Mahabaleshwar Pancha Ganga Temple, Maharashtra

Address

Satara Rd, Mahabaleshwar,

Maharashtra 412806

Moolavar

Lord Vishnu

Introduction

The Pancha Ganga Temple in Mahabaleshwar is a fascinating and historically significant place of worship dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The Pancha Ganga Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

Location: The temple is located in the picturesque hill station of Mahabaleshwar in the Satara District of Maharashtra, India.

Confluence of Rivers: The temple is situated at the confluence of five rivers: Krishna, Venna, Savitri, Koyna, and Gayatri. It is believed that these rivers originate from Gaumukhi, which is a carved stone representing a cow’s mouth, inside the temple.

Legend: The temple’s origin is associated with a fascinating legend. According to the legend, Lord Brahma, along with Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva, decided to perform a Yagna (a religious ritual) at this location. However, a delay occurred as Brahma’s wife, Savitri (also identified with Saraswathi), was waiting for her companions, goddesses Lakshmi, Parvati, and Indrani, to join her in performing a crucial part of the Yagna.Brahma, annoyed by the delay, asked Indra to find a suitable girl to complete the Yagna. Indra found a local maiden named Gayatri, a milkmaid, and she was sanctified by passing her through the body of a cow. With Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva, and the priests certifying her purity, she was named Gayatri (the goddess of milk). Brahma then married Gayatri and completed the Yagna with her sitting beside him, holding the pot of amrita (elixir of life) on her head and offering it to the sacrificial fire.However, when Savitri finally arrived at the venue, she found Gayatri sitting in her rightful place next to Brahma. Enraged, Savitri transformed Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, and Gayatri into rivers. In retaliation, they turned Savitri into a watercourse as well. This legend explains the origin of the five rivers and their association with the Pancha Ganga Temple.

Historical Significance: The temple was originally constructed by Raja Singhandeo, the Yadava ruler of Devagiri, in the 13th century CE. It underwent renovations in the 16th and 17th centuries CE, courtesy of Chanda Rao More of Jaoli and the Maratha Emperor Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Accessibility: Mahabaleshwar is well-connected by National Highway 4, and it is accessible by bus services provided by the state-run MSRTC (Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation) and private organizations from cities like Pune, Miraj, Mumbai, Sangli, and Satara.

The Pancha Ganga Temple’s unique location at the confluence of these five rivers and its association with the mythological story of Lord Brahma, Gayatri, and the transformation into the rivers Krishna, Venna, Savitri, Koyna, and Gayatri make it a significant pilgrimage site.