HISTORY OF VAJRESHWARI DEVI

In 1739, Chimaji Appa – the younger brother and military commander of Peshwa Baji Rao I- had set up camp in the Vadavali region on his way to capture the Portuguese-held Bassein Fort of Vasai. The fort was unconquerable even after a three-year war. Chimaji Appa prayed to goddess Vajreshwari that if he could conquer the fort and defeat the Portuguese, he would build a temple to her. According to legend, the goddess Vajreshwari appeared in his dream and told him how to conquer the fort. On 16 May, the fort fell and the defeat of the Portuguese in Vasai was complete. To celebrate his victory and to fulfill the vow taken in front of the goddess Vajreshwari, Chimaji Appa ordered the new Subhedar (Governor), Shankar Keshav Phadke, to build the Vajreshwari Temple. Shreemant Chimaji Ballal Peshwa (aka Chimaji Appa) (1707-1740) was the son of Balaji Vishwanath Bhat and the younger brother of Bajirao Peshwa. Chimaji was an able military commander, who liberated the western coast of India from the Portuguese. Chimaji Appa concentrated his energies on the Western Ghats. Vasai (formerly known as Bassein) was his ultimate objective since it was Chimaji Appasaheb Peshwa: The slayer of the Portuguese Regime : Story of the Unsung Hedro of the Peshwa Regimehe capital of the provincial government of Portugal’s northern Indian command. In 1733, the Marathas, led by Chimaji Appa, with Sardar Shankarbuwa Shinde Wrested control of the Belapur fort from the Portuguese. Sardar Jankojirao Shinde, who opened the attack from Maratha side, was actually the great grandfather of Ranojirao Shinde and real younger brother of Dattajirao Shinde (The First Scindia). He had vowed to offer a garland of Bel leaves at the feet of the chief deity at the nearby Amruteshwar Temple if he captured the fort successfully from the Portuguese. Aft the vctory, the fort was renamed as Belapur fort. After careful planning, Chimaji Appa led a Maratha army into the occupied territories in 1737. Chjimaji’s strategy was to go for the weakest link in the chain to the strongest, thereby progressively weakening the Portuguese forces. Maratha General Shankarbuwa Shinde captured the strategic island fortess of Arnala, thus cutting off a crucial relief line to Vasai. Thane and Salsette Island were freed in 1737. In Novemeber 1738, Chimaji Appa captured the fort of Dahanu and on January 20, 1739, Mahim was surrendered. This was speedily followed by the capture of Kelve/ Mahim by Chengojiro Shinde, Sirago by Ranojirao Shinde, Tarapur by Janojirao Shinde and Asserim by Chimaji Peshwa himself on February 13, 1739. On the 28th of March, 1739, the Portuguese lost the island and the fortress of Karanja to Raoloji Shinde’s forces. Finally, in Februay, 1739, Chimaji Appa wrested the Bassein fort, He first occupied Versova, then Dharavi and blockaded Bassein Creek. Chimaji’s forces laid mines at various points under the fort walls and detonated them causing a breach in the wall. The Marathas, led by Ranojirao Shinde and his cousin grandfather Janojirao, son of Shrimant Changojirao, poured into the fortress. Inch by inch the fort was secured the resistance was contained in small pockets. The tower of Saint Sebastian collapsed in an explosion and Portuguese morale plummeted. All resistance ceased immediately. On May 16, the Portuguese army surrendered. Portuguese Captain Caetano de Souza Pereira signed the surrender treaty since most of their top army officers were already dead. Vajreshwari Temple comes into being The war with Chimaji Appa during 1737-1740 cost the Portuguese Northern Province’s capital Bacaim (Portuguese name for Vasai), eight cities, four chief ports, 20 fortresses, two fortified hills and 340 villages. The losses amounted to nearby the whole of the Northern Province. To celebrate his victory and to fulfil a vow taken in front of Devi Vajreshwari, Chimaji Appa had a temple built for the goddess. The Vajreshwari Mandir still stands there as a relic of Maratha glory. Chimaji Appa collected five large bells from Vasai fort after the war against Portuguese. He offered one bell each at Bhimashankar, Menavali near Wai, Bhanshankar Mandir (Pune), Omkareshwar (Pune) and Ramlinga Mandir (Shirpur). Chimaji Appa died in 1740. The conquest of Bassein was long cherished by the Marathas as a matter of national pride and glory. A relationship built on trust and camaraderie between Bajirao and Chimaji was the key to the meteoric rise of the Marathas during Bajirao Peshwa’s reign. In 1739, the Maratha general Chimaji Appa, the younger brother and military commander of Peshwa Baji Rao I, had set camp in the Vadvali region of Maharashtra near Mumbai on his way to capture the Portuguese held Bassein fort of Vasai. The fort was unconquerable even after a three-year war. Chimaji Appa prayed to goddess Vajreshwari who is Parvati in her Aadi Maaya aspect and promised that he could conquer the fort and defeat the Portuguese, he would conquer the fort and defeat the Portuguese, he would build a temple to the goddess. According to the legend, goddess Vajreshwari appeared in the dream of Chimaji Appa and told him the way to conquer the fort. On the 16 May, the fort fell and defeat of Portuguese in Vasai was complete. To celebrate his victory and to fulfill the vow taken in front of goddess Vajreshwari, Chimaji Appa ordered the new Subhedar (governor) Shankar Keshav Phadke to build the Vajreshwari temple. The temple’s architecture is based on Bassein fort. The original temple of Vajreshwari was at Gunj, which is 8 km of the spot where Vajreshwari Mata Temple stands today. Chimaji Appasaheb Peshwa : The slayer of the Portuguese Regime : Story of the Unsung Hero of the Peshwa Regime. We have already narrated the mythological story of Shree Vajradevi. To protect Rishi Vashishtha from the Vajra sent down by Indra, Mata Parvati took ‘Avatar’. Parvati swallowed the Vajra therefore is called Vajreshwari. She made Vajreshwari her permanent abode, on the request of Shree Ramchandra. An imposing temple has been raised there. This temple is very old but the construction we see there today was carried out during Peshwa rule. Vajreshwari forms part of Thane district. The Places such as Vasai, Arnala, Kalyan and Bhiwandi are in the vincity of Vajreshwari. By the year 1560 A.D. the Portuguese had acquired the possession of forts at Vasai, Tarapur, Mahim, Daman and Chaul. The Portuguese were more aggressive in their proselytizing activities than the Muslims. They indulged in looting people belongings, in massacres, in molesting their women. Even Aurangzeb would have felt ashamed before the tranny of the Portuguese. They destroyed temples and forced thousands of Hindus by just dropping a piece of bread into their wells. Thus, the Hindus by just dropping a piece of bread into their wells. Thus, the Hindus became Christians without evening being baptized. Our forefathers too were beguiled into believing that the forced Christianity is irrevocable and that such a person is permanently lost to Hinduism. There were countless of them in those. When the Peshwa Prime Minister of Maratha Empire learn this, it was decided to put a stop to the Portuguese mischief. Chimaji Appa, a well-known sardar of the Peshwas set out with a large Maratha Contingent. Chaskar-Joshi was about to perform the ritual of “Gondhal” at his house Grabbing this opportunity the Peshwa sardars (Patwardhan, Biwalkar, Mankar and Naik Joshi) assembled there and discussed a secret-plan. In those days, the road from Pune to Vasai passed through Thane, Bhiwandi and Vadavali (Vajreshwari). Probably, it was convenient route. Vadavali is situated at the foot hill and is at the bank of river Tanasa (Tejada). Chimaji Appa decided to pitch the tents of the Maratha army nearby. The tents, big and small, lay spread between Akloli and Ganeshpuri. Temporary horse stables were raised. At some places, horses were seen tided to the trees. It was the day of dark moon light, Amavasya crept in. The dinner was over. Everybody was enjoying either “Pan” or smoke of “Vidi” (desi cigar) the night-guard sepoys were readying themselves for the duty. In the tent of Chimaji Appa, the informers were busy giving their information. Everything was in its place. The night was ripening. The night guards took up their positions. Actively within the tent came to halt. The smoking was over. The cicadas began to chirp in shrill-pitch. The movements of the nocturnal bats stopped. Only a stray sound of horse intermittently heard. The night – guards were signaling to each other in their typing style. At a distance wolves were heard calling. Dogs were barking, but otherwise there was silence. In his tent, Chimaji Appa was still awake. The thoughts of the imminent expedition had made him rather uneasy. He was half way through. It was not, the first hour of dawn. The sleepless Chimaji Appa decided to go out to inspect the night-guard. As he approached a hot water spring (Kunda) he saw a ‘sadhu’ Chimaji Appa was curious about this holy man with an earthen pot in his hand walking in quick strides. Who could be this man? Asked Chimaji Apa to himself. “Could he be a spy?” He called his officers and guards and sort explanation from them. They told his officers and guards and sort explanation from them. They told him that this sadhu was seen going towards the hills in front of them for the last eight days, both in the morning and also in the evening. What he does there, was not known. Next day evening accompanied by his officers and clerks, Chimaji Appa himself set out and followed the footsteps of the holy man. After covering some distance Chimaji Appa saw a shed made of dry sticks and leaves. Underneath it was some idols smeared with, ‘Shendur’ (red Lead) The sadhu gave them a bath with the water brought in an earthen pot and worshipped them with wild flowers. He then sat in the ‘Padmasana’ posture. Chimaji Appa was religious minded and had utmost faith in the almighty. He too sat in ‘Dhyan’ position before the deity with his head bowed down in reverence in order to invoke her blessings for the task he has undertaken. Unknowingly, his palms closed together and he saluted the deity offering sincere prayers. He Said, “ O mother, I do not know your name, but I offer prayers to you as a divine power. I set out on this military expedition with blessing of Shree Ganesh. If you bless me, I am sure that I will be successful. Suddenly, Appa experienced a queer feeling within and his hair stood on their ends. Appa was hearing some unknown voice within himself. In this state of ecstasy Appa was hearing (and dictating) and the pen of the clerk was noting it on the paper. “I am Vajreshwari”. I have come here, at the suggession of Shri Ramchandra. As I am a ‘Yogini’ I shall not enter anybody else’s body. To those who have faith in me will get my blessings. I shall always bless the ‘Sadhakas’ and devotees of Yogavidya. My original adobe lies beyond the Mandagani Mountain. But a great yogi would come here after one hundred and fifty years and enhance the importance of this place. Thereby my devotees would find it easy to offer their prayers. “Appa was a little apprehensive. He thought that he was a stranger to the land and was ignorant about it. There upon the Goddess herself comforted him and told him that he should pray her whenever he felt insecure or uneasy. She would guide him and show him the way. Appa now had come out of the ecstasy almost after an hour. He returned to his tent. He asked his clerk to prepare a note on action to be taken once the expedition successfully concludes. It said that the original adobe of the goddess should be traced. A temple should be erected for the deities and a grant should be provide for its maintenance. After this episode Chimaji Appa had a very should sleep. He got a vision while in sleep. He was told that he would get a symbolic message as soon as he would approach the front attack on the fort. The goddess then disappeared. Appa then woke up and then sat in his bed and ‘Namaskar’ with both the hands to goddess Bhagavati. He had the darshan of the goddess in the morning. Emotionally moved, he profoundly thanked her for having shown him the way to success and promised that if he became victorious in his armed expedition, he would built a fort like temple of her. The blessed sardar of Peshwa then launched a formidable attack on the fort with all his might. App saw a flying flock of pigeons when he came in front of the fort, and he was once reminded the of the hint given to him by the Goddess in the vision last night. He was convinced that this was her symbolic message, and he intensified the attack from that side. The air wasa filled with shouts “Jay Bhavani”. Grim battle ensued. Appa attacked the main bastion of the Portuguese, Silvera the officer of the fort was killed in the encounter. Chimaji Apa scored a decisive victory. In the process however, he lost too many of his chosen commanders and also soldiers. Appa had vowed that either the Maratha flag or my head blown from the canon would flutter atop the fort, the Portuguese flag was replaced by saffron “Jari - Pataka”, the people were last freed from the tyranny and fear forcible conversation. They were happy. The Peshwas valour was written in golden letters. In due course, Appa redeemed pledge and built a fort like temple in Vajreshari, As memorial to his victory, as Vasai he also built a “Dipstambha” and a ”Dipmala” since the time people have come to believe that the goddess fulfils their wishes if they pray her. The temple became a scared kingdom - “a Sansthan”. Seven to Eight surrounding villages were given to Sansthan as maintenance grant. The original name of the Village Vajreshwari was Vadavali. The village deity was Kalikamata. Even today, there is a tradition to take out the procession with someone wearing thet mask of the village deity on a “Rangapanchami” day every year. The original abode of Vajreshwari is in Wada Taluka beyond the Mandagini Mountain. Gunja and katai are the two villages where there is an ancient temple belonging to the pandav era. The temple which is still their houses Parshuram, Renuka, Vajreshwari, Bhagirathi etc. On the 8th day of the bright fortnight, “Falgun”month every year, people perform worship and prayer with full ceremonial rite to the goddess. Chimaji Appa could have the vision of the goddess because Godhde baba whom he had mat on that day was having the idol of kalikamata with him. Appa placed the idol made of the Gandhki stone with all the sacred rites at the very location where he had got the vision of the Goddess. An auspicious moment was chosen for the occasion. Fairs in honor of various deities at different placed in Maharashtra are generally held on the full moon day i.e. Poornima but the one at Vajreshwari is held on Amavasya the dark Moon day, in the month of Chaitra. The fair commences on the 14th day of the dark half of the month. A grand ceremonial worship takes place on that day. On Amavasya the dark Moon day, at night there is a worship of the lamps and on the first day of Vaisakh month, the ceremonial procession of the Goddess is taken out. Godhadebuwa, the staunch devotee of the Goddess ofrmaly belonged the “Dashnam Giri” sect. Once upon a time locality in Pune was known as, “Gosavipura”. Today it is known as Somvarpeth. The Sefffron-clad Gosavis (of this sect) used to wander through this region. Interestingly enough, some of them were appointed in the peswa court on important designations. When the temple was completed, the peshwa government sanctioned an annual grant of Rs. 890/- Gradually Vadavali assumed importance. The administration of the temple and villages grant to it passed to the Giri Gosavis. Godhdebuwa always lived on the Gautam hill. Knowing fully that Godhdebuwa was instrumental in bringing grandeur to this abode well that of the Goddess people entreated him to stay in the vicinity of the temple, and offered to build a ‘Matha’ for him. The selfless ascetic declined. People wanted the administration of the temple to be assigned to one of his disciples. When this becomes known Mahantas of various sects thronged around him claiming the coveted post. In order to get out this predicament, it was decided to hold the on ordeal test. All those Mahantas desirous of the type appointment had to perform a fire ordeal. It was rather a unique type of fire ordeal. The hot water ‘Kundas’ contained water which was hot to the boiling point. Rice could be cooked in it within seconds. The Mahatma of each sect was asked to take a thorough dip in this hot water. Whoever came out of the ordeal unscathed was to be appointed. Godhdebuwa alone succeeds in the ordeal. The Mahanta of other sects, who were falsifiers and selfish by nature, utterly failed to complete the ordeal. The administration of the Vajreshwari Sansthan was thus assigned to the Gosavi Sect. But Godhdebuwa assented to Goutam hill never to come down again. He chose ‘Nivrithi path’ (giving up all worldly things) people used to go to him for having a glimpse of him and to enquire about his well-being. Blessed in his soul. He stopped even going for the ‘Darshan’ of Vajreshwari . His shrine has been built on the Gautam hill behind the temple of the goddess at an elevation. People reverently pay visit to this shrine. Since that time on, the heir of the Giri Gosavi sect have been the custodians of the Vajreshwari temple. Their present generation is the 14th and is respresented by Shri Hemendra Giri Gosawi who is at present the hereditary trustee of the trust. Vajreshwari is in Thane district in Maharashtra and is situated some 75 kilometers from Mumbai in the bosom of nature. There are regular S.T. Bus services between Vajreshwari and Thane. Kalyan on the central railway line and Vasai, Nalasopara and Virar on the western line. In the vicinity of the temple there are ‘Dharamshalas’ and private lodge well equipped with all amenities. Facilities were further improving at Vajreshwari day by day. Ganeshpuri and Akloli which are near Vajreshwari have beautiful temples and ancient hot-water springs. This land chosen by sage Vashista for his ‘Yagnya’ has now become sacred by the touch of the feet of Swami Nityanand. His shrine in the land symbolizes his immortal memory. Every grain of soil there embodies all the anecdotes of his divine powers. Nityanand was not just one person, he was a divine entity. Though a naked sage himself, he used to feed hundreds of orphan children every day and showered his affection on them. By his own example, he inspired others to practice humanitarian religion by giving selfless love to all irrespective of the differences such as caste, religion, colour, the poor or the rich. He spent most of his time in the temple. He built school, ‘Dharmashala’ and hospitals in a village and later handed them over to the Government. He also renovated the temple of Gorakhnath-Machhindranath whom he adored as his Guru. This temple known as ‘Nathmandir’ holds the ‘padukas’ (foot prints on stone) of Nath and Bhagwan Nityanand. The 7th canto of Navnath Kathasar contains a lot of information about Shri Vajrubhagawati. It’s mentioned there that after worshiping the Saptshringi Goddess at Vani, Machhindra came to Vajreshwari. Here he served the Goddess for a month by daily giving her bath of hot water procreated by him. The hot-water springs of those times, are the specialty of Vajrashwari. As referred to earlier, those hot-water springs which were procreated to ward off the calamities trusted upon the people by Indra have their own value from the mythological point of view. And in today’s world of science too they command public attention and interest. The sage Vashistha had then made use of medicinal plants found in the thick forest around. The scholars and practitioners of Ayurveda ought to take advantage of these plants today. Some local people there do use them by using the triple-remedy of medical plants, bath in the hot water springs and prayers simultaneously. Many have been cured been cured of their skin-diseases, polio and physical disabilities.