Welcome to Shree Ramnath Devasthan

|| Shree Ramnath Prasanna ||

Deities

Shree Laxmi Narayan

Bhagvan Shree Laxminarayan is an ancient " Anaadi Deity and which is beyond origin, status and destruction. There is none beyond Him and therefore he is called "Anadi" which also means one which has no birth. In the opinion of Saints, worship of Laxmi Narayan was incorporated in the " Panachayatan of Shree Ramanath Devasthan and a marble idol of this Deity was installed in the temple

Shree Ramnath

Shree Ramnath

Shree Ramanath Deity was originally installed 3000 years B.C by Prabhu Ramachandra at Rameshwar. Shree Ramachandra came back from Lanka along with Sita, after killing the vicious Ravana. On this occasion all rishis and munis from the surrounding areas started coming to see Shree Ramachandra. Since these rishis found Shree Ramachandra in a dejected mood, they asked him about this and to which Shree Ramachandra replied:- " Revered Rishis, since Ravana was a vicious person he had to be killed but since he was a Brahmin of Pulastya family, I am thinking of how to undo the blame which will be put on me for breaking his pedigree." The rishis said, "You know very well how to make amends. You are Omniscient and we need not tell you about this. The best course would be the worship of Shivashankar." We suggest that an idol of Shankara be installed near this bridge and the worship be started." Accordingly, a " Shivlinga" was installed at this place and which came to be known as Ramanath." From this date, the devotees became attached towards Shree Ramanath Deity. The rishis say that for the accomplishment of one's desires for the removal of the effects of his bad deeds, there is no other means better than the worship of " Shree Ramanath"

Top view of Shree Ramnath Devasthan in a picturesque locale Main Entrance to the Devasthan showing the Deepstambh to the right

Shree Sateri

Shree Sateri

During the war between Shree Vishnu and Shree Mahadev, a total destruction of the world was feared in view of the immeasurable strength possessed by both. In order to protect the world from this calamity, Jagadamba appeared on the battlefield due to the blessings from Brahmadev. She succeeded in appeasing both of them and the war ended. Skandapurana says that Shantadurga is the same Jagadamba. In subsequent incarnations, the same Goddess came to be knows as Shree Narayani, Bhavani Mahishasuramardini, "Chamunda" etc. This Goddess is a benefactress of the devotees. The idol of Shree Shantadurga was installed in the Temple, on the left side of Shree Ramanath.This Goddess is also known as Shanteri. The idol of Shree Shanteri was brought from Rivona and hence, if a person from Rivona is present at the time of Shanteri's prasad or ' kaul', he is given the honour to be the first person to receive 'Prasad' or 'Kaul'

Shree Kamaksha

Shree Kamaksha

The " Kamaksha Mahatmya " states that Shree Kamaksha will fulfill the desire of anyone who worships her with all dedication and concentration and keeps in his mind any benevolent objective.

After the establishment of the temples in Lotli, all the people there lived happily offering different sevas to the deities. Many years after that the deities, Shree Kamaksha and Shree Kalbhairav, came to be installed in Lotli a distance of about 11/2 mile from Vargaon, at a place called "Vasem" or "Dindi". The story of how these deities came to be included in Shree Ramnath panchayatan runs thus:

'Agnimukh Sharma' a resident of Lotli and a Mahajan of Shree Ramnath when he reached Kanchi on a piligrimage, where there is the famous temple of Shree Kamaksha, he was so enamoured of this deity that he would not see anything but Shree Kamaksha. He had made it a point not to say for more than three days at any place of piligrimage but he developed such a devotion towards the Goddess that he could not feel like leaving the place even after a week's stay. On the 9th day very early in the morning he had a vision of the Goddess, that would find her in the bathing tank. Accordingly the next day while bathing he found an idol of Shree Kamaksha and with that he started his journey back. On his way he found an idol of Shree Kalbhairav also, at a place called "Latal" and with these two idols he proceeded to come back to "Lotli". When he reached "Raia", it was dark, so he thought of spending the night with his sister there. In his vision he had been instructed not to keep the idols on the ground, so he hung the bag containing the idols on a nail on the wall. When he went to take bath his sister's son wanted to find out what sweets his uncle had brought. So, he removed the bag from the wall and took out the image of Kamaksha and put it on the ground. When the Brahmin returned from the bath, he saw the image of Kamaksha on the ground and tried to lift it. But it would not budge. He was very much disturbed and the next day he returned to "Lotli" with the idol of Kalbhairav and a "Shriphal" after touching the feet of the idol of Kamaksha. But what a surprise, A beautiful idol of Kamaksha had already arrived there. The people of 'Raia' then built a temple over the idol which had settled there and during the attack of Portuguese priests, the same was shifted to Shiroda across the river Zuari. The present Kamaksha of Shiroda is the same. At present where there was the temple, there is church.

Some seafarer devotees of Shree Ramnath had gone to Somnath fair with some goods for sale. After selling the goods they put a big stone of Gopichandan in their boat as a ballast . While taking out these stones from boat, after returning home, one of the big stones broke and a beautiful idol of Shree Kamaksha came out of it. They prompty took the idol to 'Lotli'. The people of 'Lotli' very joyfully welcomed this goddess which had come as a guest. Thus Kamaksha and her Gananayaka Kalbhairav were installed in two separate temples which they constructed at 'Vase' (Divdi). If any devotee worships her, with some benevolent desire, then she fulfills his desire very promptly, says Kamaksha Akhayan.

SHREE VITHAL DARSHAN
"Agnimukha Sharma", the devotee who had brought Kamakshadevi was a "Varakari" of Pandharpur and he used to go to Pandharpur without break for every Kartiki and Ashadhi Ekadashi. In course of time he became old and as such it was not possible for him to undertake the long journey. On an Ashadhi night when he was sleeping, he was restless for not being able to go to Pandharpur and at that time in his vision he saw Panduranga telling him, not to be anxious and restless and that he would get his (Pandurang) Darshan through his Goddess Kamaksha. Accordingly he started getting darshan and since then, it became a custom to dress "Kamaksha" in Vithoba's attire on every Ekadashi.

Shree Betal

Shree Betal

The Deity known as Shree Vetal or Shree Betal has also other different names such as Khanderao, Khanderaya, Khandoba, Mhalsakant, Malhari, Martand, etc. The historians say that the word Khand is the same as Skand which means Kartikswami. According to this theory, it is concluded that Khandoba is an incarnation of Kartikswami. This theory has been confirmed by eminent historian like Dr. Bhandarkar and Shri Rajwada. Khandoba is also considered as the army chief of Shree Shankara.

In regions such as Gomantak, Konkan and Karnataka. "Khandoba" is also known as "Vetal" or "Betal" and is worshipped as one who liberates his devotees from different calamities and protects them from their enemies, By incorporating such a brave Deity in the 'Shree Ramanath Panchayatan' the Mahajans catered for the need of devotees who are in distress

Shree Kalbhairav

Shree Kalbhairav

According to Puranas Shree Kalbhairav is considered to be the chieftain of the spirits created by Shree Madadev. Invariably , when there is a Temple of Shree Mahadev there is also a Temple of Bhairav. However one sees the idol of Shree Kalbhairav specially in company of Shree Kamaksha. Just as in the North and the South , there are also Temples of Jyotiba, Bhairoba etc. in the regions of Maharashtra. In Konkan and Gomantak there are a number of Kalbhairava Temples. It is believed that if one remembers "Kalbhairav" at the time of going to bed, one is free from all ill effects of the spirits.

Even the Time ( Kal) is scared of the "Bhairav" Deity and therefore it is named "Kalbhairav". This has been mentioned by Shri Shankaracharya in his " Kalbhairavastak"

Shree Siddhinath

Shree Siddhinath

The fifth Deity in Shree Ramnath Panchayatan is Shree Siddhinath who is also referred to as Shree Sidhanatham. However, since this is a form of Ganapati its proper name should be Shree Siddhinath. It is with this feeling that the devotees of Shree Ganapati, offer their service to Shree Siddhinath on the days of Sankasti or Vinayaki.

Shree Laxmi Narayan

Bhagvan Shree Laxminarayan is an ancient " Anadi, Deity and which is beyond origin, status and destruction. There is none beyond Him and therefore he is called "Anadi" which also means one which has no birth. In the opinion of Saints, worship of laxmi narayan was incorporated in the " Panachayatan of Shree Ramanath Devasthan and a marble idol of this Deity was installed in the temple

Shree Kamaksha

The " Kamaksha Mahatmya " states that Shree Kamaksha will fulfill the desire of anyone who worships her with all dedication and concentration and keeps in his mind any benevolent objective

After the establishment of the temples in Lotli all the people there, lived happily offering different sevas to the deities. Many years after that the deities, Shree Kamaksha and Shree Kalbhairav, came to be installed in Lotli a distance of about 11/2 mile from Vargaon, at a place called "Vasem" or "Dindi". The story of how these deities came to be included in Shree Ramnath panchayatan runs thus:

'Agnimukh Sharma' a resident of Lotli and a Mahajan of Shree Ramnath when he reached Kanchi on a piligrimage, where there is the famous temple of Shree Kamaksha, he was so enamoured of this deity that he would not see anything but Shree Kamaksha. He had made it a point not to say for more than three days at any place of piligrimage but he developed such a devotion towards the Goddess that he could not feel like leaving the place even after a week's stay. On the 9th day very early in the morning he had a vision of the Goddess, that would find her in the bathing tank. Accordingly the next day while bathing he found an idol of Shree Kamaksha and with that he started his journey back. On his way he found an idol of Shree Kalbhairav also, at a place called "Latal" and with these two idols he proceeded to come back to "Lotli". When he reached "Raia", it was dark, so he thought of spending the night with his sister there. In his vision he had been instructed not to keep the idols on the ground, so he hung the bag containing the idols on a nail on the wall. When he went to take bath his sister's son wanted to find out what sweets his uncle had brought. So, he removed the bag from the walll and took out the image of Kamaksha and put it on the ground. When the Brahmin returned from the bath, he saw the image of Kamaksha on the ground and tried to lift it. But it would not budge. He was very much disturbed and the next day he returned to "Lotli" with the idol of Kalbhairav and a "Shriphal" after touching the feet of the idol of Kamaksha. But what a surprise, A beautiful idol of Kamaksha had already arrived there. The people of 'Raia' then built a temple over the idol which had settled there and during the attack of Portuguese priests, the same was shifted to Shiroda across the river Zuari. The present Kamaksha of Shiroda is the same. At present where there was the temple, there is church.

Some seafarer devotees of Shree Ramnath had gone to Somnath fair with some foods for sale. After selling the goods they put a big stone of Gopichandan in their boat as a ballast . While taking out these stones from boat, after returning home, one of the big stones broke and a beautiful idol of Shree Kamaksha came out of it. They prompty took the idol to 'Lotli'. The people of 'Lotli' very joyfully welcomed this goddess which had come as a guest. Thus Kamaksha and her Gananayaka Kalbhairav were installed in two separate temples which they constructed at 'Vase' (Divdi). If any devotee worships her, with some benevolent desire, then she fulfills his desire very promptly, says Kamaksha Akhayan.

SHREE VITHAL DARSHAN
"Agnimukha Sharma", the devotee who had brought Kamakshadevi was a "Varakhari" of Pandharpur and he used to go to Pandharpur without break for every Kartiki and Ashadhi Ekadashi. In course of time he became old and as such it was not possible for him to undertake the long journey. On an Ashadhi night when he was sleeping, he was restless for not being able to go to Pandharpur and at that time in his vision he saw Panduranga telling him, not to be anxious and restless and that he would get his (Pandurang) Darshan through his Goddess Kamaksha. Accordingly he started getting darshan and since then, it became a custom to dress "Kamaksha" in Vithoba's attire on every Ekadashi.