shaiva · Maharashtra
Jejuri Khandoba Mandir
जेजुरी खण्डोबा मन्दिर
Presiding deity: Bhagwan Khandoba (Martand Bhairav), the warrior incarnation of Bhagwan Shiva who slew the demons Mani and Malla; depicted seated on a horse holding a sword, with his consort Mhalsa (Parvati) beside him; the swayambhu linga is in the main garbhagriha
Established: Antiquity in tradition; the present hilltop temple complex was built between the 14th and 18th centuries with major construction by the Yadavas, the Holkars of Indore (especially Ahilyabai Holkar in the 18th century), and the Peshwas
Significance
The principal kuladevata of millions of Marathi families across the Dhangar, Maratha, Mali, Kunbi and Vanjari communities; Khandoba is regarded as the warrior avatar of Bhagwan Shiva who descended to Jejuri to vanquish the demons Mani-Malla; the Bhandara Khel — where devotees shower the deity, the temple and one another with turmeric powder bhandara — is a unique festival sight that turns the entire hilltop golden; the Champa Shashthi marks the day of victory and is celebrated by lakhs of devotees in a single day
Legend
The demons Mani and Malla had received boons of invincibility and were terrorising the Bhuloka; the rishis approached Bhagwan Shiva at Kailash who descended in his warrior form as Martand Bhairav at the Jejuri hill; mounted on a horse and wielding the divine khanda sword, Khandoba engaged Mani-Malla in a fierce battle that lasted six days; on the seventh day (Margashirsha Shukla Shashthi) he slew them; the dying Mani begged for forgiveness and asked that his body be made part of Khandoba worship — hence the unique tradition of offering bhandara turmeric which symbolises the demon golden body; Khandoba then married Mhalsa Devi at this very spot
How to reach
Jejuri is in Pune district, 48 km southeast of Pune on the Pune-Pandharpur road; well connected by regular PMPML and MSRTC buses from Pune Swargate (90 min journey), Shared taxis and autos; the hilltop temple requires climbing 200 steps from the foothill town
Where to stay
Sansthan Bhakta Niwas at the foothill operated by Jejuri Devasthan, MTDC Resort Jejuri, numerous family-run dharmashalas at the foothill bazaar, and premium hotels in Pune for those preferring a 1-hour commute
Primary pujas performed here
- Bhandara Khel (Turmeric Showering)
- Khandoba Darshan with Mhalsa
- Champa Shashthi Mahapuja
- Shidori Yatra
- Sangha Yatra by Dhangar community
- Kavadi Procession
- Jagar Bhaktiganga
What to offer: Bhandara (turmeric powder) — the defining offering showered upon the deity, devotees and the temple itself, turning everything golden yellow; bel patra, coconut, jaggery, jowar bhakri, kanda-bhajaniche bhang (onion bonda), and pedhe; horse figurines of clay or silver
Modern access
The Champa Shashthi attracts 500,000+ devotees in a single day from Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh; the Dhangar community considers Jejuri its highest spiritual centre and the annual Sangha Yatra is among the most picturesque Maharashtrian pilgrimages; the temple trust runs free Mahaprasad for 20,000+ daily and operates a Veda Pathashala; recent infrastructure upgrades include escalators for elderly and ramps for divyangjan to reach the hilltop
Nearby tirthas
- pandharpur-vitthal-rukmini
- alandi-jnaneshwar-samadhi
- shirdi-sai-baba
- trimbakeshwar-jyotirlinga
- tuljapur-bhavani