Shri Balaji Temple / Venkatagiri Mountain, Rajurghat, Motala, Buldana

Nestled in the picturesque surroundings of the Ajanta mountain range, a beautiful temple of Shri Balaji has been realized on the Venkatgiri Mountain in Rajur Ghat, located in the Buldana district. Built over a sprawling area of sixteen and a half acres, this magnificent temple features a replica of the main Balaji idol from the Tirumala temple. Constructed in the Chola architectural style, which evolved from the Pallava style, this temple has become a major attraction for thousands of devotees and tourists alike. During the four-day Brahmotsavam held in the month of Margashirsha, many devotees gather here to witness the wedding ceremony of Shri Balaji with Shri Padmavati and Shri Mahalakshmi.

The Rajur Ghat on the Buldana-Malkapur highway is a great gift of nature. The rivers, streams, and hills of various sizes in the area enhance the natural beauty of the surroundings. While traveling from Buldana to Malkapur through this ghat, which is a popular tourist destination, one can see the Venkatgiri Balaji Temple. This temple was built based on the vision of Buldana-based entrepreneur Arun Diwate. Being a devout follower of Balaji, Diwate used to regularly visit Tirupati for darshan. The idea that there should be a Balaji temple in Buldana crossed his mind, and he shared it with his friends. After they embraced this concept, an organization named ‘Shri Balaji Seva Samiti’ was established to build the temple. Subsequently, these friends raised funds, purchased sixteen and a half acres of land on Venkatgiri Mountain, and donated it to the Balaji Seva Samiti. On 16 February 2004, the foundation stone of this temple was laid by Jagadguru Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham. Under the guidance of Chennai-based architect P. R. Rajan, 20 sculptors and numerous workers labored tirelessly for about 6 years to build this grand temple over an area of 30,000 square feet. From 9 to 12 December 2010, the idols in the temple were consecrated by Jagadguru Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham. Param Pujya Lokeshanandji Maharaj from Siddhakuti, Indore, was also present at this ceremony. The temple has a sanctum sanctorum of 456 square feet and a Gopuram 51 feet in height.

After entering through the temple arch, there is a parking facility a short distance away. Tree plantations have been carried out in many places in the area. At a short distance, one can see a 21-foot-tall idol of Hanuman on a platform. A large bell is hung in front of the temple entrance. The temple is surrounded by a boundary wall on all four sides, and there are idols of various deities in the niches. The upper part of the temple entrance features a beautiful South Indian style Shikhara. Many idols are carved onto this intricately sculpted Shikhara. The wooden entrance also features beautiful craftsmanship with carvings of deities. Near the entrance, on the inside, stands a 35-foot-tall flagstaff (Dhvajastambha). It is customary to embrace this pillar before entering the temple. In the shrine in front of this pillar, Garuda, the vehicle of Shri Vishnu, is seated. Above the temple entrance are the idols of Shri Ram, Shri Vishnu, and Kalki. In the spacious assembly hall (Sabhamandap) of the temple, stainless steel railings have been installed to manage the crowd of devotees. There are sculptures of gatekeepers (Dvarapalas) on both sides of the sanctum entrance, and an image of Sheshashayi Vishnu and Shri Lakshmi is depicted above. The sanctum houses a beautiful idol carved in black stone. This is a replica of the Balaji idol at Tirumala. The idol wears a beautiful crown, and a large, white Pachai Karpoora Tilak (Namam) adorns the forehead. In the right hand, the idol holds the Sudarshana Chakra, in the left hand the Shankha, the lower right hand is in the Varada Mudra, and the lower left hand rests on the waist. Near this idol are metal idols of Shri Lakshmi and Shri Padmavati. On the walls of the horizontal pavilion surrounding the temple, some episodes from the life of Shri Balaji are carved. There are also small temples dedicated to Shri Ganesha, Shri Lakshmi, Shri Padmavati, and Varahaswami.

This temple is open for darshan from 6 AM to 12 PM and from 2 PM to 9 PM. Various religious programs are organized here throughout the year. The Brahmotsavam takes place on the day of Vinayaka Chaturthi in the month of Margashirsha. A four-day celebration is held on this occasion. On the first day, after performing Homa-Havan in the South Indian style in the sacrificial pit (Homakunda), the idol of Balaji is worshipped. On the second day, the idols of Ganesha and Varahaswami are bathed with Panchamrita. After the puja, they are offered a feast of five delicacies (Panchapakvanna). Homa-Havan is also performed on this day. On the third day, the idols of Mahalakshmi and Padmavati are bathed with Panchamrita. Around 7 PM, the festival idols (Utsava Murti) of Shri Balaji, Shri Padmavati, and Shri Lakshmi are taken out of the temple. A procession of these idols is carried out in the area in a palanquin. Following this, the wedding ceremony of Shri Balaji, Shri Padmavati, and Shri Mahalakshmi is performed in the South Indian tradition. After this ceremony, a grand feast (Mahaprasad) is served. On the fourth day, 108 couples perform Abhishekam on Shri Balaji using 108 water pots (Kalash). Mahaprasad is distributed to the devotees on this day as well. During the Brahmotsavam, various programs such as discourses and Kirtans are also organized in the temple premises.

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