Stop breach of customs and traditions followed at Shri Tuljabhavani Mandir

Demand by ‘Shri Tuljabhavani Devasthan Sanrakshak Kruti Samiti (action committee)’

Tuljapur (Dist. Dharashiv) : Violation of all customs, observances and traditions followed in Shri Tuljabhavani Mandir should be stopped and such customs and traditions should be restored as per Dharma-shastra. A representation with the above demand was submitted by ‘Shri Tuljabhavani Devasthan Sanrakshak Kruti Samiti (action committee)’ to Tehasildar Narsimha Jadhav on 11th May, to be forwarded to Chief Minister Devendra Fadanvis.

‘Gareebnath Mutt’s ‘Muthadhipati’ and Mahant Mavajinath Maharaj of ‘action committee’, its member Shri. Arjun Salunke, ‘Pujari Mandal’s President Vipin Shinde, Shri. Ajaybhaiya Salunke, the Founder-President of ‘Janahit Sanghatana’, District-President Shri. Prashant Kadam, ‘Shivapratishthan Hindustan’s Shri. Sachin Suryavanshi, Bajarang Dal’s Shri. Alok Shinde, Shri. Vidyadhar Sonawane, Shri. Dhananjay Bagadi, Shri. Vinayak Mali, Shri. Rohan Bhangi; Hindu Janajagruti Samiti’s Shri. Vinod Rasal, Shri. Amit Kadam, Shri. Sarvottam Jevalikar, Shri. Sandip Bagadi and Shri. Suresh Naikwadi were present on the occasion.

Demands made by ‘Shri Tuljabhavani Devasthan Sanrakshak Kruti Samiti’ through representation

1. Devotees should be allowed to enter the temple from ‘Shri Shahaji Raje Mahadwar’ during all ‘yatras’ and all devotees should be able to have ‘darshan’ of Shri Ganesh at Kallol Teertha.

2. Action should be taken against policemen and officers who go to Kallol Teertha without removing their shoes and restrictions should be imposed on them in this connection.

3. Intimidation of devotees and priests by security men in the name of safety should be stopped and action should be taken against such security staff.

4. Employees on security duty and policemen posted on temple duty should be imparted ‘Dharmashikshan’ before taking up such duty so that they would not affect the sanctity of this temple or of ‘puja’, ‘prasad’ and ‘naivedya’.

5. Devotees coming out of ‘Matangi Dwar’ face problem because of encroachments on that road; therefore, such encroachments should be removed and road should be widened.

It has been further stated in the representation submitted to Administration that …

1. Shri Tuljabhavani Mandir is known as one of the 3-1/2 ‘Shakti-peethas’. There is Shri Adimaya Adishakti’s ‘chaitanya’ emanating here which needs to be preserved for devotees; therefore, it is necessary to observe all customs and traditions followed at this pilgrimage place based on Dharmashastra but the administrative officers appointed by the Government are violating these customs and traditions and doing whatever they want while managing ‘darshan’ and ‘pujan’ by devotees at the temple.

2. During the period of fair- yatra, devotees are allowed to go from the main entrance towards Kallol Teertha and have ‘darshan’ of Shri Ganesh before having ‘darshan’ of Shri Tuljabhavani as per ‘Dharmashastra’. It purifies mind and body and devotee can imbibe the energy emitting from Deity; but changing this route deprives devotees from ‘darshan’ of Kallol Teertha and Shri Ganesh. Kallok Teertha is ‘swyambhu’ and ‘God-created’ which is presently not available for ‘darshan’ to devotees. The Government has taken away right of devotees to have ‘darshan’ of Shri Ganesh and ‘Kallol Teertha’.

3. On 11th April on the day of ‘Chaitra-Pournima’, 5-6 lakh devotees had ‘darshan’ through ‘Mahadwar’ and ‘Kallol Teertha’. There were 40 home-guards and few employees of ‘Mandir Samiti’ looking after arrangements and allowing devotees to go out from ‘Mahadwar’ but during Navaratri’, such ‘darshan’ is stopped and devotees have to go through door which is not only against the custom and tradition but also inconvenient. That time 2-3 lakh devotees are present for ‘darshan’. If on ‘Chaitra-pournima’, devotees can have ‘darshan’ going through ‘Mahadwar’ then why same procedure cannot be followed during ‘Navaratri’ ?

4. Officers of Mandir Samiti and police go round in the premises, beyond Kallol Teertha wearing shoes and cause harm to sanctity of the temple. It also hurts religious sentiments and such act is most inappropriate and is a blot on them.

5. Devotees, when leaving through ‘Matangi Dwar’, face lot of inconvenience; therefore, by removing encroachments on the road and with its widening, devotees will be able to go out easily.

Source : Dainik Sanatan Prabhat