LORD KHANDOBA OF JAJURI

THE NAVASAS

It is observed that the principal objects of veneration in these two temples are Siva lingas and the images of Chaturbhuja Maheswaras. Lord Khandoba is renowned as a God of Sakama bhakti - one who fulfills all the desires of his pious bhaktas. He is primarily the God of the masses, who take vows of different kinds - some being barbaric in nature too, yet the Lord blesses them for instant fulfillment. Devotees approach him for boons such as securing bride groom; getting employment; business prosperity; birth of child etc. On all the days. And on getting them fulfilled, they go again to redeem their debt called here Navas with elaborate prayers. As the Lord never deserted any genuine bhakta, his fame spread far and wide. People from long distances also reach him to pray for success in life. They visit again for offering navas, such as abhiseka, naivedya, vastras, abharanas etc. These are in common with many practices in vogue elsewhere in all most all temples, but here there are certain strange customs which have affected the social structure and brought dishonour to religion. The customs of the devotees walking across a burning charcoal trench, hanging from a tall pole with a hook thrust into the back etc. reflect their savegery. They are tolerable in a way; for, they affect only the bhaktas in question, but the custom of offering the child born as a navas had created many problems. The male children thus gifted to the temple are called Vaghes, and Muralis if they are females. In due course, the Muralis were forced to take to prostitution and Vaghes becoming nomads with little honour, wherever they went. Social reformers after great struggle liberated them, but still it is going on to some extent in a clandestine way, which proves beyond doubt Lord Kandoba's hold on the illiterate masses. And lo! they form the majority of his following. That is the glory of the Hindu religion both in its dark and bright aspects.

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