Saptashrungi is a Hindu temple located in the Nanduri village of Nashik district in Maharashtra. It is one of the 51 Shaktipeethas, where the severed limbs of Goddess Sati fell after her self-immolation. The temple is situated on a hilltop surrounded by seven smaller hills, hence the name Saptashrungi, which means “seven peaks”. The temple is also known as Saptashringi Devi Temple, Vani Temple, or Mahishasur Mardini Temple.
Saptashrungi is a popular pilgrimage destination for devotees of Goddess Sakti, especially during the festivals of Chaitra Utsav and Navratri. The temple attracts millions of visitors every year who come to seek the blessings of the Goddess and witness her divine power and beauty. The temple also offers a scenic view of the surrounding hills and valleys, as well as a funicular trolley service for reaching the temple top.
If you are planning to visit Saptashrungi, here are some things you need to know about this sacred and spectacular temple.
History and Mythology of Saptashrungi
The history and mythology of Saptashrungi are intertwined with the legends of Goddess Sati and her husband Lord Shiva. According to Hindu mythology, Goddess Sati was the daughter of King Daksha, who despised Lord Shiva and did not invite him to his yajna (sacrificial fire). Sati felt humiliated by her father’s insult and decided to immolate herself in the yajna fire. When Lord Shiva learned about this, he became furious and carried the charred body of Sati on his shoulders, performing the tandava (cosmic dance of destruction). To calm him down and save the world from his wrath, Lord Vishnu cut the body of Sati into 51 pieces with his sudarshana chakra (discus weapon). These pieces fell at different places in India and became known as Shaktipeethas, where the Goddess is worshipped in various forms.
Saptashrungi is one of these Shaktipeethas, where it is believed that the right arm of Sati fell. The Goddess is also known as Saptashrungi Nivasini, which means “she who resides on seven hills”. She is also called Mahishasur Mardini, which means “she who killed the buffalo demon”. According to another legend, Saptashrungi Devi fought with Mahishasur, a powerful demon who had obtained a boon from Lord Brahma that he could not be killed by any man or god. He terrorized the three worlds with his army of demons and challenged the gods to a war. The gods then created Goddess Durga, a supreme manifestation of Shakti, who fought with Mahishasur for nine days and nights and finally killed him on the tenth day, which is celebrated as Vijayadashami or Dussehra. Saptashrungi Devi is considered to be one of the forms of Goddess Durga who participated in this battle.
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Another legend associated with Saptashrungi is that of Sage Markandeya, a devout worshipper of Lord Shiva. He was destined to die at the age of 16, but he prayed to Lord Shiva to grant him immortality. Lord Shiva appeared before him and told him to go to Saptashrungi and worship Saptashrungi Devi, who would fulfill his wish. Markandeya followed his instructions and reached Saptashrungi, where he saw a beautiful idol of the Goddess carved on a rock. He was mesmerized by her grace and started meditating on her. The Goddess was pleased with his devotion and appeared before him. She blessed him with eternal life and also granted him a boon that whoever worships her at Saptashrungi would attain salvation.
Saptashrungi is also considered to be one of the three-and-a-half Shaktipeethas in Maharashtra, along with Kolhapur (Mahalakshmi), Tuljapur (Tulja Bhavani), and Mahur (Renuka). The half Shaktipeetha is located at Purnagiri near Nandurbar.
Architecture and Design of Saptashrungi Temple
The architecture and design of Saptashrungi temple reflect its ancient origin and religious significance. The temple complex covers an area of about 5 acres and consists of several structures, such as the main shrine, the sabha mandap (assembly hall), the pravesh dwar (entrance gate), the pradakshina marg (circumambulation path), and the dharmashala (rest house).
The main shrine is the most important and prominent part of the temple. It houses the idol of Saptashrungi Devi, which is about 10 feet high and carved on a rock. The idol has 18 arms, each holding a different weapon, such as a trident, a sword, a discus, a bow, an arrow, a conch, a bell, a shield, a mace, a lotus, a water pot, and a rosary. The idol is adorned with a crown, earrings, necklaces, bangles, and a red sari. The idol faces east and is situated in a small cave. The devotees can see only the face of the idol from the entrance of the cave. The rest of the idol is covered with sindoor (vermilion) and flowers. The idol is also decorated with gold and silver ornaments on special occasions.
The sabha mandap is a large hall where the devotees gather to offer prayers and perform rituals. It has a flat roof supported by pillars and arches. It also has a stage where the priests conduct the ceremonies and recite the hymns. The sabha mandap has several paintings and sculptures depicting the stories of Saptashrungi Devi and other Hindu deities.
The pravesh dwar is a huge gate that marks the entrance to the temple complex. It has four pillars and three arches decorated with floral motifs and carvings. It also has an inscription in Devanagari script that reads “Sri Saptashrungi Nivasini Devi Mandir”.
The pradakshina marg is a path that encircles the main shrine and allows the devotees to perform pradakshina (circumambulation) around the idol of Saptashrungi Devi. It is believed that performing pradakshina brings good luck and removes sins. The pradakshina marg has 108 steps that represent the 108 names of Saptashrungi Devi. It also has 108 kundas (water reservoirs) that are fed by natural springs. The devotees can take a dip in these kundas to purify themselves before entering the temple.
The dharmashala is a rest house that provides accommodation and food facilities for the pilgrims who visit the temple. It has several rooms with basic amenities and a dining hall that serves vegetarian meals. The dharmashala also has a library that contains books on Hindu scriptures and philosophy.
One of the most interesting features of Saptashrungi temple is the funicular trolley service that helps the devotees to reach the temple top from the foothills. The funicular trolley is a cable car that runs on rails and carries passengers up and down the hill. It was inaugurated in 2015 and has become very popular among the visitors. The funicular trolley offers a panoramic view of the surrounding hills and valleys and makes the journey to the temple more comfortable and enjoyable.
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Rituals and Festivals at Saptashrungi Temple
The rituals and festivals at Saptashrungi temple are an integral part of its culture and tradition. They showcase the devotion of the devotees towards Saptashrungi Devi and their joy of celebrating her glory.
The daily ritual at Saptashrungi temple is called abhisheka, which means “bathing”. It involves pouring panchamrut (a mixture of milk, yogurt, honey, sugar, and ghee) on the idol of Saptashrungi Devi and then wiping it with a cloth. The abhisheka is performed by the priests four times a day: at sunrise, noon, sunset, and midnight. The devotees can also participate in this ritual by paying a nominal fee. The abhisheka is followed by offering flowers, fruits, sweets, coconut, clothes, jewelry, and other items to the Goddess. The devotees also light lamps and incense sticks in front of the idol and chant her names and mantras.
The special ritual at Saptashrungi temple is called aarti, which means “waving of lamps”. It involves waving lamps in front of the idol of Saptashrungi Devi while singing her praises and prayers. The aarti is performed by the priests twice a day: at morning (8 am) and evening (6 pm). The devotees can also join in this ritual by clapping their hands and singing along. The aarti is followed by distributing prasad (sacred food) to the devotees. The prasad consists of cooked rice mixed with sugar or jaggery. The annual festival at Saptashrungi temple is called Chaitra Utsav, which means “spring festival”. It is celebrated in the month of Chaitra (March-April) according to the Hindu calendar. It marks the birthday of Saptashrungi Devi and the beginning of the new year. The festival lasts for nine days and attracts lakhs of devotees from all over India. The temple is decorated with flowers, lights, and flags. The idol of Saptashrungi Devi is adorned with gold and silver ornaments and a new sari. The devotees perform special abhisheka and aarti to the Goddess and offer various gifts and donations. The festival also features cultural programs, such as music, dance, drama, and bhajan (devotional songs). The highlight of the festival is the rath yatra (chariot procession), which takes place on the eighth day. The idol of Saptashrungi Devi is taken out of the temple and placed on a decorated chariot, which is pulled by the devotees through the streets of Vani town. The procession is accompanied by drums, cymbals, and chants of “Jai Saptashrungi Mata” (Hail Mother Saptashrungi). The rath yatra symbolizes the victory of good over evil and the blessings of the Goddess on her devotees.
Another important festival at Saptashrungi temple is Navratri, which means “nine nights”. It is celebrated in the month of Ashwin (September-October) according to the Hindu calendar. It commemorates the nine forms of Goddess Durga and her triumph over Mahishasur. The festival is observed with great fervor and devotion by the devotees of Saptashrungi Devi, who consider her to be one of the forms of Goddess Durga. The temple is illuminated with lamps and candles. The idol of Saptashrungi Devi is dressed in different colors and attires on each day of the festival. The devotees perform special abhisheka and aarti to the Goddess and offer various sweets and fruits. The festival also involves fasting, dancing, singing, and playing garba (a traditional folk dance). The devotees also visit other temples in the vicinity, such as Kalika temple, Markandeya Rishi Ashram, and Trimbakeshwar temple.
Places to See Near Saptashrungi Temple
The places to see near Saptashrungi temple are not only religious but also historical and natural. They offer a glimpse into the rich culture and heritage of Maharashtra and its people.
One of the places to see near Saptashrungi temple is the Kalika temple, which is located at the foothills of Saptashrungi hills. It is dedicated to Goddess Kalika, another form of Goddess Sakti. It is believed that Saptashrungi Devi herself installed the idol of Kalika here. The temple is also known as Koteshwar Temple or Kotgad Temple. It has a hemispherical dome and a spire with a flag. The idol of Kalika is made of black stone and has four arms, holding a sword, a shield, a trident, and a lotus. The temple also has a small pond where the devotees can take a bath before entering the temple.
Another place to see near Saptashrungi temple is the Markandeya Rishi Ashram, which is situated on the banks of Godavari river. It is said to be the place where Sage Markandeya meditated on Saptashrungi Devi and attained immortality. The ashram has a small shrine dedicated to Markandeya Rishi and a holy pond called Markandeya Kund. The pond is believed to have healing powers and cures various diseases. The ashram also has a garden with various medicinal plants and herbs.
A third place to see near Saptashrungi temple is the Vani town, which is the nearest town to the temple. It is a small but lively town with many shops, restaurants, hotels, and other facilities for the visitors. The town also has a local market where one can buy souvenirs, handicrafts, religious items, sweets, snacks, fruits, vegetables, and other products. The town also has a bus stand and a railway station that connect it to other cities in Maharashtra.
Some of the nearby attractions that one can visit from Saptashrungi temple are Trimbakeshwar temple, Anjaneri fort, and Pandavleni caves. Trimbakeshwar temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas (self-manifested lingas) of Lord Shiva in India. It is located about 60 km from Saptashrungi temple and is famous for its unique linga that has three faces representing Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Shiva. The temple also has a sacred kund (tank) called Kushavarta, where the Godavari river originates. Anjaneri fort is the birthplace of Lord Hanuman, the monkey god and the devotee of Lord Rama. It is located about 50 km from Saptashrungi temple and is a popular trekking destination. The fort has a temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman and offers a splendid view of the surrounding hills and valleys. Pandavleni caves are a group of 24 rock-cut caves that date back to the 2nd century BC. They are located about 40 km from Saptashrungi temple and are a testimony to the Buddhist art and architecture. The caves have various sculptures, paintings, inscriptions, and stupas that depict the life and teachings of Buddha.
Saptashrungi temple is a must-visit place for anyone who wants to experience the divine power and grace of Goddess Saptashrungi. It is not only a place of worship but also a place of wonder and beauty. It is a place where one can find peace, happiness, and salvation.
It is a place where one can witness the glory of Maharashtra and its people. It is a place where one can feel the presence of God.
