BULDHANA

Buldhana district in Maharashtra was part of the ancient Vidarbha Kingdom mentioned in the Mahabharata epic. The name likely derives from "Bhil Thana," meaning "place of the Bhil community".

Old records indicate that Buldhana was a small town surrounded by dense forests called "Bhilthana" in the pre-British era. It got this name from the prominent Bhil tribal residents of the area. British officials later selected Bhilthana as a hill station and changed the name to "Buldhana." Over time, the "dh" sound was confused with "d", leading many to spell it as "Buldana'' in recent decades.

Leaders of the Bhil community have demanded that the district's original name, "Bhilthana," be restored to respect their identity and avoid the ongoing confusion over the "d" and "dh" sounds, which are quite similar. They have submitted memorandums to the district collector multiple times in the past five years, arguing that this land belongs to the Bhil people and the name should reflect that.

In Sindkhed Raja's beautiful palace, there lived a young Rajkumari named Jijabai. Jijabai, born into the noble Jadhav family, was a curious and adventurous youngster who enjoyed exploring the palace gardens and historic monuments.

One day, while playing hide-and-seek with her friends, Jijabai discovered a hidden path behind the Nilkanteshwar mandir. Excited by her discovery, she continued down the dark tunnel, emerging in an underground cavern. The walls were covered with beautiful carvings and sculptures, and a brilliant murti of Shiva stood in the center.

As Jijabai gazed in astonishment, she heard a voice. "Young Rajkumari, you have been chosen for a great destiny." She turned, startled, to discover a guru seated in meditation. "You will one day become the mother of a mighty Samrat who will unite the Maratha people and fight for their freedom."

Jijabai listened intently as the guru predicted her future. He told her of the brave boy she would have, Chhatrapati Shivaji, who would grow up to be a great warrior and build the Maratha Swarajya. Jijabai experienced a burst of pride and determination. Jijabai then dedicated herself to preparing for her role as Shivaji's mother. She studied combat, statecraft, and the Maratha culture. Her bravery and knowledge would eventually inspire Shivaji to become the leader he was meant to be.

Years later, while Jijabai stood on the balcony of the Rang Mahal, watching her son's coronation, she recalled the sant's words. The heroic Rajkumari of Sindkhed Raja had accomplished her destiny, and the Maratha Swarajya was established.

Lonasura terrorized the region of Buldhana. With his staggering powers, he wreaked havoc on the innocent, bringing much suffering and destruction.

As the devtas gazed down at the mortals' predicament, they decided to intervene. They requested that Bhagwan Vishnu, the preserver of the universe, defeat the evil Lonasura and restore peace to the land.

Bhagwan Vishnu approached Lonasura in his small Vamana avatar and requested a small boon, merely three paces of land. Lonasura, humored by the small Brahmin who decided to approach him, decided to grant the request, not realizing the true power of Vamana. As soon as the boon was granted, Vamana grew in size, eventually towering over the Asur Raja. With his first step, he covered the entire planet. With his second, he reached the skies. With his great third stride, he struck the earth with such force that it formed a large crater, which filled with water to become Lonar Talao.

Lonasura attempted to run, realizing he had been duped, but Vamana quickly apprehended him and threw him into the netherworld, never to harm the people of Buldhana again.

An ancient palace can be found in Nandura, Maharashtra's Buldhana district. Once the stately residence of the region's old rulers, this abandoned house is now shrouded in mystery and horror, its haunting presence casting a terrible shadow over the area.

According to a regional myth, the palace is cursed, with the halls and corridors haunted by the restless spirits of the cruel and unjust rulers who previously ruled Nandura. The stories depict a dynasty consumed by greed, corruption, and an insatiable desire for power.

The curse is claimed to have manifested itself first during the reign of the oppressive King Amirullah Khan. The raja was infamous for his merciless treatment of his citizens, imprisoning and executing anyone who dared to challenge him. His palace transformed into a site of fear, and its terrible history grew over time. Subsequent monarchs, motivated by personal ambitions, continued to rule with an iron grip, infuriating the spirits of those they had harmed. Whispers of unimaginable acts of cruelty spread, fuelling the assumption that the palace had been cursed, tainted by the sins of its previous occupants.

In Jalgaon Jamod, a tehsil in Maharashtra's Buldhana district, tales about a long-lost treasure have been passed down through generations. According to locals, the location formerly had a vast hoard of wealth, secreted away by the valiant soldiers of the Maratha Empire as they fled the invading British forces.

During the Maratha reign, the powerful Swarajya built by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj faced its greatest challenge. As the British East India Company increased its grip on the subcontinent, the Maratha generals realized their days of domination were over. In a frantic attempt to protect their wealth and resources, they devised a strategy to conceal their most valuable goods, such as gold, diamonds, and ancient artifacts.

The rough terrain of Jalgaon Jamod, a strategic outpost that has long functioned as a Marathi bastion, was chosen as the venue. Under the cover of darkness, a group of trustworthy warriors, led by the famed General Baji Rao Peshwa II, went out to bury the riches at a secret site known only to a few.

As the British soldiers approached, the Maratha warriors fought valiantly to keep them at bay, buying valuable time to hide the wealth. The battle was ferocious, with clashing swords and deafening cannon fire resounding through the hills. Finally, the Marathas were compelled to retreat, but not before the rest of the loot had been safely hidden.

Since then, the story of the Jalgaon Jamod treasure has captivated the locals' imaginations.

In the sixteenth century, a significant text called Viraja-mahatmya was composed, which provides insights into the mythology surrounding Lonar. This text recounts tales about the foundation of Lonar, particularly focusing on the sub-incarnation of Viṣṇu, known as Daityasūdana, who defeated the demon Lavaṇasura. The narrative of Lavanasura is also found in the Skandapuraṇa. According to the story, Lavanasura received a boon from Shiva after performing intense penance, granting him immortality. He established himself in Lonar and wreaked havoc on the surrounding regions, even threatening to wage war against the gods. In response, the gods prayed to Viṣṇu for help. Viṣṇu then took the form of a charming young child, Daityasūdana, won over the demon's two sisters, and located his lair. By touching Lavanasura's belly with his toe, Viṣṇu killed the demon and buried him. Following his death, water flowed from Lavanasura's body, resulting in the formation of the salty lake at Lonar. The term "Lavana," meaning salt in Sanskrit, reflects this. Since Viṣṇu killed the demon by bursting his belly, the site became known as "Nabhi tirtha" (Nabhi meaning belly). After the battle, Viṣṇu remained furious and uncontrollable, prompting the river Gaṅga to appear at Lonar to calm him. The spring that flows continuously, believed to be the Gaṅga, is referred to as Viraja Tīrtha, which is why Lonar is often called Viraja in various texts.

Viraja-mahatmya mentions that Prabhu Ramacandra, Sita and Laksmana, during their mandatory forest dwelling (Vanvasa), lived at Lonar. One of the springs, Sitahani, is believed to be the place where Rama and Sita lived during their Vanvasa (exile). It is said that Sita used to bathe in this spring.

In 1734, the Nizam of Hyderabad conferred kingship upon Sri Nemiwant of Malkapur, placing Western Vidarbha under his rule. Raje Nemiwant received the Vatandari titles for Malkapur, Kund, Dharangaon, Badoda, Panhera, and Rajura from the Nizam. Today, the grandeur of Raje Nemiwant is still evident in the magnificent Mothi Haveli, the stunning Sri Ram mandir, and Lahan Haveli located in Durga Nagar.

An inscription in the Ram Mandir commemorates the Vatandari granted to Raje Nemiwant. He was known as Sri Srinivasrao Nemiwant, a devout individual of high moral standing, deeply engaged in spiritual practices, and well-versed in ayurveda and the science of mantras. Raje Nemiwant was a brother disciple of Srimat Swami Chandrashekhar Saraswati, the Shankaracharya of Sringeri Peeth, and both studied scriptures together. Notably, the Shankaracharya made a special visit to the Ram mandir in Malkapur, despite it not being part of his itinerary, to perform an abhishek on the “Padukas” of his Master that were installed there, highlighting Raje Nemiwant's esteemed reputation

While excavating the foundation of the "Mothi Haveli" belonging to Raje Nemiwant, a labourer's spade struck a hard object, producing a spark and flash of light. This startled the workers, who immediately ceased their efforts. The incident was reported to Raje Nemiwant's manager, who, along with several Vaidik Brahmins, hurried to the site. Upon careful inspection and cleaning, they discovered a beautiful "Shiva-Linga." The marks from the spade are still visible on the Shiva-Linga today.

Experts discussed the implications of this discovery, noting that if the original location of the Shiva-Linga were bypassed, it would necessitate alterations to the Haveli's design, making it incompatible with Vastu Shastra principles. Consequently, it was decided to build a mandir nearby and ceremoniously install the Shiva-Linga there, following scriptural guidelines. However, attempts to remove the Shiva-Linga from its original site were unsuccessful, despite considerable effort.

During this time, a senior family member experienced a vision in which Shiva conveyed, “I have been here since time immemorial. Do not attempt to move me from this place, or you will face consequences.” Following this vision, the mandir was constructed in the available space, and a Panchamukhi Shiva-Linga (a five-headed Shiva-Linga) was installed in the black stone mandir. Over time, the eternal Shiva-Linga became known as "Mallikarjuna," leading to the town being named "Mallikarjunapur." Eventually, this name evolved into "Malkapur," marking the historical significance of the town.

According to historical accounts, a group from a particular community fled Rajasthan to escape Mughal oppression and sought refuge in this area. Over time, they joined the army of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and later became part of the forces led by Raghunathrao and Daulatrao Shinde. This community eventually settled in the region.

One night, a member of this group witnessed a bright light at the site and saw a manifestation of Devi in the form of a bow. Startled, he called out to others nearby, which caused the manifestation to remain incomplete. As a result, the community constructed a small mandir at that location. The priests of the mandir, Durgabharati and Mangalbharati from the Gosawi community, continue to perform pujas there to this day, with the same family carrying on the tradition.

This historical and sacred Gurudwara is significant as it was visited by the tenth Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh Devji, who stayed here for a brief period nearly 400 years ago. The site features notable artefacts, including an old well and an ancient Kadamb tree, along with land documents issued in Guru Gobind Singh's name. Currently, a beautiful new Gurudwara is under construction alongside an older one.

Historically, the water in the town was salty, prompting Raja Nemiwant to invite Guru Gobind Singh ji, who was residing in Burhanpur, 66 km away. He accepted the invitation and arrived, staying under the Kadamb tree. He instructed the locals to dig a new well, which surprisingly yielded sweet water, making the town's water potable. This area is now known as Sangatwadi. The Gurudwara spans 10 acres and is home to 1,200 lemon trees.

The mandir is named after sant Changdev, who lived in the 14th century AD. It is believed that Yogi Changdev Maharaj resided here for 1,400 years. The present-day town of Changdev was once known as Sri Kshetra Bhingnapur and even earlier as Sundarpur. According to locals, Changdev Maharaj, a powerful Yogi, defied death 14 times through his yogic powers. However, over time, he developed pride due to his extraordinary achievements, which hindered his spiritual progress. His spiritual guide, Muktai, helped him overcome this obstacle and guided him toward realization.

One story recounts that while Muktai and her brothers were in their ashram, Changdev passed by. Though Muktai was fully clothed, she appeared to him as unclad, prompting him to turn away. Muktai then pointed out that he was not yet perfect, as he still harbored feelings of shame and lust and failed to see God in every being. Her words profoundly impacted him, leading him to eradicate these weaknesses through intense sadhana. Although Changdev wished to take Dnyaneshwar Maharaj as his guru, he was directed to Muktai for spiritual initiation.

Sri Gajanan Maharaj was a mystical sant of the 19th century, contemporary to figures like Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Sai Baba of Shirdi. According to locals, he first appeared on February 23, 1878, in a “super-conscious” state, seen on a road without clothes and eating leftover food, a day now celebrated as "Pragatdin" or “Magh Krishna Saptami.” This man possessed immense powers and transformed the small town of Shegaon, which was once bleak, into a place of prosperity and spirituality, offering hope to those leading barren lives.

Gajanan Maharaj often chanted “Gan Gan Ganat Bote,” meaning “Oh soul, see the God in your own heart!” He was classified as a Paramahamsa or awaliya sant, characterized by his long arms and fingers that reached his knees. Occasionally, he smoked marijuana (ganja) in his pipe. His spiritual practice included a twelve-year engagement at Kapildhara near Igatpuri, where he installed an image of Ganesh, which remains in the main mandir today.

Through supernatural means, he guided devotees toward God, bringing significant change to many lives in his brief 32 years. He was adept in all three paths of yoga: Karma, Bhakti, and Jnana. Gajanan Maharaj passed away on September 8, 1910, attaining Sajeevana Samadhi, a voluntary withdrawal from the physical body. Before his Samadhi, he sought permission from Vitthal of Pandharpur and indicated where his devotees could build his Samadhi in his presence.

The site, located 20 km from Malkapur, was visited by the Maha Yogis Macchindranath and Gorakshanath, who are part of the Nath Lasura Macchindranath Gorakshanath Sampradaya. According to locals, the two Yogis came to a farmer in Lasura named Dhabali, who was harvesting jowar (sorghum). The Yogis requested food, and the farmer graciously provided them with a hearty meal. After their meal, the Yogis vanished, and remarkably, the farmer found that the heap of jowar remained unchanged despite several harvests.

Curious villagers flocked to the site and discovered two Banalingas hidden beneath the jowar. That night, the farmer had a vision instructing him to take one of the Banalingas back to the village and consecrate it as Gorakshanath, eventually building a mandir for it. The second Banalinga was to be consecrated at the spot where the Yogis had disappeared, designated as Macchindranath, with the instruction not to build a mandir for it. Thus, both Banalingas were consecrated in Lasura.

In the village, there was a devotee named Baba Haibati from the Shepherd community, skilled in Tantra Vidya, who aided the people. He received the blessings of MahaYogi Kanifnath, the fifth Nath of the Nath Sampradaya, and constructed a mandir for him in his courtyard. Today, Lasura boasts three Nath mandirs, along with several notable places to visit, such as the Shivanabhi and Datta mandirs. To the west of the Gorakshanath mandir lies the Shivanabhi Muktai mandir.