• Jan 25 2016
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Balaji Mandir

Balaji of Tirupati is the moneylender of Giri and Balaji of Washim is the Jagirdar of Vashim. The Shree Balaji Sansthan of Washim, which is a link between the devotees' faith, the Puranas and medieval history, and the architectural features of Washim, still stands as a glorious testimony of the ancient Vatsagulma city in the form of Janardana Vishnu Murti and the history of the medieval Washim Nari in the form of a grand temple. Located in the heart of Washim, the Balaji Sansthan of Washim brings ancient history and the history of the medieval period alive before us. About fifteen hundred years ago, a Rajput woman from Washim city passed away. Chandrasekhar and other idols were found while preparing a pit near the present Chandrasekhar temple for her cremation. This news reached the area. The then Nawab Hasmatjung Bahadur and the Deshmukh, the landlords and the villagers saw the found idols and asked for more to be dug there. Balaji's Vishnu idol, Lakshmi, Ganesh Sharda and other idols were incarnated from it. The idols of Vajgajat were brought to the altar of the Hanuman temple on Katives.Later those idols were installed in the place where the present Balaji temple is by building a small house. Further, Parshurampant Deshpande of Karanja said, Give us these idols, we will build the Karanja temple. However, the Nawab and villager group here refused it. At that time the city of Washim was divided into three royal families. The idols were found in the western region under the rule of the Nagpurkar Bhosals. At that time Senasaheb Subha Janoji Bhosale was in Nagpur. His courtier was Bhawanipant Kalu of Khadi Dhamani in Washim District. During the reign of Raghupati Raje Bhosle, Sardar Bhawanipant Kalu along with Chimnaraj Bhosle had set out for Bengal around that time to collect the tribute of Bengal. He camped at Washim. At that time, the news of the discovery of idols of deities at Vatsgulm Washim reached his ears. He took darshan of that idol. He made a mental resolution that if I succeed in conquering Bengal, I will build your grand temple here. Next, Bengal's raid was successful. After returning from that ride, Bhawanipantani put his resolve in the ears of Bhosal. According to that resolution, a grand temple of Shri Balaji was built at Washim along with a stone temple and pushkarni next to it. The work of this temple and the temple continued for twenty-five years. Skilled craftsmen from all over the country were working hard for it. Ten lakh rupees were spent on this construction. The other idols in the Sri Balaji temple and beside the idol were found on Shravan Shuddha 13 Shaka 1699 i.e. 15 August 1777. The construction of the temple started on Shravan Shuddha 13 Shaka 1700 i.e. 6 August 1778.After the completion of the work of the temple, Sri Balaji and other found pearls were enshrined in the temple with a grand ceremony on Friday 22nd August 1783. Since then, Friday darshan is very important in the city. Although the history of the construction of this temple is in the middle ages, the idol of Balaji in the temple has an ancient connection. A legend about this mutt is told in the ancient book Vatsagulma Mahatm by Washim. Accordingly Vaisakhan Muni was once banished. There, the thief stole their Devarchan karandika. It had Janardana Murthy. Then Vaisakhan Muni was very sad. Three fasts took place. Then Sri Janardana gave him direct darshan. After that, he bathed in Janardnakshithirth here and performed actual puja and the sage was freed. Later Janardana installed his quadrupedal image there for the sake of the devotees. It is said that this idol is the same. But later the idols had to be buried underground during the time of the Murtishbanjak invaders and later they were found during the funeral of a Rajput. Thus, this temple has achieved the link of Purana and medieval history.