Divine Revan Siddheshwar Temple Solapur, Solapur

Due to Vitthal of Pandharpur, Tulja Bhavani of Tuljapur, and Swami Samarth of Akkalkot, Solapur district is known as the Southern Kashi of Maharashtra. In the city of Solapur, which is the headquarters of this district, lies the ancient temple of the great saint of the Lingayat community, Revan Siddheshwar. Revan Siddheshwar was the guru of Shivayogi Siddharameshwar, the presiding deity of Solapur. He is considered the founder of the Kadsiddheshwar tradition. Devotees believe that even today, Revan Siddha rushes to answer the calls of his followers. For this reason, along with Lingayats and Veerashaivas, the temple is always crowded with devotees from other communities as well.

Revanasiddha is considered one of the Panchamahasiddhas in the Veerashaiva tradition. According to Veerashaiva scriptures, the Panchamahasiddhas—Revanaradhya, Marularadhya, Ekoraradhya, Panditaradhya, and Vishwaradhya—emerged from the five faces of Shiva. They are also known as the Panchamacharyas. According to the text ‘Siddhantasara’, Revanasiddha manifested from the Someshwara Linga. It is said that this event took place at Kolipak in Andhra Pradesh. Revanasiddha is also referred to as Kadasiddha. The legend regarding this is that Revanasiddha and Marulasiddha, along with many other Siddhas, arrived at Karveer Kshetra on a pilgrimage. There lived a yogini named Mai, who would frighten all the Siddhas and force them to drink poison. At the behest of Marulasiddha, Revanasiddha drank the poison, but it had no effect on him. In this way, he defeated Mai. Due to this act, he came to be known as Kadasiddha. 

In the book ‘Nath Sampradayacha Itihas’ by the renowned researcher Ra. Chin. Dhere, it is stated that Revansiddha was primarily a Nath Siddha. According to the ‘Navnath Bhaktisar’ composed by the poet Dhundisut Malu, Revansiddha is the eighth among the Navnaths. He is a Natha and an incarnation of Chamasanarayana. According to scholars, he was a contemporary of Gorakshanatha. The period of Gorakshanatha is from 1050 to 1150 CE. Bijjala, the founder of the Kalachuri dynasty, lived around the same time (1130 to 1168). There is a legend that Revansiddha taught this Bijjala a lesson. Once, this arrogant king poured boiling rice into the alms bag (jolige) of Revansiddha. Immediately, Bijjala’s palace caught fire. The fire was extinguished only after Bijjala begged for Revansiddha’s forgiveness. Based on this story, the period of Revansiddha is determined to be in the twelfth century. Mangalvedha was Bijjala’s earlier capital. From there, Revansiddha came to Sonnalagi, which is today’s Solapur. Here, he stayed in a mansion near the Kirateshwar Math. His footprints (padukas) appeared there. That same place is known as the old Revan Siddheshwar Temple. During this period, he also visited the residence of an elderly couple named Mudyagouda and Suggal Devi. Guru Revansiddha blessed this couple with the birth of a son, and later, Shivayogi Shri Siddheshwar Maharaj was born to them. Inspired by Basaveshwara, the founder of the Lingayat religion, Siddharameshwar performed great religious and social work in the Solapur region.

Revanasiddheshwar later came to reside in the scenic and tranquil surroundings of Motibaug. Here, he would engage in meditation and Linga-puja. The present-day Revanasiddheshwar temple stands at this very location. He propagated and spread the message of Dharma and Shiva-worship throughout the country. He initiated many disciples into Linga-diksha. It is said that after some time, he bestowed the authority of the lineage upon Rudramunishwar and merged back into the same Someshwar Linga from which he had originally manifested.

The premises of the Revansiddha temple are spacious. The tall stone structures surrounding the temple Due to the fortification walls, this structure appears like a fort. From a distance, only the spire of the temple located within the walls is visible. One enters the temple courtyard through the gateway in the fortification. There are pillared corridors along the inner side of the walls. In this courtyard, which has stone paving, there is a lamp tower. Similar to the famous Siddheshwar Temple in Solapur, there is a Nandi Dhwaja near this temple as well. Near the entrance of the Revansiddheshwar Temple, there are small shrines. These include those of Ganapati, Dakshinmukhi Hanuman, Nagadevata, and the sixty-fourth linga among the sixty-eight Shiva lingas established by Siddharam Swami in the Solapur region. 

The Linga of Revansiddheshwara in the main temple is located in the basement. To reach it, one must descend a few steps through a narrow entrance into the sanctum sanctorum. At the entrance of the sanctum, there is a Kirtimukha at the base and a Ganesha panel on the lintel. The sanctum houses a five-faced Linga. The Linga and the Pindi are covered with brass sheets. The Nandi is enshrined in the sanctum located directly above this basement. There are Nandi sculptures on all four sides of the temple spire. In the niches across the four tiers of the spire, there are idols of various deities, topped with small pinnacles. At the apex of the spire, there is an Amalaka, crowned with a brass Kalasha. 

Every Sunday and Monday, devotees flock to this temple for the darshan of Revansiddheshwara. A Mahaprasad is organized here every Sunday. The temple hosts a yatra twice a year. During the yatras held at the time of Makar Sankranti and Shravan, thousands of devotees arrive here for darshan. During the yatra period, the palanquin and idol of Siddheshwara, the presiding deity of Solapur, arrive at this temple to seek the blessings of his guru.

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