Prasanna Shree Kalbhairavnath Temple Agadgaon

A short distance from the city of Ahilyanagar lies a small village named Agadgaon. On the Sunday following Chaitra Purnima, a grand fair is held at the temple of Kalbhairavnath here. Being a ‘Jagrut Devasthan’ (an awakened or spiritually potent shrine), thousands of devotees visit for darshan on this day; however, as evening falls, all the devotees who have come from far away quickly depart for their homes. The villagers also return from the temple premises located outside the village. The next day, no devotee even wanders near this temple, because it is believed that a fair of ghosts takes place here on that day. It is widely believed that this is the only place in Maharashtra where a fair of ghosts is held.

The Kalbhairavnath temple at Agadgaon is ancient, and of this temple Large stones have been used in the construction of this temple. While many ancient temples in Maharashtra are built of stone, it is rare to see stones of such massive size used in construction. Because of this, it is believed that this temple must have been built by demons or spirits possessing immense strength. According to a legend, the demons Agadmal, Ratadmal, and Devmal built this temple in a single night under the command of the Divine. Three villages named Agadgaon, Ratadgaon, and Devgaon are situated side by side in the temple vicinity. Another significant detail is that the heads of three demons are carved onto the entrance. The villagers believe that this further reinforces the belief that the temple was constructed by beings of immense strength, such as demons.

Surrounded by hills on all four sides, the temple of Kalbhairavnath is situated in the valley below. There are many ancient trees in this area. It is the villagers’ firm belief that on the Monday following the fair held on the Sunday after Chaitra Purnima, a fair of spirits (bhutaanchi jatra) takes place here. Consequently, there is a tradition that no one should visit the temple premises on this day. Although no one is forced to follow this custom, the villagers have observed it for many generations. Out of curiosity about what exactly this ‘fair of spirits’ entails, many often Attempts were made to find it. However, due to various reasons, it did not meet with success.

Although information regarding exactly when the ‘Bhutanchi Jatra’ (Fair of the Spirits) in Agadgaon began is not available, according to the village elders, many years ago, a villager named Gopinath Karpe forgot a pot of oil near the deepmala (lamp tower) of the Kalbhairavnath temple on the day of the fair. When he remembered it the following night, he went to the temple to retrieve the pot. At that moment, he saw strange figures dancing there. He had shared this information with the villagers at that time, and many people from his generation corroborate this account.

Although there is a legend regarding the ‘Bhutanchi Yatra’ (Procession of Spirits), this place is also famous as a spiritually awakened pilgrimage site and a tourist destination due to its unique geographical structure. A large number of devotees gather here every Sunday. The visiting devotees are served ‘Amti-Bhakri’ (lentil curry and flatbread) here between 12:15 PM and 3:00 PM. Along with the ‘Bhutanchi Yatra’, this temple is also renowned for the ‘Mahaprasad’ of ‘Amti-Bhakri’. There is a waiting list for devotees who wish to donate towards the Mahaprasad provided here. If any devotee wishes to make a new donation for the Mahaprasad, they too have to wait for several months.

To enter the courtyard of this temple, which is situated in a low-lying area, one must descend a few steps. The temple premises are spacious and include a two-story Annachhatralaya (free food distribution center) for devotees, a Bhakta Niwas (pilgrim lodging), a queue facility for Darshan, and the temple office. The temple premises are paved, and the main temple structure consists of a Darshan Mandap, a Sabha Mandap, and a Garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum). Due to the thousands of devotees who gather here every Sunday, many pilgrims have the Mukh-darshan (sacred viewing of the face) of Kalbhairavnath from the Darshan Mandap. There is a Deepmal (lamp tower) near the Darshan Mandap. Above the entrance of the temple, three heads are carved. It is said that they belong to the demons Agadmal, Ratadmal, and Devmal. In the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, there are ancient bas-relief idols of Kalbhairavnath and Jogeshwari Mata carved in black stone.

Next to the temple stands an old neem tree. Its unique feature is that its leaves taste sweet. It blossoms, but it does not bear any neem fruit (nimboli). Consequently, not a single new sapling has grown from this tree for many years. There is a deep-rooted belief here that if a person suffering from a snakebite is covered with the leaves of this tree, the venom is neutralized. 

Although it cannot be said with certainty when this temple was built, it is believed to have a history spanning more than 24 generations, based on the 24 samadhis located near the temple. Darshan of Kalbhairavnath and Jogeshwari Mata in this temple can be taken daily from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM.

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