Shri Ram Teerth Temple Ramtirtha-Naldurg, Tuljapur, Dharashiva

There are many temples of Shri Ram in the country. Similarly, Shri Ram established many temples of Mahadev, who was his own revered deity. Many of these temples are in Dharashiv district. Some of these temples or their premises have fresh water sources (Ramkund). These temples hold special significance as they are temples created by the Divine for the Divine. One such ancient and famous temple is at Ramteerth, near Naldurg Fort. There are three temples here in the same courtyard: Mahadev, Shri Ram, and Hanuman.

Legend has it that while Shri Ram, Lakshman, and Sita were on their way to Lanka in search of Sita, they stayed here for a night. For his morning prayers, Shri Ram installed a Shivling. Furthermore, it is said that while returning after a successful campaign in Lanka, Shri Ram landed his chariot (Viman) on a hill near this temple. At that time, when Sita expressed her need for water for bathing, Shri Ram struck the ground with an arrow and created a water reservoir. Then, Shri Ram, along with Sita, Lakshman, and Maruti, offered Bel leaves to the Shivling here and sought the blessings of Mahadev.
Although this temple is said to be thousands of years old, scholars believe that the Hemadpanti architectural construction here dates back five to six hundred years. This pilgrimage site is about three kilometers away from Naldurg Fort. The temple is surrounded by a boundary wall. One enters the temple courtyard through the welcome arches in this wall. There is a parking facility in this same courtyard. While moving from the parking area towards the temple, there is a second boundary wall. One can reach the temple through the entrance of this wall via a narrow path. Small gardens have been developed on both sides of this path. In the courtyard covered with paver blocks in front of the temple, there is a black stone statue of Nandi on a pedestal. On the right side is the Samadhi temple of the temple’s Mahant, Raghuvir Maharaj.

From here, moving ahead, there is the Maruti temple on the left and the Ram temple on the right. A path leads between the two to the Mahadev temple. The structure of the Ram temple here consists of a Sabhamandap (assembly hall), Antaral (vestibule), and Garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum). In front of the Sabhamandap, there are three arches on four pillars. There is also a Nagara (drum) here. It is a tradition to play this drum during Aarti. In the Sabhamandap, on the front wall of the Antaral, there are idols of Ganpati, Shri Krishna, and Vishnu-Lakshmi in the niches on the left. On the right are the marble footprints (Paduka) of Shri Ram and portraits of the Mahants nearby. There are stone benches (Kakshasan) on both sides in the Antaral.

In the Garbhagriha, there are marble idols of Shri Ram, Lakshman, and Sita on a Vajrapitha (throne). The idols are adorned with various clothes, ornaments, and crowns on their heads. To the left of the Vajrapitha are the Utsav-murtis (processional idols) of Shri Ram, Lakshman, and Sita. On both sides of the Vajrapitha in the Garbhagriha, fans (Chauris) are hung on the back wall. There are lamp niches in the walls of the Sabhamandap and Garbhagriha. There is a circumambulation path (Pradakshina Marg) around the outside of the temple. There is a safety railing on all sides of the temple roof. On the roof of the Garbhagriha, there is a dome-shaped ornate Shikhara, and on the Amalaka above it, there is a Kalash. Opposite the Ram temple is the Maruti temple. The door frames of the stone-built temple are made of wood. There are lamp niches on both sides of the entrance. Inside the temple, there is a vermilion-smeared idol of Maruti on a Vajrapitha. The idol, which has a silver crown on its head, holds a mace in one hand and a mountain in the other. The back wall of the idol is decorated with the name of Ram. The ceiling is dome-shaped and ornate. On the roof of the temple, there is a dome-shaped ornate Shikhara with an Amalaka and Kalash.

To the right of the Maruti temple is the Mahadev temple. There are seats for guards on both sides of the entrance, which has a triangular arch. Inside the temple, in the center of the floor, there is a vermilion-smeared, self-manifested (Swayambhu) square stone. A safety railing made of stainless steel pipes has been created around this stone. In the center of the stone is a lotus design, and upon it is a white marble Shivling. There is a brass cobra holding a canopy over the Shivling and a copper vessel for pouring water (Abhishek). There is a circumambulation path on the outside of the temple. The temple roof has a dome-shaped ornate Shikhara, with an Amalaka and Kalash on top.

A few meters from the courtyard, outside the boundary wall, is a fresh water reservoir. This reservoir is called Ramteerth. It is said that Shri Ram created it by striking the ground with an arrow. Nearby is Sita’s bathing area. It is said that Sita bathed here while returning from Lanka. A short distance from the temple is the bed of the Bori River. The Ramteerth waterfall, located near here, is an attraction for tourists.

The main annual festivals celebrated with devotion in these temples are Chaitra Padwa, Ram Navami, Hanuman Jayanti, Mahashivratri, and the month of Shravan. During these times, programs like Bhajans, Kirtans, discourses, and Mahaprasad are organized in the temple. Thousands of devotees come to the temple for Darshan and to fulfill their vows during all festivals. There is a crowd of devotees here every Monday, Tuesday, Saturday, Sunday, and on Amavasya. Devotees can take Darshan in this temple every day from six in the morning until seven in the evening.

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