Pavitra Siddha Mahalaxmi Temple Shegaon, Shegaon, Buldana

Situated in the holy land of Shegaon, renowned as the Pandharpur of Vidarbha, and located just a stone’s throw away from the Shri Gajanan Maharaj Sansthan, this Shri Kshetra Shaktipeeth has become a place of faith for millions of devotees. The self-manifested (Swayambhu) idol of Siddha Mahalakshmi was discovered here in December 2020 during excavation work for a school for children with special needs. Carved from black Gandaki stone, this idol is a marvelous specimen of sculpture. In this single stone, one receives the divine and rare vision of the Primordial Mother Mahalakshmi and Lord Narayana. Receiving the vision of Lakshmi-Narayana in a single idol is considered highly auspicious and unique for devotees.

According to mythology, Mother Lakshmi and Lord Vishnu, that is, Narayana, are considered the sustainers of the entire universe and inseparable parts of each other. When Mother Lakshmi appeared as one of the fourteen gems during the churning of the ocean, she chose the calm, profound, and righteous form of Lord Vishnu from among all the gods, demons, and sages and placed the wedding garland around his neck. Since then, the relationship between Lakshmi and Narayana is not merely that of husband and wife, but that of Power (Shakti) and the Possessor of Power (Shaktiman). Whenever Vishnu incarnates on Earth, Mother Lakshmi accompanies him in various forms such as Sita, Rukmini, or Padmavati, which illustrates their unbreakable bond.

From a spiritual and mythological perspective, the union of Lakshmi and Narayana is considered highly fruitful and significant for human life. The primary reason for this is that Lakshmi is the Goddess of wealth, prosperity, and splendor, while Vishnu is the protector of Dharma, ethics, and boundaries. Where Lakshmi and Narayana reside together, wisdom and morality dwell alongside wealth.

Located on the Shegaon-Balapur road, about one kilometer from the ‘Anandsagar’ project established by the Gajanan Maharaj Sansthan, this Shri Gajanan Maharaj Residential School for children with special needs was built by the Avishkar Sanstha of Nagpur. It was during the excavation for this school that the idol of the Goddess was found in the ground in December 2020. Subsequently, a grand temple was built here. The idol was consecrated in this temple on 27 January 2023. In front of the temple is a large courtyard paved with paver blocks. There are lamp pillars (Deepmala) on both sides of the courtyard, and in front of them, the Gajraj (elephants) welcome the devotees. A few steps away is the shrine of Hanuman. On both sides of the Hanuman idol here are sculptures of lions. There is a large entrance arch in front of the temple, adorned with decorative canopies (Meghdambari). Upon entering through the gate, one notices sculptures of guards holding trumpets on both sides. One can reach the temple directly through the Darshan-bari on the right side of the courtyard. Near the temple entrance, two gatekeepers and sculptures of Gajraj welcome the devotees. The temple structure consists of a main hall (Mukhamandap), a semi-open assembly hall (Sabhamandap), and the sanctum sanctorum (Garbhagriha). The pillars in the assembly hall feature sculptures of celestial damsels (Sursundari). In the center of the assembly hall, facing the sanctum, is a beautiful, golden-colored entrance with intricate craftsmanship, topped by a dome-shaped spire. The image of Ganesha is placed on the lintel of the sanctum entrance. Inside the sanctum, the idol of the Goddess is seated on a platform within an attractive shrine. In this single idol, one gets the combined vision of the Primordial Mother Mahalakshmi and Lord Shrinarayana. This beautiful idol is skillfully carved from the sacred black Gandaki stone, also known as Shaligram rock. On the right side of this single stone, one sees the affectionate form of Mahalakshmi, whose face bears soft expressions, wearing a nose ring, with downcast eyes expressing the Mother’s modesty and love. On the left side of the same idol, the radiant form of Lord Vishnu is manifested. On one side, the Goddess holds a lotus, the symbol of prosperity, while on the other side, Vishnu holds the Sudarshan Chakra, the symbol of protection. Since this idol was found during excavation, it is considered Swayambhu (self-manifested). Like the Ambabai of Kolhapur, this idol is regularly adorned with gold ornaments and garments, which further enhances its beauty and the craftsmanship of the halo behind it. In front of the idol are the idols of the Shri Vishnu-Lakshmi family. There are metal idols of Ganesha, Kubera, Saraswati, and Gajraj here. There is also a Shri Yantra and a flag (Dhvajapataka).

In this temple, one can also have the vision of Kalabhairava, Tryambolimata, and Lord Kubera. After visiting Lord Kubera, one must descend the stairs to visit the twelve Jyotirlingas in the basement. At the very beginning, there is an idol of Nandi. To give devotees the experience of visiting an ancient Shiva temple, the walls here have been designed in the Hemadpanti architectural style. Along with the twelve Jyotirlingas, one can also see Shiva Lingas made of crystal and pure mercury. There is also a Dwinetra Shiva Linga, an Ardhanarinateshwar Shiva Linga, a Brahmalinga, and a Shiva Linga created by joining 1001 Rudrakshas. A grand, meditative idol of Lord Shiva is also enshrined here. Water is offered to the Shiva Lingas here through a cow-mouth (Gomukh) located above the replicas of the Omkareshwar and Kedarnath Shiva Lingas. There is also a meditation hall in the temple premises. A meditative idol of Lord Shiva is present here as well. The square spire above the sanctum, which tapers towards the top, features replicas of niches (Devakoshthaka). There are also images of the Sun God here. The spire is topped with an Amalaka and a finial (Kalash).

This temple is open for Darshan from 7 in the morning to 10 at night. Daily worship and rituals are performed here. Like the Mahalakshmi temple in Kolhapur, the idol here is also adorned with traditional attire and jewelry. The temple premises include a pilgrim guest house (Bhaktaniwas), ‘Swavalamban Village Short Stay Home’, ‘Purnabrahma Prasadalaya’, a cow shelter (Goseva Kendra), a naturopathy center, and a center for handicrafts by differently-abled individuals. There is also a park for children nearby. The premises feature a grand marble idol of Gajanan Maharaj, an equestrian statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and idols of Ganesha, Dattatreya, and Saibaba.

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