LORD BHIMASHANKAR OF SAHYADRI

HISTORICITY

Though this awe-some episode occurred in the dim past and there existed shrines separately for both, due to passing of centuries they were not adored with ardour due. It is only from the second quarter of eighteenth century its importance started rising with the munificence of the Chimananji Antaji Bhide Naik, a money lender and banker of great spiritual eminence, who took up renovation programme on a gigantic scale. Like Dikshit Patwardhan, many theists and philanthropists, realising the glory of Lord Bhimashankar began construction work. During the rule of Pheswas, it received substantial grant from time to time. Regunatha Rao Peshwa built a tank and made some more additions for the benefit of the visiting public. The renowned Maratha leader Nana Phadnavis evinced great interest in its expansion and built the temple tower spending fifty thousands. Shivaji made many endowments including the grant of Kharosi village for conducting regular worship. Some ardent devotees like Abhayankar from Nagar donated liberally to meeting the cost of prayer service called Rudra Ekadashini worship daily. As its fame spread to four corners, many eminent people visited and contributed their mite in cash and kind. Even great acharyas, saint poets like Jnaneswar, Namadev etc. inspired by the glory of the Lord, authored several works shedding light on its past eminence and present position. The various sanads made by the Maharastra rulers are honoured by the successive governments hence the continuance of ritualistic offerings to the Lord along with the celebration of periodic festivals.

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