West India · Maharashtra
Tuljapur, Maharashtra
Sources: wikimedia
Before you go
Home of Tulja Bhavani, family deity of the Bhonsle dynasty and one of Maharashtra's three-and-a-half Shakti Peethas; Navratri is the peak season.
About Tuljapur
- Hills
Where it is
Tuljapur is a temple town on the Balaghat hills in Dharashiv (formerly Osmanabad) district, in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra, about 45 km north-east of Solapur.
History
The temple of Tulja Bhavani, a warrior form of the goddess, is generally dated to the 12th century. She became the family deity of the Bhonsle clan, to which Chhatrapati Shivaji belonged, and the Maratha king is said to have come here often to seek her blessings; two of the temple's gateways are named after his parents, Shahaji and Jijabai.
People
Tuljapur is a Marathi-speaking town that lives largely from the temple, with families of hereditary priests and shops selling offerings, bangles and kumkum. For many Marathi families Tulja Bhavani is the kuladevata, or family deity, and gondhali singers perform the gondhal in her honour.
Known for
- The Tulja Bhavani Temple
- Navratri and the Kojagiri Purnima fair
- One of the great Shakti Peethas of Maharashtra
- Kallol Teerth, the temple's sacred tank
Did you know?
Tradition holds that Tulja Bhavani gave Chhatrapati Shivaji his sword, and the Maratha king's famous blade is still remembered as the Bhavani talwar.
Shrines and sites
- Shri Tulja Bhavani Temple
- Ghat Shila
- Kallol Teerth
Traditions
- Hindu
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