| Shree Tulja Bhavani Temple | |
|---|---|
तुळजा भवानी मन्दिर | |
 Main entrance gate (Raje Shahaji Mahadwar) | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Hinduism |
| District | Dharashiv district |
| Deity | Bhavani (as Amba Bhavani or Amba Bai) |
| Festivals |
|
| Governing body | Shri Tulja Bhavani Temple Trust |
| Features |
|
| Location | |
| Location | Raje Shahaji Mahadwar Road, Jijamata Nagar, Tuljapur, Dharashiv district, Maharashtra - 413601 |
| State | Maharashtra |
| Country | India |
  Location in Maharashtra Show map of India Tulja Bhavani Temple (Maharashtra) Show map of Maharashtra | |
| Coordinates | 18°00′41″N76°07′32″E / 18.011386°N 76.125641°E /18.011386; 76.125641 |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Hemadpanti architecture |
| Style | Hemadpanthi style |
| Creator | Maratha King Mahamandaleshwara Māradadeva |
| Established | 1169; 857 years ago (1169) |
| Completed | 1169; 857 years ago (1169) |
| Specifications | |
| Inscriptions | Dharur Inscription |
| Materials | Black stone |
| Elevation | 648 m (2,126 ft) |
| Website | |
| shrituljabhavanitempletrust | |
Shree Tulaja Bhavani Temple (Marathi:श्री तुळजाभवानी मंदिर), is a 12th century CEHindu temple dedicated to goddessBhavani. It was built in 12th century CE byMahamandaleshwara Māradadeva of theKadamb dynasty. Considered as one of the 51Shakti Pithas, it is located on the banks ofMandakini River andBori Dam in Yamunachala Hill ofBalaghat Range ofTuljapur, which is 45 km northeast ofSolapur, inDharashiv district ofMaharashtra in India.[1]
This Tuljapur Bhavani temple, along withRenuka temple atMahur (330 km northeast of Tuljapur),Mahalaxmi temple atKolhapur (275 southwest of Tuljapur), andSaptashringi temple at Vani (375 northwest of Tuljapur), make up the four great Shaktipithas of Maharashtra.[2]
There are other temples of Tulja Bhavani in India, such as theChittorgarh Fort Tulja Bhavani Temple atChittorgarh built in 1537–1540. This is 960 km north of Tuljapur. As well as this, there is the Patnakuva Tulja Bhavani Temple in theGandhinagar district ofGujarat, which is 1,000 km northwest of Tuljapur.[citation needed]
"Bhavani" literally translates to "giver of life", meaning the power of nature or the source of creative energy. She is considered to be amother goddess who provides to her devotees and also plays the role of dispensing justice by killingAsuras (demons).[citation needed]
The Goddess "Tulja Bhavani" is also known as Tulaja, Turaja, Tvarita and Amba.
Bhavani is a form of the goddess Durga who is worshipped inMaharashtra,Gujarat,Rajasthan,Rajasthan, entireNorth India,Northern Karnataka, andNepal,Andhra Pradesh.[3]
One of the earliest legends related to the Goddess Bhavani is mentioned in theSkanda Purana (8th century or earlier). The legend involves a demon, Madhu-Kaitabh, who was wreaking havoc upon both the gods and humans. Unable to find any solution, they turned to LordBrahma for help, who advised them to turn to the GoddessShakti. She took up the form of a destroyer, and powered by the otherSapta Matas, namelyBrahmani who manifested fromBrahma,Chamunda fromChandi, Kaumari fromKartikeya,Indrani fromIndra, Maheshvari fromShiva, Vaishnavi fromVishnu, andVarahi fromVaraha, vanquished the demon and restored peace. The legend also states that Bhavani slaid another demon that had taken up the disguise of a buffalo (Mahisha), and took shelter on the Yamunachala Hill which is part of Balaghat mountain range.[4]
According to this legend, there was a sage namedKardama with a consort namedAnubhuthi with their infant child, in this area. After sageKardama's death, his wifeAnubhuthi performed a penance for goddess in the name of Bhavani on the Yamunachala hillock on the banks of the river Mandakini River (presently known as the Bori River) to look after her child. While performing the penance twoRakshasa (demon) jointly known asMadhu-Kaitabha (also calledKukur) tried to disturb her penance during which the Goddess Bhavani came to the aid ofAnubhuthi and killed the demonKukur. From that day onwards, the Goddess Bhavani came to be known a Tulaja Bhavani. The goddess, upon the prayer of her favourite devotee, settled in Tuljapur on the Yamunachala Hill of Balaghat Range, where the temple was built in 12th century. Since then the Mother Goddess came to be called as Bhavani of Tuljapur or Tulja Bhavani.[citation needed]
The Goddess is akuldevi (clan goddess) for many Maratha clans of Maharashtra.[5] The Goddess is either revered by or is the Family Deity for many other Marathi castes at different levels of the social hierarchy[6] The Goddess is either revered by or is the Family Deity for many castes including Kadam, Bhope, Banjara or Lamani or Gorbanjara,Dhangar, Mali,Deshastha Brahmin,Bharbhunja, Burud,Kolhati,Gavli,Jogi, Johar, San Teli, Gavandi, Pangul, Sonar,Lonari, Kasar, Bhute, Kalar, Aagri and Koli, Bhavsar, etc.
Tulja Bhavani Temple here was built in the 12th century CE. The Goddess is said to beswayambhu` ("self-manifested" or "that which is created by its own accord").[a] There is a "yagna kund" (holyfire pit) in front of this temple.
The tandla (idol) of Goddess Tulja Bhawani is three-feet tall and made of granite, with eight arms holding weapons, and bearing the head of the slain demonMahishasura. Devotees bow in devotion upon seeing the finely shaped, tandla of the self-manifested goddess, which is adorned with vermilion, ornaments, and decorations.
The main entrance of the temple bears the name ofSardar Nimbalkar.
The other two entrances are named after the parents ofChhatrapati Shivaji, the founder of theMaratha Empire, his fatherShahaji and his motherJijabai. There are two libraries named, Shree Santh Dnyaneshwar Dharmik Library and Shree Tukaram Dharmik Library respectively.
Chhatrapati Maharaja Shivaji was reputed to frequently visit this temple to seek blessings.[citation needed]
The day-to-day affairs of the temple are looked after by the trust which is headed by theDistrict Collector. The board of trustees include the deputy collector, the member representing Tuljapur inMaharashtra Legislative Assembly (MLA), the town Mayor (Nagaradhyaksha), and theTahsildar (subdistrict revenue officer).[7]
As of 2025, 150,000,000 pilgrims visit the temple every year.[8]
The temple follows a set of elaborate rituals for the deity. These include priests offering a daily ritual bath, change of clothes, and offering food to the deity four times a day. The daily routine also includes offering devotionalprayers to the Goddess. In the evening the deity is ceremoniously put to rest.[9]
On special occasions such as the birthdays or marriages, in addition to a ritual bath, the tandla of the Goddess is taken around Tuljapur town in aprocession.[9]
On the ninth day of the autumnNavratri festival andDussera,goats are sacrificed in honour of the goddess.[10] The actual sacrificial slaughter is carried out by the Mahar community for both the Bhavani temple as well as the Matangi temple.[11]
Pilgrims usually have longstanding hereditary relationship with a particular "pujari (priest) family"" who serve as the host for the pilgrims by providing accommodation, food, ritual offering to the deity such assari blouse pieces, bangles, coconut,vermillion, turmeric,puffed rice, flower garlands, andprasada (ritual offering of food to the deity before being distributed to the devotees).The prasada can be vegetarian or at times of meat from a sacrificed goat.[9]
Unlikebrahmin orgurav priests at other temples in Maharashtra, the main priests of the Bhavani temple are from theMaratha 153 Palikar &Bhope clan, who offer services to the pilgrims.[11]
The priests of two other temples, Matangi Devi Temple and Adimaya Devi Temple in the Tulha Bhavani temple complex, belong to theMahar community.[11]
Tulja Bhavani Temple Corridor: In 2025, INR 1,865 crore plan was announced by theGovernment of Maharashtra for the overall development of the Tulja Bhavani Temple Corridor, which will be completed over three and half years, i.e. December 2028.[8]
