Prasanna Shree Kala Mahadev / Kapileshwar Temple Kundal, sgaon, Sangli

The history of Kundal village, also referred to as Kaundinyapur, dates back approximately 1500 years. According to historical records, this was the capital of the Chalukya king, Satyeshwar. In Jainism, Kundal holds the status of a pilgrimage site (Tirthakshetra). It is said that Lord Parshvanath and Vardhaman Mahavir held religious assemblies on the hill here. In 705 AD, King Vijayaditya made a donation to the Kundal Jinalaya. The Kala Mahadev, or Kapileshwar Temple, located in this same Kundal, is a place of deep faith for many devotees. Built from black stone and dating back five to six hundred years, this temple is more popularly known as Kala Mahadev.

It is said that the hills located to the west of Kundal are kundalakar, meaning circular in shape. Because it is nestled in the lap of these hills, this town came to be known as Kundal. The history of Kundal, which has been made prosperous and fertile by the Krishna River, is glorious. In ancient times, Kundal was It was a city that had achieved all-around progress. The Kuntal kingdom, of which it was the capital, was ruled by the Chalukya, Rashtrakuta, and Kadamba dynasties. This region also had the good fortune of becoming a part of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s Swarajya. The footprints of all these prosperous regimes can be seen throughout the Kundal area. This temple, with its distinctive carvings and architecture, is a part of that very prosperity.

This temple is located in the central part of Kundal village. One enters the temple courtyard through the gateway in the perimeter wall surrounding the temple. Near the entrance, on the inner side, stands a large Peepal tree. A large platform has been built around this tree, and upon it rests a large Naga sculpture carved from a single stone. The main temple, situated ahead, stands on a high plinth (jagati). The structure of the temple consists of a Sabhamandapa (assembly hall), Antarala (vestibule), and Garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum). On the doorframe of the temple, there are two intricately carved pillars, and above them are three shikhara-shaped motifs. Through this entrance, one enters the enclosed Sabhamandapa of the temple. Near this entrance Inside, there is a Nandi idol carved from a single stone, with a tortoise idol placed before it. The roof of the temple rests on beams supported by intricately carved stone pillars in the assembly hall (Sabhamandapa). The niches (Devakoshthas) on the walls feature idols of various deities, including Vitthal-Rukmini, Ganpati, and Hanuman. Upon closer inspection, one can see delicate carvings on these idols. In one of these niches, there is a beautiful idol of Shiva and Parvati. Usually, in temple iconography, Mahadev is depicted with matted hair (Jatadhari), but this Shiva, carved in black stone, wears a crown. In this four-armed (Chaturbhuj) form, Shiva holds a Trishul in one hand and a serpent in another. One hand is raised in a gesture of blessing, while the other rests on the shoulder of Parvati, who is seated to his left. From here, one enters the Antarala (vestibule). The door frame of the sanctum sanctorum (Garbhagriha) located in the Antarala is adorned with intricate carvings. Idols of deities are carved on the upper part of the Lalatbimba (lintel). Inside the Garbhagriha, there is a carved Shiva Linga set upon a Shalunka raised from the floor, topped with a brass serpent hood.

There are three domes on the circumambulation path (pradakshina marga) of the temple. If one observes the arches of these domes closely, some letters inscribed in the Devanagari script can be seen. Based on this, scholars speculate that the original construction of the temple likely dates back to the fifteenth century and that it has undergone renovations from time to time. Near the entrance of the temple, on the exterior of the assembly hall (sabhamandapa), there are several hero stones (virgal) and sati stones. However, this temple does not have a pinnacle (kalash). A grand festival is celebrated in this temple on the occasion of Mahashivratri. During this time, thousands of devotees from many villages in the taluka come here for darshan. Apart from this, there is also a large gathering of devotees here on every Monday of the holy month of Shravan.

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