Khandoba Khandoba

How I learned about Khandoba

My father was transferred  to Mumbai from his Nagpur office, the area where we lived. Many things were different here in the big city of Mumbai. As we started settling here we also started finding more about this capital city of Maharashtra. The way people lived in a big city, the big buildings, so many different kinds of people and their lifestyles, the ocean which had always been a big attraction for me, the bhel-puri and pani-puri waalas - a real speciality of Mumbai. We no longer had to dream about Mumbai, nor listen to people’s stories with wide eyes; we ourselves were now in Mumbai, my dream city!

There were so many interesting places in and around Mumbai and the neighbouring town of Pune. Wonderful galleries, beautiful temples, each with their own history and story. I was in a hurry to know about everything as if my dream will finish soon and I would suddenly awaken. My parents were very fond of visiting religious places and temples. They were constantly looking for new temples in and around Mumbai to take my brothers and I to visit.

One day they said "Let us visit the famous Jejuricha Khandoba". After some journey planning, we headed off full of excitement, to see something new.

Khandoba's temple is located in the city of Jejuri in Pune. Khandoba is the most loved deity among the farmers; Hindus, Jains and many other religious communities visit the temple to worship Khandoba and pay their respects, including Muslims too. Fascinating, isn't it? A God worshipped by Hindus, Jains and Muslims alike.

Who is Khandoba?

So who is this Khandoba? Lord khandoba is a renowned folk deity who lived around the 9th century AD is popularly worshipped mostly in Maharashtra and Karnataka. He is known by several names: Khandoba, Martaanda, Bhairava and Malhar. Considered an avatar (incarnation) pf Lord Shiva, his very first temple was built by Bajirao Peshwe, a general and a statesman of the Maratha Empire in India.

He is the most popular Deity in the farmers and the local tribes like hunters and gathers tribes in  the hills and forests of the Western ghats

It is believed that  Khandoba possesses the qualities of Lord Shiva (as his incarnation) and his wives Mhalsa and Bani possess the qualties of Lord Shiva's wives Parvati and Ganga (they are also considered to be incarnations of Lord Shiva's wives). Khandoba sometimes appears in the form of 'Linga' (a symbol of divine generative energy, worshiped as a symbol of Shiva) and sometimes as a warrior riding a horse or a bull. Khandoba’s statue is like many other Indian Gods, with multiple arms, in his case four. In one hand he holds a Bhandara bowl (bowl of turmeric). In his other three hands he carries a Damru (drum) Trishula (three-pronged fork) and A Khadga (sword)

Khandoba is worshipped with bel fruit (Indian quince variety) and bel leaves (the leaves of the same plant), onions and vegetables. He is also offered Puran polis and eggplant cooked the Maharashtrian way with millet breads. Some communities also him non vegetarian delicacies. Khandoba Festival

The Khandoba festival is celebrated every August on a dark moon night, on a very grand scale in Jejuri. The temple is located on a hill. Devotees can climb the hill to the temple - 150 stairs to reach the top from the carpark. There are 'dolis' (simple palanquins) to carry those who cannot walk. The temple is decorated with colourful lights and flowers. A temporary palace is built there with Bamboos and colourful fabric. Large clay pots are filled with various grains in the palace.

In the day long celebration, devotees throw turmeric powder on each other, in the same way as Holi is played with coloured powder. Turmeric symbolises gold and and riches, so in effect they are making offerings to the God and in return asking him to bless them. The sky looks golden because of the yellow turmeric in the air, which is how the temple gets its name of 'Golden Jejuri'. The devotees sing loudly their bhajans and songs in praise of Khandoba. “Yellow Yelkot Jai Malhar”, referring to Khandoba's avatar of Lord Shiva, immersed in turmeric. A statue of Khandoba is carried through the town in a palanquin, with a procession of devotees following.The palanquin takes Khandoba and his wives for a holy bath in the river nearby by the name of Karha. Thousands of devotees wait on both sides of the road, waiting for Khandoba to pass, so that they can touch the palanquin.

It is an incredible and overwhelming sight to be experienced at least once if you can.

Khandoba Legend Some believe that the wedding ritual of applying  turmeric paste on the groom and the bride came from those who worshipped Khandoba, as the turmeric is thrown on Khandoba and his wives.

One legend tells the story of a demon Malla and his younger brother, to whom Lord Bramha had given the boon of invincibility, and who used this boon to create chaos on earth by harassing sages. When the sages approach Shiva for protection. Shiva took the form of Martand Bhairava, riding his bull Nandi bull, leading the army of the Gods, with his wife by his side. In this form, he was described as 'shining like gold and the sun' and appeared as though he was 'covered in turmeric'. The army of the Gods killed the demons in the war and finally Shiva, in the form of Khandoba, killed the Demon Malla.

Conclusion

When I went to this temple and attended the festival with my family, I felt like I was charged with massive positive energy. I hope you can go for this once in a lifetime experience!