Prasanna Shree Udgir Baba Samadhi Temple, Udgir Fort, uka Udgir, rict Latur

The Shri Udgir Baba Samadhi Temple is situated within the Bhuikot (land) fort located in the Udgir taluka of Latur district. Nestled in the lap of the Balaghat mountain ranges, this site is considered an important center of spiritual tradition and military architecture on the Deccan Plateau. This area was formerly known as ‘Udayagiri’ or ‘Udakagiri’. ‘Udaka’ means water and ‘Giri’ means mountain. Since the Lendi River originates in this hilly region, the city received the name Udgir, either as a confluence of water and mountain or named after the ‘Udayagiri Rishi’, also known as ‘Udagir Baba’. Here, at a depth of about sixty feet underground, lie the Samadhi of Udagir Baba, a cave, a Shivling, stone Padukas (footprints), and several idols. This Samadhi temple, characterized by a well that remains full of water even in the peak of summer and its stone fortifications, is a place of faith for thousands of devotees.

According to records in the ‘Imperial Gazetteer of India’ and the ‘Hyderabad State Gazetteer’, the architecture and foundation of Udgir Fort date back to the pre-Bahmani era, approximately the eleventh or twelfth century. Kalyani, the capital of the Chalukyas, which is present-day Basavakalyan, is located forty miles south of Udgir. Therefore, the fort’s architecture supports the assumption that its initial foundation was laid during the reign of the Chalukya kings of Badami or Kalyani. There are references to the expansion of this fort during the subsequent Yadava rule of Devagiri. Inscriptions from the time of the Yadava King Singhan mention Udgir and its local rulers. This clarifies that the fort existed as a military outpost even before the Muslim rule. The oldest mention of this city is found in an inscription at Ambejogai by Senapati Kholeshwar, dating back to the year 1228 CE, or 1150 Shaka era, during the reign of Yadava King Singhan. According to this inscription, the ‘Udayagiri Desh’ was an important administrative division within the then Yadava empire. Being on the border of the Kakatiya empire, a Yadava military outpost was active here. Furthermore, according to references in Jain literature, this city is mentioned as a major center of the Jain religion.

The continuous written history of Udgir Fort is primarily available from the Bahmani period onwards. Information regarding this is provided in texts such as ‘Tarikh-i-Firishta’ and ‘Tarikh-i-Udgir’. In the year 1492 CE, the Bahmani Sultan Mahmud Shah granted the forts of Udgir, Kandhar, and Ausa to Qasim Barid as a Jagir. This indicates that the fort was in a strong position even before the establishment of the Barid Shahi dynasty. During the Bahmani and Barid Shahi periods, the military development of this fort was undertaken. To compensate for the lack of natural mountainous protection in this area, double and triple stone fortifications were erected around the fort. Even today, one can see the remains of Hindu and Jain temples or carved stones used in the construction of these walls. Later, in the year 1636 CE, the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan conquered this fort and added it to his empire. According to various Arabic and Persian inscriptions found in the fort, during the Mughal period, fort commanders like Khatam Khan (1685 CE) and Mir Khan Hussain constructed several buildings here.

Udgir Fort holds a special place in the history of the Maratha Empire. On 11 January 1760, the ‘Battle of Udgir’ took place here. In this campaign, which occurred after the time of Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj during the reign of Peshwa Balaji Bajirao, the Maratha army under the leadership of Sadashivrao Bhau Peshwa defeated the Nizam of Hyderabad, Salabat Jang. In this battle, the artillery of Ibrahim Khan Gardi, fighting on the side of the Marathas, surrounded and defeated the Nizam’s army from all sides. After this victory, the ‘Treaty of Udgir’ was signed on 3 February 1760. According to this treaty, the Nizam handed over territory yielding an annual income of sixty lakh rupees to the Marathas, as well as the forts of Asirgad, Daulatabad, Bijapur, and Burhanpur. This victory was a major triumph of Maratha military power. Following this, the Maratha army under the leadership of Sadashivrao Bhau departed for the north for the Third Battle of Panipat. Later, after 1818 CE, this fort went back under the control of the Nizam and remained under his authority until the Hyderabad State merged with India in 1948 CE.

Considering the architecture, Udgir Fort is a Bhuikot (land) type fort built on a small hill in the plains. To protect the fort, a moat about forty feet deep and twenty feet wide has been dug around it. An arrangement was made to release water into this moat from a lake on the western side using siphon technology. A bridge ninety feet long and twenty feet wide was built to cross the moat. The fort is divided into the Parkot (outer part) and the main fort. Upon entering through the main entrance, one encounters an iron gate. On the walls there, five sculptures of the ‘Sharabha’, a mythical creature that captures elephants, can be seen carved. Inside the fort, there are artillery bastions named Andher Buruj or Telgi Buruj. A cannon made of five metals (Panchadhatu) still exists on one of these bastions. In the inner part of the fort, there are ruins of buildings such as the Diwan-i-Aam, Diwan-i-Khas, Begum Mahal, Hawa Mahal, and Kabutarkhana. The arrangement for supplying water to various palaces using earthen pipes and an octagonal stepwell (Barav) stand as testimony to the architectural brilliance of this fort.

Rishi Udaygiri Maharaj is known in the local dialect as Udgir Baba. It is believed that Udgir Baba was a Siddha Purusha (an enlightened soul). During the reign of the contemporary King Kamajivarman, Baba performed welfare work for the people in this region. The period of Udgir Baba is considered to be between the eleventh and twelfth centuries AD or even earlier. According to inscriptions and references in religious texts like the ‘Karbasaveshwar Granth’, the period of Baba is around the eleventh to twelfth centuries. The hill on which the Udgir Bhuikot Fort is situated was the site of the penance of Udgir Rishi before the fort was constructed. He worshipped Mahadeva in this hilly region. Pleased by his devotion, Mahadeva granted him a vision and established Himself here in the form of a Linga. Even today, the Matha of Udgir Maharaj and this Shiva Linga can be seen inside the fort. Due to Baba’s presence, human settlements began to grow in the vicinity of these hills, markets started to flourish, and a town was formed. As this village was situated on the trade route leading to Paithan, the capital of the Satavahanas, it gained commercial importance. Baba gave the people of the region a message of virtuous conduct, devotion to God, and peace. After fulfilling his spiritual mission, he took Jivanta Samadhi (living burial) in an underground vault sixty feet deep at this very place.

One can reach the Udgir Fort by coming from the north side of the city via the Fort Gate road. There is a deep moat around the fort. The circumference of the outer fortification of the fort is about six hundred and seventy meters. This fort has a total of nineteen bastions. Twelve of these bastions are in the first fortification and have cannons mounted on them. Of the seven bastions in the second fortification, the two western bastions are named “Jamna” and “Chandni”. Embrasures have been created on the ramparts for firing guns. The entrance to the fort is in the first fortification, and the height of the entrance is about twelve meters and the width is two and a quarter meters.

The door of the entrance has an iron covering. Since the entrance of the fort is at a right angle to the left of the fortification, it is not visible until one is directly in front of it. After entering through the gate, one can reach the Matha of Udgir Baba by following the straight path from the right. On the paths leading to the Samadhi, there is a pavilion with a tin roof on iron pillars. This protects the devotees from the sun and rain. The second entrance is seventeen meters away from the first entrance. Guard posts and arches for soldiers are built between the two entrances.

This Samadhi temple is about sixty feet deep below the ground level, and there are stairs to descend. There is a deep well near the Samadhi temple, and the water storage in this well is abundant. This well was used in the past to meet the daily water needs of the fort. Near the entrance of the Samadhi temple, on a Vajrapitha, there is a meditative idol of Udgir Baba in a posture leaning against a cow. A plaque listing the names of the Mathadhipati Gurus in the Guru-Shishya tradition is placed near the entrance. The tradition of the Mathadhipati Maharajas continues uninterrupted to this day with Bhulgir Maharaj, Dattugir Maharaj, Gangagir Maharaj, Shambhugir Maharaj, Kashigir Maharaj, Narayan Gir Maharaj, Nagendragir Maharaj, Satish Gir Maharaj, and Jayeshgir Maharaj. Only one devotee can enter the Samadhi temple at a time through the narrow entrance. Inside the Samadhi temple, there is the platform of the Samadhi. On this platform, Padmapaduka and a Shiva Pinda are consecrated. The Shiva Pinda has a silver covering, and there is a silver snake canopy over it.

Every year, an eight-day Harinam Saptah is organized here from Phalguna Vadya Ashtami to Gudi Padwa. During this period, bhajans and kirtans by bhajan groups and kirtankars are organized for eight consecutive days. The Harinam Saptah concludes on the day of Gudi Padwa with the distribution of Kala Prasad.

The annual fair is celebrated on the day of Gudi Padwa. At this time, thousands of devotees from Maharashtra and Karnataka come to have darshan of Baba’s Samadhi. The number of devotees coming for darshan on the occasion of other festivals throughout the year is also large. Tourists who come to see this Bhuikot Fort invariably visit the Samadhi temple for darshan.

As this place is a major center of faith, there is a bustle of devotees in the Samadhi temple every day. The darshan time in the Samadhi temple is from nine in the morning to five 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