Prasanna Shree Renuka Devi Institute Mantha, Mantha, Jalna

Situated in the hilly region of Mantha in the Jalna district of Maharashtra, the Shri Renuka Devi Sansthan is a significant place of faith for devotees. This ancient temple of Mother Renuka, an embodiment of Adishakti, is an excellent example of historical, religious, and cultural heritage. It is renowned as an important sub-shrine of the Goddess throughout the Marathwada region. This shrine is widely famous as a deity who fulfills the vows of her devotees. According to mythological references, Renuka Devi, the wife of Sage Jamadagni and the mother of Lord Parashurama, is a form of Adishakti herself. Detailed descriptions of the Goddess’s glory are found in the Mahabharata and other ancient scriptures. Across the country, there are temples of the Goddess in various forms such as Ekvira, Yellamma, and Padmakshi. The original shrine of Renuka Devi is located at Mahurgad in the Nanded district. As the Goddess manifested in partial forms at different places for her devotees, this powerful Shakti Peetha was established here in Mantha. This Renuka Devi temple in Mantha has a long history spanning three to four hundred years. Local priests state that the temple has undergone extensive renovation in recent times. A unique legend regarding the establishment of this temple is told in the surrounding area. It is said that a woman named Jijamata lived in a village called Chopwadi in this region. She was a devout follower of Renuka Devi. She had a deep desire to visit Mahurgad to seek the Goddess’s blessings, but due to unavoidable circumstances, she could not make the journey. As a solution, she sat on this very hill in Mantha and began rigorous worship of the Goddess. Pleased by her devotion, Renuka Devi eventually manifested there and asked Jijamata to seek a boon. Jijamata prayed to the Goddess to remain permanently on this hill and fulfill the wishes of all devotees who come here for her darshan. The Goddess granted this boon, and since then, she has been established here in the form of a natural stone idol (Taandala). This famous temple is situated in a quiet hilly area about two kilometers from Mantha town. Upon entering the main premises of the temple, one first sees a grand entrance gate and a welcome arch. In the temple courtyard, rows of shops selling puja materials, coconuts, traditional fabrics, and many other items can be seen. In this same main courtyard of the temple stands the Samadhi temple of Jijamata, the supreme devotee of Renuka Devi. A separate stone enclosure is built around this small and beautiful temple. A stone lamp pillar (Deepmal) is erected in front of the Samadhi temple. The lotus footprints (Padmapaduka) of Jijamata are consecrated in the sanctum of the temple. Right in front of the Jijamata temple, an ancient stone wheel used for grinding lime for construction in the olden days can still be seen preserved today. It is the belief of the devotees here that one does not receive the full merit of Renuka Devi’s darshan without first seeking the blessings of Jijamata.

Beside the Jijamata temple, under the shade of a large Peepal tree, a stone Nandi and a sacred Shiva Linga are installed. Another small lamp pillar can be seen next to this spot. Both lamp pillars in the temple courtyard are small in size, with a height of about eight to ten feet. In the main courtyard, next to the main temple of Renuka Devi, an octagonal lamp pillar about thirty feet high is erected on a high stone platform.

The original structure of Renuka Devi’s main temple follows the traditional style, consisting of a Sabha Mandap (assembly hall) and a Garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum). To protect the original ancient temple and for the convenience of devotees, a new Rangamandapa has been built around it in recent times. This Rangamandapa is built about four feet higher than the ground level of the main courtyard. To enter the Rangamandapa, stone steps are provided on both the left and right sides in front of the main entrance. This Rangamandapa has two additional doors on the left and right sides. Moving further into the Rangamandapa, stone sculptures of Nandi and a lion are seen carved on a high pedestal right in front of the entrance to the main Sabha Mandap. On another well-equipped platform in front of this sculpture, a sacrificial altar (Yajnakunda) has been prepared for religious rituals.

The main entrance of the Sabha Mandap is slightly higher than the level of the outer Rangamandapa, and steps are built in front to reach it. The inner and front-facing walls of the temple are completely covered with white marble tiles. Although this modern renovation has somewhat obscured the original antiquity of the temple, it has attained a very clean and grand appearance. This Sabha Mandap has three large entrances in a single row on the front side. All these entrances are fitted with sturdy wooden shutters. Inside the Sabha Mandap, one can see sturdy square pillars connected to each other by beautiful semicircular arches. Attractive niches have been created in the walls of the Sabha Mandap. Ancient and beautiful idols of Adimaya Tulja Bhavani Mata and Vithoba, carved in black stone, are enshrined within them. This Sabha Mandap is completely enclosed, but windows have been provided at various places in the walls to keep the hall well-lit and ventilated. During festivals, to ensure that devotees can have darshan in an orderly manner, excellent management of darshan queues has been implemented using sturdy stainless steel railings inside the Sabha Mandap. Right in front of the Sabha Mandap is the main Garbhagriha of the temple. The door frames on both sides of the main entrance to the Garbhagriha are covered with beautiful tiles. Inside the Garbhagriha, on a high pedestal, a decorative wooden canopy (Makhar) with a beautiful spire on top is placed. Within this canopy, Renuka Mata, the presiding deity of Mantha village, is enshrined in the form of a natural stone idol (Taandala). The appearance of this vermilion-smeared stone idol is extremely serene.

The main temple spire is situated atop the roof of the inner sanctum. This spire consists of four tiers and has a circular shape. The exterior of the spire is adorned with lotus-petal carvings and features various niches for deities. At the pinnacle of the spire sits a magnificent stone Amalaka, crowned with a golden Kalasha. The original abode of Goddess Renuka is located about four to five hundred meters away from the main temple, accessible from the outer area of the assembly hall. The administration has constructed a well-maintained stairway leading directly from the rear of the main temple up to this original shrine on the hilltop. A stone platform has been built at this original site on the hilltop. On this platform, the original stone idol of the Goddess in the form of a Tandala is enshrined within a small sanctum. Right next to this small sanctum stands a small lamp pillar about two feet in height. Beside this lamp pillar, ancient stone idols of other local deities, smeared with vermilion, are also placed for worship.

The Sharadiya Navratri festival, celebrated annually in the month of Ashwina, is considered the most significant and largest annual festival at this temple. During these nine to ten days, long queues of devotees form day and night for the Goddess’s darshan. Thousands of devotees from Jalna district, as well as from Vidarbha and Marathwada, come here during this period to surrender at the feet of Mother Renuka. Similar to Navratri, a large annual fair is held every year on Chaitra Purnima. On the day of this fair, a grand palanquin procession of the Goddess is organized. Thousands of devotees from the surrounding areas and afar participate in this palanquin festival with great enthusiasm. During this pilgrimage, the tradition of offering a sari piece and a coconut to the Goddess to fill her lap is followed, along with the ancient custom of offering various auspicious ornaments. During these major festivals, the temple administration and local committees organize grand events including Bhajans, Kirtans, Jagran, Gondhal, religious Homa-Havan, and Mahaprasad. Apart from these main festivals, special religious rituals and decorations are performed in the temple on occasions such as Chaitra Padwa, Vijayadashami (Dussehra), Deepavali, the entire months of Shravana and Margashirsha, Shakambhari Purnima, and Kojagiri Purnima. Additionally, a large crowd of devotees is seen in the temple premises for darshan on every Tuesday, Friday, Ashtami, Purnima, and Amavasya. Devotees can have the darshan of the Goddess here daily from six in the morning until eight-thirty at night.

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