Prasanna Shree Ramdev and Maruti Temple (Sleeping Maruti) Malshiras, Malshiras, Solapur

Maruti, the supreme devotee of Shri Rama, is known as a vigilant warrior. His idols are mostly in a standing posture, while in some places, they are in the Padmasana posture. However, seeing an idol of Maruti in a reclining position is considered extremely rare. There are only a select few temples across the country that depict him in such a form. The temple of the reclining Hanuman in Malshiras is one of them. It is believed that this Maruti closed his eyes due to the peace and contentment he experienced during the kirtan of Tukaram Maharaj. 

Malshiras is an important milestone on the Palkhi route. After departing from Alandi, the Palkhi of Saint Dnyaneshwar Maharaj travels through Pune, Saswad, Phaltan, Natepute, Malshiras, Velapur, Bhandishegaon, and Wakhari before reaching Pandharpur. The Palkhi halts at Malshiras. This is considered the traditional route of the Palkhi. The legend of this temple states that in earlier times, Saint Tukaram Maharaj used to travel along this same route during his Wari. During one such Wari, Tukaram Maharaj, along with the Warkaris, stayed at the Ram temple here. While performing Kirtan, he created such an atmosphere with his devotional words and voice that all the listeners were mesmerized. At that moment, the eyes of the Maruti idol standing before Lord Rama in this temple closed on their own. Ever since then, this temple has become known as the Sleeping Maruti Temple.

According to another legend, Saint Tukaram Maharaj was performing a Kirtan. The listeners present there felt that his soul-stirring Kirtan should never end. However, Tukaram decided to conclude the Kirtan for the sake of the Warkaris who were exhausted from their journey. When all the Warkaris went to sleep, Tukaram Maharaj noticed that Lord Maruti was also listening to his Kirtan. He then told Maruti that all the Warkaris had gone to sleep and that he should also rest now. Upon the instruction of Tukobaraya, Maruti closed His eyes, and ever since then, the idol here has remained slightly tilted with closed eyes. 

The idol of the reclining Maruti is considered extremely rare. Along with the temple at Malshiras, there are four temples in Maharashtra that house an idol of the reclining Maruti. Among them, the reclining Maruti at Ajaypur-Pimpalzora in Chandrapur district is considered a highly awakened site. There, one can find a ten-foot-long and five-foot-wide self-manifested idol of Maruti in a reclining posture. The idol in the Bhadra Maruti temple at Khuldabad in Aurangabad district is also in a reclining position. The fourth temple of this kind in Maharashtra is at Lonar in Buldhana district. The reclining Maruti there is famous as the Black Maruti. Apart from this, across the country, reclining Maruti idols are present in Alwar (Rajasthan), Rajkot (Gujarat), Prayagraj and Etawah (Uttar Pradesh), and Jam Savli and Chhindwara (Madhya Pradesh). There are temples housing the idol of Lord Maruti. 

Although this temple in Malshiras is dedicated to Shri Rama, it is famous among devotees as the Sleeping Maruti Temple. This temple is located in a bustling part of the town. There is a somewhat narrow path leading to this temple, which is situated on the Palkhi route. One enters the temple courtyard through an archway there. Although the temple is not very large, the assembly hall (sabhamandap) in front of it is spacious. Upon entering the assembly hall, two sanctum sanctorums (garbhagrihas) can be seen on the left and right sides. In the sanctum on the left, marble idols of Shri Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita are installed on a vajrapitha. In the main sanctum on the right, there is an idol of Maruti that is approximately five feet tall. Maruti’s right hand is above his head, while his left hand is not clearly visible. This relief sculpture, carved onto a large rock, is slightly tilted. In this form, Maruti’s eyes appear to be closed. Both of these sanctums are topped with spires (shikharas).

In the courtyard of this temple, there are small shrines dedicated to Lord Ganapati and Lord Mahadeva. The Viragal (hero stone) located behind the Ganapati temple is also worshipped by the devotees. From the early hours of the morning, a queue of devotees forms at this temple for Darshan. Hanuman Jayanti and Ram Navami are the two festivals celebrated here with special enthusiasm. This temple is also an important place for the Warkaris. During the Ashadhi and Kartiki pilgrimages, Warkaris make it a point to visit this temple. They perform Kirtan, Bhajan, and Haripath programs there.

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