Pavitra Renukadevi Temple Pedgaon, uka Parbhani, rict Parbhani

There is an ancient temple of Mother Renuka at Pedgaon in Parbhani district. In ancient times, this village was famous as a major marketplace. This village boasts a history spanning over seven hundred years. This shrine is considered the village deity. Devotees have deep faith that this Goddess has been protecting the village for many years. This place is known as a ‘Jagrut Devasthan’ (a spiritually awakened shrine). During the Sharadiya Navratri festival, the temple premises are crowded with a massive number of devotees. The greatest attraction of this temple is the magnificent 26-foot-tall lamp pillar (Deepmal) standing in front of it. When this lamp pillar is swayed from its top, it oscillates all the way down to its base. Near this lamp pillar, there is an ancient well built of stone, known as a ‘Barav’. It is said that in the past, when this lamp pillar was swayed, bubbles would emerge from the water in this well. This lamp pillar is considered a wonderful specimen of ancient architecture and craftsmanship.

Located on the Parbhani to Pathri road, this village possesses a rich historical heritage. Seven hundred years ago, a very large marketplace used to be held in this village. After Muhammad Tughlaq captured Devagiri, his army arrived here and looted this marketplace. Fearing the army, many villagers fled the village. Those who remained were killed by Tughlaq’s soldiers. After this horrific incident, the village remained completely desolate and uninhabited for many years. About three hundred years ago, a Sardar of the Nizam named Ajitshah came to this area for hunting. He liked this area very much. Legend has it that he gave Deshmukhi charters to the four Maratha Sardars accompanying him, instructing them to reside here and resettle the village.

Two different legends are famous regarding the origin of the village’s name. Before this village was resettled, the entire area was a dense forest. Because there were trees everywhere, the village was formerly called ‘Peda-che-Gav’ (Village of Trees). The mention of this village as ‘Peda-che-Gav’ is also found in the Deshmukhi charters. Later, this name was corrupted, and the village came to be known as Pedgaon. According to another legend, because a large marketplace (Peth) used to be held here, the village was called ‘Pethgaon’. It is said that the word ‘Pethgaon’ was corrupted over time to become the name ‘Pedgaon’. Upon entering the village, the temple of Mother Renuka is situated in the southern direction. There is no concrete historical evidence or written information available regarding exactly when the Renuka Devi idol was consecrated in this temple. However, many local legends and stories are told about the installation of this Goddess. This ancient temple was renovated just a few years ago.

In front of the temple is a spacious courtyard. In the courtyard, right in front of the temple, stands a 26-foot-tall lamp pillar constructed of stone and earth. A unique feature of this lamp pillar is that the circumference of its base is also exactly 26 feet. Even today, when this lamp pillar is swayed from the top, it oscillates down to its base. A short distance from this lamp pillar is an ancient stone-built well, or ‘Barav’. Steps have been built to descend into this well. When the lamp pillar is swayed, the water in this well is clearly seen to ripple. In the olden days, after swaying the lamp pillar, bubbles would emerge from the water of this well. However, this old well was renovated a few years ago, and since then, bubbles are no longer seen emerging from the water. Now, for safety reasons, an iron wire fence has been installed around this well. Many attempts have been made to study why this lamp pillar sways and how bubbles emerge from the well’s water after it is swayed. During the Nizam’s era and later during the British rule, many experts studied it closely. However, to this day, no study has succeeded in solving the scientific mystery behind this.

There is a large, old banyan tree in the temple premises. A few steps away from this banyan tree, under a tree, two ancient idols of the Serpent Deity (Nagdevta) and a Shiva Linga are installed. A sacrificial fire pit (Yajnakund) is built right in front of the temple. Also, a large hall has been built attached to the temple for the convenience of devotees. The original structure of this temple consists of two assembly halls (Sabhamandaps) and one sanctum sanctorum (Garbhagriha).

During the temple’s renovation a few years ago, another new assembly hall was built in front of the original temple. Beautiful images of various Goddesses are placed on the walls of this first new assembly hall. The wooden entrance of the second assembly hall of the original temple is very small in size. The entrance to the sanctum sanctorum is also small. There is old stone masonry around this entrance, which is intricately carved.

An idol of Lord Ganesha is carved on the lintel (Lalatbimba) in the center of the entrance. Inside the sanctum sanctorum, a magnificent, vermilion-smeared stone idol (Tandala) of Mother Renuka is seated on a large pedestal. The Goddess’s eyes, eyebrows, lips, and nose are very clearly carved on this idol. The Goddess wears a silver nose ring, and a beautiful silver crown is placed on her head. A large bindi is always applied to the Goddess’s forehead. This sacred idol is beautifully adorned with various garments and ornaments. There is a dome-shaped spire over the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. Adjacent to the main temple is a small temple of Janardan Maharaj.

Since Mother Renuka is the village deity of Pedgaon, many villagers and devotees come here for Darshan every day. The Sharadiya Navratri festival is the most important and grandest festival at this temple. During this festival, Kakada Aarti is performed daily from 4 to 6 in the morning. During Navratri, an idol of the Goddess is installed in a special place within the temple premises for the main festivities. For nine days, the entire area is bustling with the crowds and devotion of the devotees. Citizens of the village who have moved out for work and daughters of the village who have married and moved away make it a point to visit the village for the Goddess’s Darshan on the occasion of this festival. During these nine days of the festival, an Akhand Harinam Saptah (continuous chanting of God’s name) is organized in the temple. During this period, daily recitations of the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita, Dnyaneshwari, and Haripath are conducted. Various types of competitions are also organized for the women of the village during the festival. The Navratri festival concludes with a ‘Kalya-che-Kirtan’. During this festival, Mahaprasad, meaning food distribution, is organized daily for thousands of devotees. Devotees can have Darshan here every day from five in the morning until nine at night.

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