Ancient Mukteshwar Ashram / Pachalegaonkar Maharaj Temple Pachalegaon, uka Jintur, rict Parbhani

Rashtrasant Pachlegaonkar Maharaj emerged from Pachlegaon, a remote and agricultural village in the Parbhani district, and through his life’s work, this land became a place of reverence for thousands of devotees. This social reformer, freedom fighter, and spiritual thinker integrated spirituality with patriotism and social service, awakening society for the benefit of the nation. He dedicated his life to the eradication of superstition, untouchability, and caste discrimination, as well as to the rights and education of the marginalized. During the Marathwada Liberation Struggle, he organized the people against the Nizam of Hyderabad and the atrocities of the Razakars, establishing the ‘Rashtriya Mukti Sena’ to ignite patriotism among the youth and launching a direct struggle against injustice. Due to this unparalleled national service and social contribution, he is known as ‘Rashtrasant’.

The famous Ajanta mountain ranges stretch to the north of Parbhani district, and the Balaghat mountain ranges to the south. According to gazetteer records, the name Parbhani evolved from the ancient name ‘Prabhavatinagar’. In ancient times, this region was part of the Magadha Empire and the Mauryan rule. References in the Puranas also mention that King Babhruvahana, son of Arjuna, founded the city of Pathri. The original village of the great mathematician Bhaskaracharya, Bori, and the birthplace of Sant Namdev Maharaj, ‘Narsi Namdev’, fall within this same Parbhani district. In the pre-independence era, Pachlegaon was a small agricultural village in a remote area with no access to transportation or higher education. It was in this remote social and political environment that Rashtrasant Pachlegaonkar Maharaj was born.

According to records in the book ‘Shri Pachlegaonkar Maharaj Charitramrut’, the couple Rajarampant Kulkarni (Pande) and Smt. Krishnabai of Pachlegaon were virtuous and devout. They were always worried due to the lack of children. To seek permission to take Sannyasa, Rajarampant met Sakharam Maharaj of Loni. At that time, Sakharam Maharaj refused to let him take Sannyasa and blessed him, saying, “Let God come to your home.” That very night, a sage dressed in saffron robes appeared in Rajarampant’s dream and told him that he would be born in their home. On Shake १८३४ Ashwin Krishna Chaturdashi, i.e., November ८, १९१२, on Narak Chaturdashi, Nrusinha was born to Krishnabai. While Nrusinha was still a child, the ascetic Shri Madhavashram Swami of Dattawadi came to Pachlegaon. Recognizing Nrusinha’s future mission through his spiritual power, he named him ‘Sanchareshwar’. Nrusinha was an intelligent and sharp child. His mind was never occupied by formal studies in primary school. He would run away from school to meditate on the hill in Mukteshwar near Pachlegaon, where a Swayambhu Mahadev Linga is located. On the day of Nag Panchami, the eight-year-old Nrusinha caught a live snake and brought it home. He worshipped the snake himself and released it safely.

In the twentieth century, Hindus living in the Hyderabad State were subjected to atrocities and forced conversions by the Nizam. To face this wave of forced conversions and strengthen Hindu unity, Maharaj established the ‘Mukteshwar Dal’ between १९२५ and १९२६. Through this group, patriotism and devotion to Dharma were awakened in thousands of youths. By the year १९३२, as many as १५० branches of the ‘Mukteshwar Dal’ were opened, stretching from Mumbai to the border areas of Hyderabad and from Ahmednagar to Kurundwad. Maharaj launched a massive purification campaign to bring back Hindu families who had been forcibly converted by Christian missionaries to their original faith. He brought thousands of people from १२०२ villages in the Khandwa and Jabalpur districts back into the Hindu fold.

Maharaj was deeply saddened by the passing of Mahatma Gandhi on January ३०, १९४८. On January ३१, १९४८, a condolence meeting was held at the residence of Prof. Indradev Singh on behalf of the Arya Samaj. In this meeting, Maharaj paid a heartfelt tribute to Mahatmaji. Rashtrasant Pachlegaonkar Maharaj, who spent his entire life serving the national religion and reforming Hindu society, attained Mahasamadhi on August १६, १९८६, on Shravan Shuddha Ekadashi at ७:०० AM at ‘J. J. Hospital’ in Mumbai. His mortal remains were brought to the Mukteshwar Ashram in Khamgaon for final viewing. Here, thousands of devotees and followers paid their last respects.

The guru lineage of Pachlegaonkar Maharaj is considered ancient and venerable. This tradition, which began with Shri Vasudevanand Saraswati (Tembe Swami), passed to Swami Narayan Dattanand Saraswati and subsequently to Shri Madhavashram Swami. According to references in the book ‘Charitra of Swami Narayan Dattanand’, Swami Narayan Dattanand Saraswati was a Rigvedi Deshastha Brahmin. He had completed his higher education up to an MA during British rule. While working as an inspection officer in a princely state, the memory of his previous incarnations was awakened after seeing the head of the Sringeri Peeth. He immediately resigned from his job and chose the path of Sannyasa for the welfare of the people. According to records in the book ‘Tembe Swami Charitra’, Shri Narayan Dattanand Swami met Shri Vasudevanand Saraswati on the Venkatagiri mountain. It was there that he received Danda Diksha. Swami Narayan Dattanand discovered many secret temples and ancient pilgrimage sites in Maharashtra and Varhad. He established a pilgrimage site at the famous Someshwar Temple in Ghatnandur. His residence room there is still preserved today. Before the conclusion of his avatar mission, he told his disciple Madhavashram Swami, “I will end this body and be born in Pachlegaon as Nrusinha.”

The Mukteshwar Ashram and the temple of Rashtrasant Pachlegaonkar Maharaj are located in the central part of Pachlegaon. One enters a closed courtyard through the gateway in the fortification wall surrounding this temple complex. In this courtyard, the Mukteshwar Mahadev Temple is on the left, and the temple of Rashtrasant Pachlegaonkar Maharaj is on the right. The ancient Mukteshwar Temple here is built in the Hemadpanti architectural style. Near the entrance of this temple, on the right side, there is an ancient Shiva Linga, and beside it stands an ancient stone idol of Shiva-Parvati. On the wall to the right of the entrance is an image of Saraswati, and on the left is an image of Shiva-Shankar. There are lamp niches (deep-koshtakas) on both sides of the upper lintel of the entrance. Upon entering the temple, one finds a large, unhewn stone slab on the floor in the center, surrounded by four ornate stone pillars. This very slab is worshipped here as Mukteshwar Mahadev. To have darshan of this Mukteshwar Mahadev, male devotees must remove all clothing above the waist before entering the sanctum sanctorum. Opposite this temple is the small temple of Rashtrasant Pachlegaonkar Maharaj. On the pedestal (vajrapitha) inside this temple stands a pristine white marble idol of Pachlegaonkar Maharaj, adorned in saffron robes. The idol wears a crown on its head and is sheltered by a canopy.

Many festivals and celebrations are held in the temple with great enthusiasm throughout the year. The largest festival of the year is the Maharaj’s Janmotsav (birth anniversary) celebration, observed on Ashwin Krishna Chaturdashi, also known as Naraka Chaturdashi. On the occasion of this birth anniversary, the villagers of Pachlegaon organize an Akhand Harinam Saptah (a week-long continuous chanting of the Lord’s name) at the temple. During the Saptah, collective recitations of the ‘Dnyaneshwari’ and ‘Shrimad Bhagavata’ are performed. Mahashivratri is considered the second most important annual festival at the temple. On Mahashivratri, thousands of devotees come to Pachlegaon from early morning to perform Rudrabhishek on the Swayambhu Linga of Mukteshwar. Every year, the Punyatithi (death anniversary) ceremony of Rashtrasant Pachlegaonkar Maharaj is celebrated here on Shravan Shukla Ekadashi. On the occasion of the Punyatithi, bhajans, kirtans, and the recitation of the ‘Shrimad Sanchareshwar Charitamrut’ scripture take place in the temple. Following the conclusion of the ceremony, a Bhandara, or Mahaprasad, is organized. Thousands of devotees partake in this Mahaprasad. The Nirguna Paduka Sthapana Dina (installation day of the sacred sandals) ceremony is also celebrated with great devotion in the temple on Margashirsha Vadya Dwadashi. The Ashadh Shukla Ashtami and ‘Gurupurnima’ festivals are also organized in the temple with collective worship and discourses.

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