Sangam Mahuli Kashi Vishweshwar Temple, Maharashtra

Address

Sangam Mahuli Kashi Vishweshwar Temple, Sangam Mahuli, Satara, Maharashtra 415003

Diety

Vishweshwar

Introduction

At a distance of 5 km from Satara Bus Station, Sangam Mahuli and Kshetra Mahuli are two sacred villages situated at the confluence of Krishna and Venna Rivers in Satara district of Maharashtra. The other side of the river Krishna is called Kshetra Mahuli. These villages earlier were part of Aundh Princely State. Kshetra Mahuli was the birth place of Ramshastri Prabhune, the famous spiritual and political adviser of the fourth Peshva Madhavrav (1761-1772 CE). The temple is also called as Satara Shree Kshetra Mahuli, This place is also called as “Dakshin Kashi”. There are three major temples of Lord Shiva namely, Vishweshwar, Rameshwar and Sangameshwar. Vishweshwar side is called “Sangam Mahuli” whereas Rameshwar side is called “Kshtra Mahuli”.

Puranic Significance

Sri Kashi Vishweshwar Temple is situated in Sangam Mahuli and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple was built in 1735 CE by Shripatrao Pant Pratinidhi. This land was donated by Shahu Maharaj to Shripatrao Pant Pratinidhi, as a Brahman dakshina. Pant Pratinidhi donated the land to another Brahmin, Anant Bhat Galande. Vishweshwar Temple was built in Hemadpanth style of architecture on the banks of River Krishna. The temple has a sabhamandap, an antarala and garbhagriha. The temple plan measures 50 feet in length and 20 feet in breadth built with basalt stone. The presiding deity Lord Shiva appeared as a lingam in the sanctum sanctorum. The walls leading to garbhagriha have niches with idols of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Parvati. There is a 60 feet tall lamp-post carved out of a single stone with provision for placing oil lamps. There is a Nandi temple with exquisitely carved dome at the entrance of the temple.