<h4>B.K Shree Panduranga Mandir</h4>

‘Never live in a place where there is no temple ‘Is an age old saying. The temple occupied a very important place in the Hindu way of life. In line with this thought wherever the Hindus migrated they took along with them their gods, culture and heritage. This is how Sanathana Dharma spread to Sri lanka and the Far East in the past and to Europe and the United States of America in recent years. The world’s biggest place of worship, a marvel which was completed within 40 years, a wonder by the world Angkorwat in Cambodia was built by the overseas Hindus.

In 1677 CE Chatrapathi Shivaji Maharaja the Hindu emperor who stood up to the muslim tyrant Aurangazeb, in the course of his southern expansion, established a Maratha court in Tanjore which lasted for over 250 years. As a result of the above people from the Maratha Empire moved into Tamil Nadu and settled in various areas.

Major settlements were in Tanjore, Kumbakonam, Arni and Chennai. In Chennai the most prominent settlement was in the Triplicane village. Over the years the Marathi speaking community felt a need for a temple for Lord Vittala, the reigning god of the Hindus. The efforts of various people resulted in a Vittala temple in Triplicane.

Situated at Subadral Street  in Tiruvetiswaranpet (Opp to Star Theatre) Triplicane, the Vittala temple was conceptualised in the year 1906 CE by the Bhavsar Kshatriya Shri Panduranga Bhaktha Jana Sabha  formed by the Marathi speaking community who started the construction in the year 1936 CE with the help of some generous bhakthas from  the  community.  The temple was completed in the year 1939 CE with a south Indian style of gopura and a blend of Marathi tradition which marks the deep association and blending of culture of Marathi speaking people with the local community. The temple is a testimony to the devotion of the vibrant Marathi speaking community. The tradition of  Bhajans, Abhang and Keerthanas  which has now become an integral part and a well-accepted form of worship in all temple.

The temple was renovated in the year 2005 CE without disturbing its original form with black granites with Lord Vittal Panduranga as the main deity and a separate mandir for Goddess Rakumai. The other deities in the temple are Garuda, Hanumantha, Dattatreya and Lord Ganesha. The main deities is surrounded by the shrines of santha shresta  Shri Nivruthi, Gnandev, Sopan, Muktha bai, Ekanath, Namdev, Tukaram, Pundalik, Chokamela, Samartha Ramdass and Janabai. The devotees can worship Lord Vittala by themselves and place their forehead at his lotus feet.

The important festivals are,

 Ashad Ekadishi: In ashada month (July) During this festival the temple will remain open for the whole day. Many people including non-Marathi speaking people from various communities visit the temple for the blessings of Lord Vittala Panduranga and in the evening the procession of deity takes place with Bhajans. The festival ends the next day with the Dwvadishi paran after breaking the fast.

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 Gopal kala: In the month of ashada poornima (July). The significance of this festival is as follows.  Lord Krishna who took birth in the yadava community inspired everyone by his naughtiness during his child hood, so he was the most beloved one and everyone wanted to have a glance of Lord Krishna. So Lord Krishna decided to unite every one during the poornima night at the bank of Yamuna without any disparity of rich and poor and caste and creed. He asked everyone to bring the cuisine of their choice prepared in their house and the same was commonly pooled in a big vessel. The Omni potent Lord Krishna played with every individual and mesmerised everyone by his melody of flute. After a great deal of joy, the tired and hungry people cherished the cuisine which was brought by the rich and poor.  Lord Krishna mixed the cuisine brought by everyone in the vessel and himself distributed the mixture of cuisine to everyone without any disparity and discrimination. This is still practised and the festival ends with Bhajan and dance with all people considering themselves as Gopikas and Madhavas.      

Kalyana Utsav: In February ( falguna ) on Ratha sapthami day. The programme starts in the evening prior to the day of muhurtha with abhanga bhajans from great bhajinis from Chennai  As the Marathi bhajans are no longer restricted to the Marathi speaking people alone, even the localities are well versed with the traditional bhajans and have formed their own style of singing the bhajans.  Many people from all walks of life attend the kalyana utsav which is performed in the Maharashtrian traditional way to the deity Lord Panduranga and Goddess Rakumai. People who attend the kalyana utsav place the akshadas at the lotus feet of the deity and seek the blessings of the divine couple and cherish the mahaprasad distributed in the temple. In the evening, the procession of the deity takes place to the melody of Marathi bhajans. 

karthik saptha and ekadishi: In the month of karthik  (November) bhajans and keerathans are conducted for seven days  until the Ekadishi of the month. During this period the bhakthas hold thanpura in their hand and shoulder and continuously chant the holy manthra “Jai Jai Ram Krishna Hari” day and night till Dwvadishi and break the fast on the Dwvadishi day. The significance of the utsav starts with the Raja Parikshit (grandson of the Pandavas). The king once went to the forest for hunting wild animals. During the course of the hunt the king became thirsty and was looking for water. The Samika maharishi, who was in deep tapasya, ignored the call from the king for water. The king Parikshit was annoyed by this action of the maharishi. He garlanded the maharishi with a dead snake in an outburst of his anger. The son of the maharishi, Sringin found the mischief of the king Parikshit by his yogic power and cursed the king that he will die in seven days by a snake bite. The king repented for his action but once cursed, the curse cannot be called back and therefore the maharishi advised him to continue his remaining days by chanting and listening to the namasankeerthanas. At the end of seventh day the king was bitten by the snake but due to his namasankeerthana he attained the moksha padas.  

The temple celebrates Namdev punya thithi, dattatraya, jayanthi, Gnaneshwar punyatithi Ram navami, Shivrathri (during the shivrathri the masthaka linga of the Lord Panduranga will be decorated with vibuthi instead of vaishna gopi chandan) Vaikunta Ekadishi dass navami Tukaram bij.

The management of the temple is carried out by very devoted and competent trustees.

Mrs. Uma rani Mahindrakar Managing Trustee/ President Bhavasara Kshatriya shri Panduranga Bhaktha Jana Sabha.

Mr. Nethaji Pote Trustee/ Vice President Bhavasara Kshatriya shri Panduranga Bhaktha Jana Sabha.

P. Chandrasekar Suthrave Trustee/Secretary Bhavasara Kshatriya shri Panduranga Bhaktha Jana Sabha. Cell: 9444176414 To be contacted for poojas.

Daily trikala poojas are conducted in the temple. Morning 6.00am to 9.30am Evening 5.30pm to 9.00pm.