KHANDOBA - JEJURI

This envisages the payment of a ceretain amount to the priest who decks out the image in ceremonial robes and ornaments and performs a worship consisting of more 1upacharas’ than usual, in the name of the donor. So also food is served to the priests as another form of gift to the god, although rather indirect. Then there is the vow that on the fulfilment of the favour asked for the devotee would perform the rite of circumambulation so many times every day for so many days of the year.There is a form known as ‘tali uchalne’. A dish is filled with dried coconut and haladi i.e. turmeric and is lifted three times over the head and the slogan khandobacha yelkot, sadanandacha yelkot’ is repeated three times.

Some  people bind themselves to make a pilgrimage to this kshetra on some fixed days for so many months or years. Some carry jars filled with water and pour it on the image for a fixed number of days. concerts are held during the night in which the vaghes and muralis dance and sing devotional songs. As has been already mentioned some structure is built in or around the temple such as a dipmala or an archway or images of Khandoba or Mhalsa donated to the temple, in stone or metal, sometimes in precious metal. All these are milder forms of a navas and very similar forms would be found at other shrines.

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