Pavitra Sringeri Devi Temple Brahmagaon, Ashti, Beed

Mother Tulja Bhavani is renowned as the Kuldevi (family deity) of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Legend has it that the Goddess blessed Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj with the establishment of Swarajya by gifting him the Bhavani sword. Tulja Bhavani is a manifestation of Goddess Parvati. Puranic texts recount that during the Krita Yuga, when a demon named Kukur attempted to violate the sanctity of Anubhuti, the wife of Sage Kardam, Goddess Parvati appeared in the form of Tulja Bhavani and destroyed the demon. The main seat of this Goddess is at Tuljapur in Dharashiv district, and there are many sub-seats of the Goddess across Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. One such sub-seat is situated in the hills of Brahmagaon in Ashti taluka, where the Goddess is worshipped as Shringeri Devi. The annual fifteen-day fair held here is very famous.

The legend regarding this temple states that a devotee of the Goddess named Shringarrao Nimbalkar used to travel to the temple in Tuljapur every full moon to seek the blessings of Bhavani. As he grew older and the journey became difficult, he requested the Goddess to come to his village. The Goddess agreed, saying, “I will follow you in a radiant form, but I shall settle at the very spot where you turn back to look at me.” The Goddess followed the devotee to the hill near the village, where the devotee turned back, and the Goddess manifested herself there in the form of an idol.

The temple is nestled on a lush green hill a short distance from the village. Villagers state that this temple is approximately seven to eight hundred years old. There is a spacious parking area near the temple. Beside the parking area is a freshwater pond, where it is customary to purify oneself before proceeding to the temple. Adjoining the parking area is a pavilion with a corrugated iron roof supported by iron pillars. Beyond this are three crescent-shaped steps leading to a courtyard paved with paver blocks. In the courtyard, there are two platforms featuring lamp towers (Deepmalas). Further ahead stands a sturdy temple fortification wall about fifteen feet high. Since the temple is situated on high ground, there are eight steps carved into stone leading to the entrance. There are platforms on both sides of the steps. During festivals, the Goddess’s devotees—Aradhi, Waghya, Potraj, and Murali—sit on these platforms to sing devotional hymns. There are seats for guards on both sides of the entrance. The door frames are intricately carved, and the lintel features a sculpture of Lord Ganesha. The entrance has ornate wooden doors. Inside the temple premises, there are cloisters along the fortification wall, which are used as pilgrim lodgings, dharmashalas, and rest rooms for devotees. In the courtyard, there is a Tulsi Vrindavan and, beyond it, a platform around a sacred tree.

The temple, consisting of a Sabha Mandap (assembly hall) and a Garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum), has an entrance to the Sabha Mandap at a height of about fifteen feet, accessible by approximately twenty steps. There are protective walls on both sides of the steps and a stainless steel railing in the center. The Sabha Mandap here is enclosed. Since the Garbhagriha is elevated above the Sabha Mandap, there are seven steps leading to its entrance, with platforms on both sides featuring carved wheel motifs. The door frames of the Garbhagriha feature pillar carvings, and the lintel bears a sculpture of Lord Ganesha. Inside the Garbhagriha, on a Vajra-peetha (diamond throne) within a marble arch, are the black stone idols of Shringeri Devi and Tulja Bhavani. Both idols are eight-armed (Ashtabhuja) and hold various divine weapons. Adorned with various garments and ornaments, the idols wear crowns. Both idols share a common halo (Prabhaval) featuring carvings of the moon, sun, foliage, and flowers. Silver footwear (Padukas) are placed in front of the idols, along with plates containing worship offerings. The ceiling of the Garbhagriha features an octagonal canopy with circular carvings, and brass bells are suspended from it. There is an exit door on the left side of the Garbhagriha. The roof of the Garbhagriha is topped by a four-tiered, circular, tapering Shikhara (spire). The lower three tiers of the Shikhara each contain eight niches housing various deity idols. The fourth tier features pillar carvings. All tiers of the Shikhara are separated by lotus-petal rings. At the pinnacle are two Amalakas stacked one above the other, crowned by a Kalash. Behind the Garbhagriha, on the hill, there is another lamp tower; it is said that this was the site of the original temple.

The annual fifteen-day fair is celebrated with great enthusiasm from Paush Purnima to Paush Amavasya. Thousands of devotees visit to seek the blessings of the Goddess during this time. The festival begins on the first day at dawn with a Maha-Abhishek. Following this, the Goddess’s palanquin procession, accompanied by the sound of drums and the throwing of gulal, sets out for a tour of the village. Various religious programs are organized in the temple for fifteen days. Wrestling competitions are also held in the arena near the temple during the fair, with many wrestlers participating. Additionally, festivals such as Chaitra Padwa, Sharadiya Navratri, Dussehra, and Diwali are celebrated at the temple. There is a special influx of devotees on days like Purnima, Amavasya, Ashtami, Tuesdays, and Fridays.

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