Divine Balaji Temple Parola, uka Parola, Jalgaon

The town of Parola in the Jalgaon district is known as a center of history and spirituality. Rulers of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries built many temples in this town. These include the temples of Shri Ram, Santoshi Mata, Hinglaj Mata, Bhate Mandir, Swami Mandir, Jhapat Bhavani, and Dwarkadhish. The Balaji Mandir is one of the most famous among them. The Rathotsav (chariot festival) celebrated at this temple is renowned throughout Khandesh. It is said that the chariot used for the procession of Balaji here is one of the tallest chariots in Maharashtra. The height of this chariot is 41 feet and it weighs a massive 1500 kilograms.

The legend of the temple is that Giridharshet Shimpi, a resident of Parola village, was a devout follower of Balaji. From the age of fifteen, he used to travel on foot from Parola to Tirupati to seek the blessings of Balaji. At the age of eighty-five, he told Balaji that he did not think it would be possible for him to come for His darshan anymore. Saying this, he stepped out of the temple with tear-filled eyes. While on his return journey, Balaji appeared to him in a vision and told him that from now on, to meet Him, you 

There is no need to travel so far; I am coming with you. Balaji arrived in Parola in the form of a fragment within Giridharshet’s satchel. As soon as Giridharshet returned to Parola after his pilgrimage to Tirupati, the local landlord, Newalkar, met him. He discussed with Giridharshet the establishment of a Balaji temple in Parola and requested that he take on the responsibility for it. At that moment, Giridharshet recalled the divine vision granted to him by Balaji. From that day forward, he began serving Balaji right there in Parola.

Located in the heart of Parola city, this temple is designed in the Dravidian style. After a renovation that lasted for a full ten years, from 2007 to 2017, the temple has attained its current beautiful and magnificent form. This entire temple is constructed from Rajasthani sandstone. Within the temple’s perimeter walls stands a grand Gopuram. It is 71 feet in height and tapers as it rises from the base to the top. This Gopuram features 18 statues of gatekeepers (Dwarapalas) at various points, and at the summit, there is a pinnacle (Kalash) made of Panchadhatu. It also includes a modern Nagarkhana. One enters the temple courtyard from here. 

In the courtyard, in front of the main temple, stands a thirty-three-foot-tall Garuda pillar on a raised platform. This Garuda pillar, made from a single solid teak trunk and covered with a brass casing, was erected one hundred twenty-five years ago by Shrinivasbhau Agrawal at his own expense. The famous Brahmotsavam here begins with the worship of this pillar. Beyond it, one enters the spacious assembly hall through the temple entrance. This enclosed assembly hall features thirty-two intricately carved pillars. In the assembly hall In the wall niches, there are exquisite marble idols of Ganesha, Kubera, Shrirama-Sita, Matsyavatara, Vamanavatara, Goddess Padmavati, Maruti, Garuda, Lakshmi, Kurmavatara, Dattatreya, Radha-Krishna, and Narasimhavatara. Additionally, in one of the niches, there is also an idol of Giridharshet Shimpi.

At the entrance of the sanctum sanctorum, the Padukas of Balaji are placed in a glass case. Inside, the idol of Balaji is enshrined within a wooden canopy atop a low-height Vajrapitha. The pinnacle of the sanctum sanctorum is gold-plated. Within the temple premises, there is a grand chamber for housing the divine chariot. The chariot there has been crafted by artisans from Nagardeola. Made entirely of teak wood, this chariot features exquisite carvings. The chariot is adorned with wooden horses and an idol of Arjuna as the charioteer. 

The chariot festival of Lord Balaji Maharaj takes place during the Navratri festival. Thousands of devotees gather here to witness this chariot procession. This magnificent chariot is pulled by the devotees themselves. The Samadhi of Girdharshet Shimpi, a supreme devotee of Lord Balaji, is located near the village on the national highway. During the chariot festival, on the day of Ashwin Shuddha Saptami, Lord Balaji arrives in a palanquin near the Samadhi to meet His devotee. It is the firm belief of the devotees that at that moment, tears flow from the eyes of the Lord. After performing Puja and Abhishekam at that site, the palanquin of the Lord returns to the temple. Apart from this, Maha-Abhishekam is performed every Friday at 8 o’clock in the morning. Maha-Aarti takes place in the temple every night at 8:30. The facility of Mahaprasad is available for devotees between 11 o’clock in the morning and 2 o’clock in the afternoon.

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