AMRAVATI

Vidarbha region in Maharashtra is home to the Satpura mountains and rivers like Purna, Wardha, and Wainganga. This area was once known as Kundinapur, capital of the Vidarbha Samrajya, ruled by the wise and generous Raja Bhismak. People here lived peacefully, under the shade of Audumber (cluster fig) trees that grew everywhere.

The twisted trunks and thick leaves of these Audumber trees offered more than food — they were seen as Vriksha Dev, symbols of life and growth. Locals believed the trees were forms of a dev, often gathering beneath them for guidance.

Kundinapur flourished as its people lived in harmony with nature. The Audumber trees stretched far across the land, their branches reaching skyward, as if in prayer.

A terrible famine struck, drying the green fields and leaving people hungry. Many fled to other regions, while those who stayed faced hardship. Through all this, the Audumber trees remained strong, their rustling leaves offering comfort to those who sat beneath them.

During this time, the people came to see these trees not just as providers of shade or fruit, but as symbols of hope and strength. After the famine ended, life returned, and people rebuilt their lives, inspired by the trees that had stood with them.

In honour of these trees, Kundinapur came to be called Udumbravati — the place of Audumber trees. Over time, Udumbravati became known as Amravati, the name by which the place is known today.

Raja Bhishmaka of Kundinapura is remembered as a just and benevolent ruler, while his son Rukam gained renown as a skilled warrior. Yet it was Bhishmaka’s daughter, Rukmini, whose devotion and determination gave rise to one of the most enduring legends of the region. Rukmini’s heart belonged to Krishna, revered for his divine compassion and love.

Each day, Rukmini would pass through a secret tunnel leading from the palace to the banks of the Wainganga River. There, she performed her ablutions and offered worship to Maa Avantika Devi, a local form of Durga. In the quiet sanctity of the shrine, she poured out her prayers, entreating the goddess to unite her with Krishna. Her brother Rukam, however, sought to secure a political alliance by marrying her to Raja Shishupal, a ruler infamous for his arrogance and cruelty. Distraught at the prospect, Rukmini sent a clandestine message to Krishna, begging him to rescue her.

On the appointed day, Krishna arrived at the Mandir of Maa Avantika Devi armed only with his divine weapon, the Sudarshan Chakra. At the Mandir gates he confronted Rukam’s soldiers, who had been stationed there to prevent Rukmini’s escape. With ease, Krishna overcame the guards and entered the garbhagriha. There, moved by Rukmini’s unwavering devotion, Maa Avantika Devi is said to have placed Krishna’s hand in hers, symbolically blessing their union.

As the couple departed for Dwarka, Rukam gave chase but was powerless to stop them. In despair, he cast his crown upon the ground at the village of Moharsa, four km from Kundinapura. This act marked his defeat and his recognition of Rukmini’s divine love for Krishna. Renouncing his throne, Rukam chose instead a path of atonement for endangering his sister’s happiness and for disregarding the strength of love sanctioned by the divine.

It was a time when the city was full of merchants and traders, whose success angered the famous Pendharis, a group of ruthless bandits who roamed the land. It is said that the merchants learned of an upcoming Pendhari attack on their city.

The businessmen of Amravati, led by the brave Bani Shakkal—a feared general and local hero—realized they needed to act quickly to protect their wealth. They gathered their most valuable possessions and looked for a safe hiding place. Their eyes were drawn to Maltekdi, the tall hill overlooking the city.

They climbed the hill with great effort and began carefully hiding their money under the stones that covered its surface. As they worked hard, a plan started to take shape: they would lure the Pendharis to the hill, where there would be no treasure for them to steal, thus saving the city from their anger.

As expected, the Pendharis arrived, bringing their numbers to nearly two thousand. They searched the city but found nothing to satisfy their greed. In desperation, they turned their attention to Maltekdi, where they looked in vain for hidden treasure.

The merchants breathed a sigh of relief as the Pendharis, unhappy with their failure, decided to spare the city. To appease them, a sum of seven lakh rupees was paid as a small ransom for Amravati's safety. Maltekdi, which originally meant "hill of wealth," now represented the city's strength and its people's cleverness.

Today, Maltekdi remains a popular tourist spot and has been renamed Shivatekdi in honor of the great Maratha king, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. A grand statue of the king stands proudly at its summit.

The people of Melghat, located in the Satpura mountain range, lived a beautiful but tough life. The town of Dharani, with its simple homes and lively community, thrived in nature's bounty. However, their peace was often disturbed by the threat of wild animals, especially tigers. While most of these creatures stayed away, one became a danger: a “Narbakshi” (man-eater) that frightened the locals.

In the middle of this chaos lived a young man named Arjun. Known for his bravery and sharp instincts, Arjun was loved by everyone. He felt a strong connection to the forest, understanding its rhythms and respecting its creatures. His father, a skilled hunter, had taught him about the jungle, but Arjun believed in solving problems through cooperation rather than violence.

One evening, as the village elders gathered to discuss the growing threat, Arjun stepped forward and said firmly: "The tiger has turned our lives into a nightmare. We cannot live in fear. I will find this beast and protect our village."

Despite their worries for his safety, the villagers trusted him. Arjun's mother, in tears, blessed him and begged for his safe return. Armed with his father's old rifle, a sturdy spear, and strong determination, Arjun set out into the Melghat forest.

The forest, filled with tall trees and thick underbrush, was a maze of shadows and sounds. Arjun moved quietly, paying attention to every rustle and snap. He followed the tiger's trail—broken branches, paw prints in the mud, and the unmistakable scent of a predator. He sustained himself on wild fruits and occasionally hunted small animals as he pursued the tiger.

As the moon shone brightly over the jungle, Arjun heard a low growl; he knew he was getting close. He climbed a nearby tree and waited, scanning the darkness. Hours passed until dawn broke, revealing the tiger moving gracefully through the morning light.

Realizing this was his chance, Arjun steadied his rifle and aimed carefully. But just as he was about to pull the trigger, the tiger seemed to sense him and locked him in its gaze. At that moment, Arjun felt a strange connection—a mix of respect and sadness—as he understood that this creature was also trying to survive.

Arjun came up with a plan to deal with the threat without unnecessary violence: he would drive the tiger deeper into the forest away from the village. Climbing down from the tree, he approached the tiger to make himself known. The tiger snarled and bared its teeth, but Arjun stood firm. He quickly threw a torch into a nearby bush to start a fire. The sudden flames startled the tiger and made it retreat.

For hours, Arjun followed the tiger using fire and noise to keep it away. The chase was tiring but fueled by his strong determination. Eventually, they reached a quiet part of the forest far from the village where the tiger roared defiantly as it found itself cornered. Tired yet determined, Arjun raised his weapon one last time.

Instead of shooting it down, he fired a shot into the air. The sound echoed through the forest; realizing human presence meant danger, the tiger turned and ran into the wilderness. Arjun watched it disappear, hoping it would find a safe place to live without coming into conflict with humans again.

When Arjun returned to Dharani, the villagers treated him like a hero. His bravery had saved them; however, it was his compassion that helped him maintain harmony with nature.

Following Bhagwan Shri Ram's coronation, tales of Sita ji began to circulate across the country. These rumours compelled Bhagwan Ram to make the painful decision to leave Mata Sita behind. Lakshman ji was tasked with dropping her off near Maharshi Valmiki's ashram, believed to be located in what is now known as Salbardi.

One day, Mata Parvati and Mahadev were playing a game of chaucer (dice). In this game, Mahadev kept losing repeatedly, which made him very angry. Upset by his continuous losses, Mahadev left and went to Salbardi, where he sat in a cave to perform penance. He meditated there for many years, deeply immersed in his penance.

Meanwhile, Mata Parvati noticed Mahadev's absence and eventually found out that he was meditating in the Salbardi forest. To find him, she transformed herself into an Adivasi woman and began searching for the cave where Mahadev was performing his penance.

When Mata Parvati finally reached the cave, Mahadev recognized her despite her disguise. Realizing that Parvati had come to him, his anger began to subside. Understanding that it was time to reconcile, the two left Salbardi together and went to Pachmarhi.

Because of this event, Salbardi is known for the presence of "Chota Mahadev" (the smaller Mahadev), while Pachmarhi is know as the place of "Bada Mahadev" (the larger Mahadev).

The story dates back around 1,000 years. One day, a woman named Devkabai went into the forest to collect wood. She lost track of time, and as evening approached, she bundled up the wood and started heading home. On her way, she was followed by two drunk men who began to harass her. Terrified, Devkabai dropped the wood and ran, but the men eventually caught up to her and tried to assault her. She fought back and managed to escape but soon found herself near a cliff. To protect her honor, she made the desperate decision to jump from the cliff into the river below.

It was a full moon night, and the sight of Devkabai drowning frightened the drunken men due to superstitions associated with the moon. They fled the scene in fear. A few days later, the same two men returned to the riverside where they had seen Devkabai. As they spent time by the river, they noticed a strange figure emerging from the water as evening fell. To their horror, they saw that it was Devkabai, but she had transformed into a creature with the upper body of a woman and the lower body of a fish—a mermaid.

In a matter of seconds, Devkabai attacked them, dragging one man into the water where she killed him. The other man was severely injured but managed to escape and return to the village. He recounted the terrifying tale to the villagers, but they didn't believe him. However, when the body of the drowned man was discovered a few days later, the villagers were shocked. They built a mandir at the spot where Devkabai had jumped into the river.

Since then, many people have claimed to have seen a mermaid in the river.

Mangla Devi, originally known as Radhabai, was a resident of Paratwada. Her family was in the jewelry business, but due to her perceived madness, she was cast out by her relatives. Seeking refuge, she eventually made her way to Salbardi, a place near the Satpuda mountains, about 20 kilometers away. There, she served a sant for 8 to 10 days. During this time, Mangla Devi shared her story with the sant, but he remained silent.

The sant told her to stay in Salbardi, explaining that the place was a Shakti Peeth, where a piece of Mata Sati's body was believed to have fallen. Mangla Devi decided to make her home there and soon found a tiger cub that began living with her.

A few days later, the sant returned and confirmed that a small body part of Mata Sati was indeed buried in that area. As time passed, villagers who took their cows and goats to the Satpuda mountains began noticing strange occurrences around the cave where Mangla Devi lived. They saw women's sarees and other clothes mysteriously floating outside the cave. Curious and alarmed, they reported this to the village.

The villagers decided to visit Mangla Devi, and before they arrived, she instructed the tiger that had been living with her to leave. When the villagers reached the cave, Mangla Devi told them that the Devi who resided there had appeared to her in a dream, granting her miraculous powers to help others.

Word of Mangla Devi's abilities spread, and people began visiting her for remedies and solutions to their problems. Over the years, her following grew, and more and more people came to seek her guidance.

One day, the Devi appeared to Mangla Devi in a dream and told her that her work was complete. Shortly thereafter, Mangla Devi passed away. When the villagers learned of her death, they built a mandir in her honor outside the cave. Today, Mangla Devi's maqbara is also located at this site, where people continue to come and pay their respects, believing in the divine powers she once possessed.

In Amravati district, 45 km from the city, lies Kaundinyapur, a village tied to an epic love story from the Mahabharat. Locals call it Shree Kshetra, a place of historical importance, and say it was the childhood home of Rukmini, who married Krishna Bhagwaan.

According to the epic, Rukmini, a Vidarbha princess, was betrothed to a prince but loved Krishna Bhagwaan. She sent him a message to rescue her before the wedding. Following tradition, she visited a mandir near Kaundinyapur the night before. As she left, Krishna Bhagwaan arrived in his chariot, evading her brother’s army. A battle ensued, but their love prevailed, and they married in a grand ceremony.

Kaundinyapur, once Vidarbha’s capital, is linked to this tale through the Vitthal Rukmini Mandir, perched on a hill by the Wardha River. Locals say Rukmini returned every Kartik month. Some mention a tunnel connecting this mandir to another, though unverified. Excavations uncovered ancient walls, a palace’s stone base, and 14th- or 15th-century bricks. The Hyderabad Gazette noted evidence of Copper and Stone Age settlements, confirming the site’s antiquity.

Each Kartik full moon, around two lakh people, many from the Varkari community, gather at Kaundinyapur, similar to the Pandharpur Yatra. They wear Gandhi caps, sing bhajans, chant abhangs, and women perform fugdi dances. The event mirrors a jatra, bustling with cultural pride and community spirit.

Among the common Marathi sayings, several reflect the wisdom of everyday life. One such proverb is “Ati shahana tyacha beil rikama” - literally, “an oversmart man’s bull remains unemployed.” It is used to describe a person who is so clever in theory that he fails to put his resources to practical use, leaving them idle instead of reaping the benefits. Another saying, “Ati titha mati” - “where there is excess, there is soil” - warns that overindulgence or obsession often leads to the ruin of what one already possesses. The proverb “Kaket kalasa ani gavala walasa” - “the vessel is under your arm, yet you search for it in the whole village” - captures the irony of overlooking what is close at hand while searching everywhere else. Finally, “Adhla Hari gadhavache pydhari” - “when Hari is desperate, he bows even before a donkey” - points to the realities of necessity, where even a foolish or unworthy person may command respect if he holds the solution to a pressing problem.

In the Amravati region, there exists a long-standing tradition of public storytelling that continues to hold cultural significance. The practice begins on the first day of Navratri and extends until the eve of Diwali, creating a festive season of narration and reflection. During this period, storytellers recite and interpret episodes from revered texts such as the Ramayana, the Shiv Puran, the Bhagavad Gita, and the Mahabharata. These sessions serve not only as entertainment but also as a medium for transmitting religious values and collective memory across generations.