Sacred Vitthal Mandir egaon-Dabhade, Pune

Talegaon, the village of Sardar Khanderao Dabhade, possesses a rich religious background. There are many beautiful temples in this village, and the Vitthal Temple is one of them. Although it is said that this temple is ancient, there is no definitive record of when or by whom it was built. This temple is mentioned by Shri Bhimaswami of Thanjavur, belonging to the Dasa Sampradaya. The manuscript regarding this is still preserved in the city of Dhule today.

After the Sanjeevan Samadhi of Saint Dnyaneshwar Maharaj, during the time of Saint Namdev, a circumambulation ceremony (Pradakshina) took place in the vicinity of Alandi. A one-day stay was held at this Vitthal Temple during that event, and that tradition continues uninterrupted to this day. The idol of Goddess Lakshmi present here dates back to the eleventh century, which highlights the antiquity of the temple.

A legend regarding the temple states that Saint Tukaram Maharaj often performed Kirtans here. Many villagers from Talegaon and the surrounding areas would attend the Vitthal Temple to listen to the Kirtan. A woman in this village, having a small child, could not attend these Kirtans despite her desire to do so, but she would hear the description of Tukoba’s Kirtan from her neighbor the next day. To enable her to enjoy Tukoba’s Kirtan, the neighbor suggested a trick: to feed the baby a little opium so that the child would fall asleep, allowing the woman to enjoy the Kirtan. Following this, she fed the baby a dose of opium and joined the Kirtan with the child. While Tukaram Maharaj’s Kirtan was in full swing, the woman realized that the baby’s heartbeat had stopped. She wailed right there and placed the dead child at the feet of Tukaram. Tukoba prayed to Lord Vitthal, and after some time, the child came back to life and started crying. After this incident, the greatness of this Vitthal Temple and Tukoba spread far and wide.

Upon entering through the attractive gateway, one feels the grandeur of this Vitthal Temple. One can see the beautiful painting done on this structure and the extensive use of wood in its construction. In the Aarti of Lord Vitthal, there is a mention, “Jayadeva Jaya Panduranga Rukmai Vallabha Raichya Vallabha Pave Jivalaga.” Accordingly, a unique feature of this place is that the idol of Lord Vitthal here is accompanied by Rukmini and Radha (Rahi). All three idols, in the ‘hands on waist’ (Kara Katevar) posture, are made of stone.

Shri Guru V. N. alias Dada Maharaj Sakhare, who provided the complete commentary on the works of Shri Saint Dnyaneshwar Maharaj, used to reside here. Before starting the Warkari Shikshan Sanstha and Sadhakashram in Alandi, Dada performed discourses and Kirtans in this very temple. The library in this temple is very rich, housing approximately 2,000 religious texts. The manuscript of Tukobaraya’s Gatha, prepared by Santaji Jagdade, is still present in this library today. Gangadharpant Mawal, one of the 14 disciples (Talkaris) of Tukaram Maharaj, was from Talegaon itself. Many Warkari and Vedic traditions have been practiced in this temple since ancient times, and the Kakad Aarti is performed here daily. Every day, the worship is conducted by a devotee from the surrounding area. Haripath and Shejarti are performed daily. On Shuddha Ekadashi, there is a Kirtan and a discourse. Additionally, the death anniversaries of all saints are celebrated here. Programs such as Janmashtami Saptah, Aadhya Shankaracharya Jayanti, Dasnavami Utsav, Dada Maharaj Punyatithi Utsav, and Bhagwat Saptah are held. During these times, the temple is illuminated with lights, and a grand Rangoli is drawn in front of it. Devotees from the Talegaon Dabhade vicinity participate in these activities in large numbers.

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