Prasanna Shree Rameshwar Temple Sindkhed Raja, Sindkhed Raja, Buldana

In the town of Sindkhed Raja, the birthplace of Rajmata Jijau, one can have the darshan of a Shivalinga established by Lord Ramachandra. It is a popular belief that Lord Ramachandra installed this Shivalinga while traveling through the Dandakaranya forest during his exile. This temple is believed to have been constructed between the eleventh and twelfth centuries, during the reign of the Yadava dynasty of Devagiri. The original temple, built in the Hemadpanti architectural style, was renovated by Lakhujiraje Jadhav, the father of Jijau. Rameshwar Mahadev, presiding in this east-facing temple, is the village deity of Sindkhed Raja. Currently under the jurisdiction of the State Department of Archaeology, a grand seven-day festival is held in the temple premises on the occasion of Mahashivratri. During this time, the temple area takes on the form of a pilgrimage site.

It is believed that in ancient times, the ashram of Sage Sharabhanga was located in this village. There is a belief that during his exile, Lord Ramachandra, while passing through Dandakaranya with Sita Mata and Lakshmana, rested at this ashram and installed the Shivalinga at that very time. During his journey of exile, after leaving Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, Lord Ramachandra, along with Sita and Lakshmana, traveled through the present-day states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh before descending into the southern path. This route includes the present-day states of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. In Maharashtra, near Nashik at Panchavati, the King of Lanka, Ravana, abducted Sita. Thereafter, Shri Ram and Lakshmana went in search of her and, with the army of the Vanara King Sugriva, reached the seashore at Rameshwar in the present-day state of Tamil Nadu. After building the bridge there, they invaded Lanka. After in-depth research, Ramavatar Sharma, a resident of Delhi, traced the path of Lord Ram’s foot journey. This route, starting from Ayodhya and ending at Rameshwar, is known as the ‘Ram Gaman Marg’. Lord Ramachandra’s feet touched 249 places between Ayodhya and Rameshwar. Among them, 51 places are in Maharashtra, and Sindkhed Raja is one of them. The Shivalinga installed here by Lord Ramachandra is famous as ‘Rameshwar Mahadev’.

This temple was built in the Hemadpanti architectural style between the tenth and twelfth centuries, during the reign of the Yadava dynasty of Devagiri. After it became dilapidated over time, Lakhujiraje Jadhav renovated this temple in memory of his mother. According to historians, whenever Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj visited his maternal home, he would take darshan of Rameshwar Mahadev in this temple while on his way to Pune. The historically famous Pune-Nagpur ‘Dak Line’ passed near this temple. The ‘Central Provinces and Berar District Gazetteers – Akola District, Volume A’ (1910) mentions that this route significantly increased the trade and commerce of Sindkhed at that time. This temple is located at a short distance from the Nilkantheshwar temple in the village. On the way to this temple, one passes several memorial shrines (Samadhi temples). The samadhi site of Lakhujiraje and his three sons is also within a stone’s throw of this temple.

Ancient sculptures can be seen on both sides of the small entrance in the fortification surrounding this temple. There is beautiful craftsmanship on the lintel of this entrance. Above this entrance is a Nagarkhana (drum house). Through this entrance, one enters a courtyard paved with stone. The fortification here has cloisters on the inner side. In these cloisters, there is a stage for presenting religious programs. The Rameshwar temple is situated in the center of the courtyard on a stone plinth about four feet high. In front of this temple in the courtyard, there are three Tulsi Vrindavans. The structure of this temple consists of a Sabhamandap (assembly hall), Antaral (vestibule), and Garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum). One enters the temple plinth by climbing five stone steps. There are a total of six ancient Shivalingas on this plinth. In front of the entrance to the Sabhamandap, there are two Nandi idols carved in stone.

On the walls on both sides of the temple entrance, there are vermilion-smeared idols of Ganesha. There is ornate craftsmanship on the door pillars and the lintel of the entrance. Kirtimukhas are carved on both sides at the base of the entrance. There are four stone pillars in the center of the Sabhamandap. In the center of these pillars, there is a color-stone on the floor. All these pillars stand on stone bases and feature sculptures of gods and goddesses and distinctive carvings. The ceiling of the Sabhamandap also has intricate work. In the front wall of the Antaral, there is an idol of Ganesha in the niche on the left, while there is a Shivalinga on the right. There is beautiful carving on the door pillars and lintel of the Garbhagriha entrance. Sculptures are carved on both sides of the door pillars. On the lintel of the entrance, Ganesha occupies the central position on the Lalatbimba. Kirtimukhas are carved on both sides at the base of the entrance. One descends three steps from the Antaral to enter the Garbhagriha. In the center of this Garbhagriha, there is an ancient Shivalinga of Rameshwar in a large Shalunka (base).

There is a beautiful Shikhara (spire) over the Garbhagriha of this temple. On this spire, which tapers towards the top, there are niches carved on two main square levels. At the top of the spire, there is an Amalaka and a Kalasha. Behind the temple, the water used for the abhishek (ritual bathing) of the Shivalinga flows out through a Gomukh (cow-faced spout) located behind the Garbhagriha. There is an old well and some samadhis in the courtyard. Paintings of Jijau-Shivray, gods and goddesses, and saints have been painted on the walls of the cloisters adjacent to the fortification. In a recently built temple in one of the cloisters, there are idols of Shri Ram, Lakshmana, Sita, and Hanuman. Padukas (footprints) are placed in front of these idols. Some remains of the temple can also be seen scattered in the area.

A seven-day fair is held here on the occasion of Mahashivratri. During this period, an Akhand Harinam Saptah is organized here. On the final day, Mahaprasad is distributed to the devotees. In the month of Shravan, some devotees from the surrounding area come here via Kawad Yatra, and the water from these Kawads is used to perform abhishek on the Rameshwar Shivalinga.

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