Ancient Narasinha Temple, Ranjani, Ambegaon, Pune

On the banks of the Meena River in Ranjani, located in the Ambegaon taluka of Pune district, stands an ancient and spiritually vibrant temple of Shri Lakshmi Narasimha. Among the Dashavatara (ten incarnations) of Lord Vishnu in Hinduism, the Narasimha avatar is revered as the one who immediately rushes to the aid of his devotees. The unique idol of Lord Narasimha here, depicted in his complete lion form, is considered one of a kind. The birth anniversary celebration of Lord Narasimha, held on Vaishakh Shuddha Chaturdashi, is the village’s grandest festival, attracting thousands of devotees from across the state for darshan.

The history of this temple in Ranjani is intertwined with various historical eras. Based on its original architecture, the temple’s origins can be traced back to the Yadava period. During the glory days of the Maratha Empire in the eighteenth century, the temple gained significant political and social importance. When Thorle Bajirao Peshwa set out for his campaign against the Nizam, he stopped at this temple to seek the blessings of Lord Narasimha. He vowed to renovate the temple if he emerged victorious in his mission. Although Bajirao Peshwa could not fulfill this vow himself, the astute administrator of the Peshwa era, Nana Phadnavis, later renovated the temple around the year ۱۷۸۰. Along with the temple’s construction, Nana Phadnavis built a sturdy and beautiful stone ghat on the banks of the Meena River.

Saint Tukaram Maharaj’s spiritual associate, Kashevarbhatta Brahme, was a resident of this very village of Ranjani. This place gained fame due to his devotion. The descendants of the Brahme family later came to be known as ‘Rajgurus’. Evidence of the temple’s ancient existence is still available today through old documents in the Modi script held by their family. This village also contributed to the freedom struggle. The valiant commander of the ۱۸۵۷ Indian Rebellion, Tatya Tope, visited this temple to seek the blessings of Lord Narasimha. The pioneering revolutionary Vasudev Balwant Phadke stayed secretly in this temple for two days and two nights during his fight against the British. Due to these revolutionary events, the village of Ranjani earned the historical identity of ‘Bandachi Ranjani’ (Ranjani of the Rebellion).

According to mythological texts, Lord Vishnu’s Narasimha avatar is considered vital for the destruction of unrighteousness and the protection of Dharma. To slay the demon Hiranyakashipu, the Lord emerged from a pillar and ended him with his sharp claws. In this avatar, the head was that of a lion and the body was human. Iconography describes various forms of Narasimha, primarily including Kevala Narasimha, Sthauna Narasimha, Yanaka Narasimha, and Yoga Narasimha. Among the Dashavatara, it is Kevala Narasimha who appears with Lakshmi and is addressed as Lakshmi Narasimha. The specialty of the idol at Ranjani is its complete lion form. Generally, a Narasimha idol has a lion’s head and a human body, but the idol here is quadrupede, meaning it is in the form of a four-legged lion. Locals believe this is the only idol of its kind in the world. A legend regarding this idol states that Lakhuji, a devotee of Narasimha, used to walk to Nira Narsingpur in Indapur every year for the Wari pilgrimage. When he found it difficult to continue the pilgrimage due to old age, the Lord himself appeared to him in a dream and told him that he would find an idol near a burning torch where the Meena River turns from north-flowing to east-flowing. Lakhuji found this unique four-legged lion idol at that spot and consecrated it in Ranjani.

Ranjani village is situated in the valley of the Meena River in Ambegaon taluka. The Meena River embraces the village on three sides. The river’s flow turns north here and then proceeds eastward. This riverside area is covered with various types of dense trees. Within the temple premises, there is an ancient tamarind tree that is hundreds of years old. Architecturally, this temple is considered a beautiful blend of the Peshwa-era Wada style and modern architecture. The main entrance (Mahadwar) is grand and constructed with sturdy carved stones. There is a Nagarkhana (drum house) above this entrance, where traditional instruments are played during festivals. The main assembly hall (Sabhamandap) is supported by wooden pillars. The carvings on the pillars of this spacious hall bear witness to the art of the Peshwa period. The entrance to the sanctum sanctorum and its walls are adorned with depictions of various avatars of Vishnu and mythological stories. Inside the sanctum, there is an idol of Lord Narasimha about one meter in height. Crafted from black stone, the idol’s eyes and nose are covered with gold leaf, and the eyebrows are adorned with silver leaf. The front two legs of the idol are in a posture of blessing the devotees, and its head is held high with a beautiful mane visible on the neck. Behind the idol is a carved arch featuring replicas of a peacock and a serpent, with a lion sculpture in the center. The temple’s spire (Shikhara) is divided into various tiers and is adorned with idols of deities and a finial (Kalash). A few years ago, the villagers renovated the temple at a cost of three crore rupees without disturbing the original Hemadpanti structure.

Various festivals and holy days are celebrated with great enthusiasm in the temple throughout the year. These traditions have been preserved here for centuries. The birth anniversary of Lord Narasimha on Vaishakh Shuddha Chaturdashi is considered the village’s biggest celebration. At this time, the entire village takes on the appearance of a fair. On this occasion, a nine-day Narasimha Navratri is celebrated in the temple. During these nine days, bhajans, kirtans, and discourses are organized. Every morning, the deity is given a Panchamrit Abhishekam and adorned with new clothes and precious ornaments. On the evening of Vaishakh Shuddha Chaturdashi, the Lord’s birth celebration takes place with great fervor, accompanied by the throwing of gulal and chants of praise. On the last day of this festival, a special program called ‘Paul Gadi’ is held. In this, a white cloth is spread before the deity, and impressions of vermilion footprints are made upon it. Devotees make a vow called ‘Gulachi Sherani’ with great faith and offer five kilograms of jaggery to the deity upon the fulfillment of their vow. Special ornament worship (Alankar Puja) is performed here during Lakshmi Pujan and Padwa in Diwali. Devotees can visit for darshan daily between five in the morning and seven in the evening.

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