During my last visit to Pune, I had the privilege of visiting
Chattushringi Temple. It is a
Hindu temple in the city
of
Pune
in
Maharashtra
state of
India.
The temple is located on the slope of a hill on Senapati
Bapat Road. It is said to have been built during the reign of the
Maratha
king
Shivaji.
Chattushringi (Chattu means four) is
a
mountain with four peaks. The Chattushringi temple is 90 feet high and
125 feet wide and is a symbol of power and faith. One has to climb more than
100 steps to reach the shrine of Goddess
Chattushringi. In the
temple premises there are also temples of
Goddess Durga and
Lord Ganesh.
This includes eight miniature idols of
Ashtavinayaka.
These small temples are located on the four separate hillocks.Also includes the
temple of Vetal Maharaj at the baner pashan end.
The legend associated with the temple is that, once there was a rich and
prosperous merchant named Durlabhsheth Pitambardas Mahajan who was an ardent
believer of Goddess Saptashrungi devi and visited all Her temples everywhere.
But as he grew older, he could no longer travel and this hindered him from
visiting the temples. Then one night the Goddess Saptashrungi devi appeared in
his dream and told him, "if you can not come to me, I will come to you
& stay near you." She told him to come to a mountain situated in the
North-West of Pune & dig there. The place as described by the goddess was
traced out and miracle happened as he found a natural statue of goddess
(swayambhu devi). He constructed the temple at that place and this is the same
temple which was renovated time to time, which is the present temple.
The
presiding deity of the temple is Goddess Chattushringi, also known as Goddess Ambareshwari. She is also
considered as the presiding deity of the city of Pune. The temple is
maintained by the Chattushringi Devasthan Trust. Every year a fair is held at
the foothills on the eve of Navratri. Thousands of people gather to worship the Goddess
Chattushringi.
(Text source: Wikipedia)
