Ancient Mohiniraj Temple, Nevasa, Nevasa, Ahilyanagar

Nevasa in the Ahilyanagar district is considered a place of great religious significance. It was here that Saint Dnyaneshwar composed the monumental work ‘Dnyaneshwari’, also known as ‘Bhavartha Deepika’. According to mythology, Nevasa is the site where, after the churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthan), Lord Vishnu assumed the form of Mohini to slay the demon Rahu. It is believed that the flow created by the drops of nectar (Amrit) that spilled from Rahu’s body after he was slain gave rise to the Pravara River, which is why the river is called ‘Amrutvahini’. The Mohiniraj Temple is situated in the heart of Nevasa city, on the banks of this river. It is said to be the only temple in the state dedicated to the Mohini avatar of Lord Vishnu.

The legend of the temple states that while the King of Gods, Indra, was wandering through a forest on his elephant, he met Sage Durvasa. The Sage gifted Indra a garland of flowers, but instead of wearing it, Indra placed it on his elephant’s trunk. The elephant trampled the garland under its feet. Enraged by Indra’s arrogance, Sage Durvasa cursed him, saying, “The wealth you are so proud of shall be destroyed, and you shall lose your status as the King of Gods.” Subsequently, Bali, the king of the demons, waged war against Indra and seized the kingdom of the gods, leaving Indra and all the deities weakened. Seeking a solution to regain their kingdom and power, the gods approached Lord Vishnu. Vishnu advised them to form an alliance with the demons and churn the ocean to obtain the nectar, which would restore their lost glory. Following this, 14 treasures emerged from the ocean: poison, the Kamadhenu cow, the horse Uchchaihshravas, the elephant Airavata, the Kaustubha gem, the Kalpavriksha tree, the Apsara Rambha, Lakshmi, Varuni (a divine spirit), the Moon, the Parijata tree, the conch, Dhanvantari, and the nectar (Amrit). Of the first 13 treasures, the demons took the horse Uchchaihshravas and Varuni, the sages took the Kamadhenu cow, and the gods divided the remaining 10 among themselves.

A dispute arose between the gods and demons over the distribution of the 14th treasure, the nectar. Since the gods were already weakened, the demons snatched the pot of nectar. However, a conflict broke out among the demons themselves over who should consume it and how much. Seizing this opportunity, Lord Vishnu assumed the form of a beautiful woman (Mohini) and approached the demons. This beautiful woman enchanted the demons, who became so captivated by her that they forgot about the nectar. She suggested, “Give the pot of nectar to me; I will distribute it equally between the demons and the gods.” Without suspicion, the demons handed the pot to her. Vishnu, in the form of Mohini, then asked the gods and demons to sit in separate rows. She served nectar to the gods and liquor to the demons. By consuming the nectar, the gods regained their strength and successfully reclaimed their kingdom from the demons. Because this was made possible by Vishnu’s Mohini form, the gods worshipped him at this very spot, and thus the deity is known as ‘Mohiniraj’. Lakshmi, who also emerged from the churning of the ocean, became the consort of Vishnu, which is why the idols of both Mohiniraj and Lakshmi are present in this temple.

The Mohiniraj Temple is an ancient structure located in the center of Nevasa. Built on a five to six-foot-high plinth, this ancient black stone temple consists of a assembly hall (Sabhamandap) and a sanctum sanctorum (Garbhagriha). One must climb five to six steps to enter the temple. The entrance is flanked by carvings of gatekeepers (Dwarpalas), and the upper part of the entrance features exquisite carvings. Records indicate that the temple was renovated in 1773 by Gangadhar Yashwant Chandrachud, the Diwan of Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar. The ceiling of the assembly hall is carved to resemble a stone chandelier. The hall houses several ancient idols. The idol of Mohiniraj in the sanctum is sandy and self-manifested (Swayambhu), adorned with Vajralepa. The idol is four and a half feet tall, seated on a throne, holding a conch, discus, mace, and a pot of nectar, and is adorned with a crown, nose ring, waistband, and anklets. The idol of Mother Lakshmi stands beside Mohiniraj.

The festival of Mohiniraj begins on Magh Shukla Saptami, also known as Rathsaptami, and continues for five days. During this period, devotees are permitted to touch the idol for worship. At other times, the idol can be viewed from the assembly hall. The Mohiniraj Temple is the presiding deity of Nevasa and the family deity (Kuldaivat) for thousands of families across the state. Aarti is performed daily at 12:30 PM and 7:00 PM. Devotees can have darshan of Mohiniraj and Mother Lakshmi from 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

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