village is also famous in Vidarbha for the zari-bordered sarees produced here.

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