Pavitra Nag Ghat Paithan City, Paithan, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

Paithan is an ancient city, and in ancient times, this city was inhabited by the Nagas. The settlement of the Nagas refers to the people who worshipped the Naga as their deity or those belonging to the Naga lineage. References to this can still be found in many folk songs today. One folk song states, “Paithan settlement is wonderful, it appears to be the settlement of the Nagas. For many years, it was the settlement of Shalu Shankha, of King Shalivahana.” The existence of this is evidenced today by the Nag Ghat located in Paithan.

This Nag Ghat is reached while heading towards the Godavari River from the area known as Palthi Nagari. Paithan’s old settlement was situated on the ancient hills dating back to the Satavahana era. Over the course of time, it came to be called Palthi Nagari. The reason this area, spanning about 40 acres between the Shani Temple and Nag Ghat, is called Palthi Nagari is that the old houses there are below the road level, and today’s roads pass over these houses. Excavations conducted here in 1937 revealed the remains of ancient houses from the Satavahana era. Nearby is this Nag Ghat. It was on this very ghat that Saint Dnyaneshwar Maharaj performed the miracle of making a buffalo recite the Vedas. Because of this event, this ghat has become a center of attraction for devotees and tourists visiting Paithan. According to the Aurangabad Gazetteer, Anand Rao, the son of Raghunathrao Peshwa, renovated the ancient ghat here in 1734 AD.

Existing since the Satavahana era, it is also recorded as ‘Nagdoh’ in Mahanubhava literature. The Nag Ghat area has now been beautified. One enters the Nag Ghat area after descending very wide steps built on a slope from the road. Here, on one side, is a small, sacred Hanuman temple. Inside the temple, on a stone platform, is an idol of Hanuman smeared with vermilion. On the other side is a small shrine-like temple of Sheshnag, the father of Shalivahana. In this temple, there is an idol of a hooded Naga carved in black stone. Regarding this, according to a reference in the text ‘Prabandha Chintamani’, a Brahmin girl lived in the city of Paithan with her two brothers. She was beautiful. Once, when she went to Nagdoh to fetch water, Sheshraja saw her. He was captivated by her beauty and immediately married her. She soon became pregnant. Her brothers were angered by her conduct and left her there. Later, she began living in the potter’s colony (Kumbharwada) in Paithan, where she gave birth to Shalivahana.

While going down from this Sheshnag temple towards the ghat, stone idols of Nandi have been installed on both sides of the path. Further ahead is the main entrance of Nag Ghat, set into a stone boundary wall. This entrance resembles the gateway of a large mansion and has a sturdy wooden frame. A large image of the Naga deity is depicted on the upper side. Upon entering through the gateway, one sees a large open space in front. It has been fenced with railings. From here, one can get a view of the Godavari River.

Outside the entrance, steps have been built to descend towards the river below the ghat. At that spot, on one side, a small replica of the Naga idol from the Naga temple has been installed. After descending from there, on the side at a slight elevation, is the Siddha Varun Ganpati Temple. Locals say this temple was built during the Peshwa period. The structure of this temple is square and does not have a shikhara (spire). Paintings of Garuda and Hanuman have been painted on the walls of the temple’s sanctum sanctorum. Inside, in a large marble arched shrine, is an idol of Ganesha smeared with vermilion. In front of this temple is a small stone idol of a buffalo. This idol faces the Godavari, and a small pavilion has been built over it.

According to the miracle story in the biography of Saint Dnyaneshwar Maharaj, Vitthalpant and Rukminibai had performed the death-atonement prescribed by the orthodox to ensure their children would have the right to the thread ceremony (Munj). Even after that, the orthodox in Alandi refused to give a certificate of purification to the siblings Nivritti, Dnyandev, Sopan, and Muktabai. They were told to go to Paithan and obtain a verdict from the learned Brahmins there. Accordingly, they traveled in stages and arrived in Paithan. They stayed at the Siddheshwar temple located on the ghat here. Afterward, they went to the local Brahmin scholars and requested a certificate of purification. A Brahmin assembly (Brahmasabha) was called at Nag Ghat to decide on this. Brahmin pundits were debating the scriptures there. At the same time, a person was passing by the side of the ghat with his buffalo. As the buffalo was not moving, he was beating it severely. Seeing this, Saint Dnyaneshwar’s heart was moved with compassion. He told the person not to beat the buffalo. The orthodox group became angry and began to say that while they were discussing important matters, this boy was concerned about a buffalo. To this, Dnyandev replied that God resides in all beings. The same Supreme Soul resides in the body of that buffalo and in our bodies as well. Hearing this, the orthodox challenged Dnyandev. They asked, “If the same Supreme Soul resides in our bodies and that of the buffalo, then just as we recite the Vedas, can that buffalo also recite the Vedas?” Then, Dnyandev went near the buffalo and placed his hand on its head. As soon as his divine touch occurred, verses from the Vedas began to emerge from the mouth of the buffalo. This miracle occurred on Friday, the Magh Shuddha Vasant Panchami in 1287 AD. In memory of this event that took place at Nag Ghat, this idol of the buffalo was later installed there. The scene is also depicted on the wall right here.

After descending further from the buffalo idol and the Siddha Varun Ganesh Temple, on the right side is the north-facing Nageshwar Shivalaya. This temple is rectangular in shape and is built of stone on a stone platform. This temple also does not have a shikhara and has a flat roof. In the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, there is a stone Shiva Linga set in marble tiles.

While descending from Nag Ghat towards the Godavari River, there is a massive stone step. The Saptamatrikas (Seven Divine Mothers) are carved onto this step. It is said that this step dates back to the Yadava era. Near this ghat lies the Indreshwar Mahadev Temple. The structure of the Indreshwar Mahadev Temple is square. Images of Bhaladars and Chopdars (traditional temple guards) are painted on the entrance of the temple. Upon entering, one sees a structure resembling an ‘ovari’ (a pillared veranda). After climbing three steps to enter the ovari, a latticed window is set into the wall directly ahead. Through this, one can have the darshan of the Shivling inside. Entering through the door to the left, one reaches a small room. This room has an extremely small doorway. One must bend down to enter the sanctum sanctorum (Garbhagriha) from here. The sanctum is located at a level below the ground. There is a brass mask on the Shivpindi here, and a small idol of Nandi in front of it. This temple is said to belong to the medieval period.

This Nag Ghat in Paithan is a place of reverence for the Warkari and Nath Panthi traditions. A grand festival of Nag Panchami is celebrated here. At that time, the area takes on the appearance of a pilgrimage site. It also serves as a resting center for many Dindis arriving in Paithan for Nath Shashthi.

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