Situated 48 kms away, Jejuri is known for its Khandoba deity and is considered
a religious place by the Hindus. Large congregations attend the annual fair
held here. There are eight Ganesh temples or `ashtavinayakas' in Maharashtra
where the idol is Swayambhoo or self formed.
Five
of these are in and around Pune Sri
Moreshwar, Sri Chintamani , Sri Mahaganapati
, Sri Wighnahar and Sri Girijatmak.
Khandoba, the deity at Jejuri is the fighter God
of the Marathas. He is shown astride a horse and has
a angry warlike look. This was reason enough for the
Muslims to repeatedly destroy the temple. Even Aurangzeb
attempted to destroy the temple a second time in 1690.
He however was thwarted in this attempt when the Mughal
soldiers while trying to attack the temple disturbed
a nest of hornets. The hornets so harassed the besieging
Mughal soldiers that Aurangzeb was forced to lift
the siege and spare the temple.
The Bigoted
but God-fearing Aurangzeb is said to have placated
the angry bees by offering One Hundred and Twenty
Five Thousand Silver Coins to the God Khandoba.
The Bigoted but God-fearing Aurangzeb is said to
have placated the angry bees by offering One Hundred
and Twenty Five Thousand Silver Coins to the God Khandoba.
