The Late Shree Abasaheb Deshpande Smruti Shree Datta Mandir, Jalgaon (Jamod)
The location of the Project Shree Kshetra Jalgaon (Jamod) is located in the Buldhana District of the Vidarbha Region and this Project of Shreepad Seva Mandal is located near Shegaon and Khamgaon, which have become famous because of Shreesant Gajanan Maharaj and Shreesant Pachalegaonkar Maharaj respectively.
History of the Project This beautiful project – Shreedattamandir – of Shreepad Seva Mandal has taken shape on a 6500 sft. plot. This project is a unique example of our Sadguru's love for the disciple and the fulfillment of an affectionate promise. During the first meeting of Most Revered Sadguru Shri. Mama and Most Revered Shri. Shireesh Dada, the former had showered several blessings on the latter. One of these blessing was – "I will provide your mother with an eternal parental home."
Jalgaon (Jamod) is the place of Shireesh Dada's maternal grand parents' home. Revered Shri. Abasaheb Deshpande had a spacious palace here. In the course of time the building became dilapidated. Subsequently his mother, her five sisters and four brothers together, donated this land at the feet of Sadguru, for the construction of Sheedatta Mandir. Shri Prabhakar Rao Deshpande, a maternal uncle of the mother of Shri Shireesh Dada donated a sum of Rupees Twelve Lakhs in a single installment for constructing this Shreedatta Mandir.
The history of the Idol of Shreedatta The Shreedatta Idol installed in this beautiful temple has an amaizng stroy associated with it. Shri. Harishchandra Lakshamn Alias Vasant Rao Shrotri is an extremely devoted disciple of Most Revered Shri Mama who had gone to Shri Vasant Rao in 1987-88. He had then shown three photographs of Bhagawan Shreepad Shree Vallabha Maharaj to Shri Vasant Rao and enquired from him if he could tell some place from where such an Idol can be obtained. Shri Vasat Rao had replied : My son, Sanjay, works in Jaipur. He can get fine marble idol made according to the photograph, by Rajasthani Craftsmen.
After getting the consent from of Most Revered Shri Mama the photographs were sent to Shri Sanjay with instruction to get 1 1/2 ft. high idol conforming to other prescribed diamentions made there. It took about four months for the Idol to be ready. Then it was brought to Pune via Mumbai. On seeing the idol Most Revered Shri Mama was exteremely satisfied. Shri. Vasant Rao expressed his intension install the idol in his uncle's house in Talegaon (Dabhade). Most Revered Mama asked him not hurrying up the installation and that he would take the decision about the installation later – Shri Vasant Rao's wife had expressed her views about a grand temple to house the idol. In this connection Most Revered Mama had said that she need not worry as an appropriate temple will certainly take shape at a later date by the will of Lord Dattatreya Himself. A contractor from Talegaon was even ready to get such a temple constructed but Most Revered Mama did not agree and had said that he would tell about it at a later date.
Subsequently Most Revered Mama left the gross world in March 1990. The idol was still lying at Shri Shrotri's place. Shri Shrotri's uncle's house at Talegaon was sold off and the idea of having a temple constructed there failed thus. Shri Vasant Rao used to garland the Idol on every Shreedatta jayanti. Once he had been to Solapur via Tuljapur in connection with some work there he met a devotee of Anant Koti Brahmandanayak Rajadhiraj Sadguru Shreeakkalkot Swamee Samartha Maharaj, who told him that he should immediately give away the idol he had in his house because the worship of such an idol is extremely difficult.
Immediately on his return to Pune, Shri Vasant Rao telephoned to Most Revered Shri Shireesh Dada in Maoolee and briefly conveyed what he had just known. He also asked if the Mandal needed that idol. Then Most Revered Shri Shireesh Dada told him that the Mandal was infact in search of a suitable idol as the temple construction of the Mandal was complete. As per the wish of Shri Shrotri Most Revered Shri Shireesh Dada saw the idol and approved it. Most Revered Sadguru Shri Mama had envisioned the idol almost ten years before this project at Jalgoan (Jamod) was even taken up and had already ensured that this pleasant idol of Single Headed Shreedattaprabhu was readily available. What an amazing divine vision !
The Temple layout The location of Shreedatta Mandir is at an height of about fifteen feet from the road level. After going up a flight of about fifteen – twenty steps we reach the Main Gate. There, to our right we see a small temple, where in an extremely beautiful idol of Shreehanumant is installed. Right from the Main Gate we see before us a large assembly hall and the Sanctum Centorum in which we have the smiling faced idol of Shreedatta. In front of the idol 'Prasadik Padukas' of the Lord are installed.
To the left of the temple are located the office of the Project, bed room of Most Revered Shri Mama, a Library and rooms for the volunteers who serve there. On the hind side a basement for Sadhana, Kitchen and Store Room are located. On the upper story we have living quarters for Most Revered Sadguru and accomodation in the adjacent hall – Shree Swamee Samartha Sabhagruha – for aspirants vising the place during festivals. There is another spacious assembly hall upstairs for conducting discourses and keertans.
We have, within the Sanctum Santorum, exquisite oil paintings of Shreemad Nrusimha Saraswati Swamee Maharaj, Paramhamsa Parivrajakacharya Shreemad Tembye Swamee Maharaj and Most Revered Sadguru Shri Mama Maharaj on the wall behind the idol of the Lord. On the outside wall by the side of the door to the Sanctum Centorum we have an oil painting of Rajadhiraj Sadguru Shreeakkalkot Swamee Samartha Maharaj. The idol of the Lord in this temple, Shreedattapadukas and the idol of Shreehanuman have all been sanctified by Most Revered Shri Shireesh Dada himself personally.
All the festivals of the Parampara are celebrated here every year as scheduled. Bhagwan Shreepad Shreevallabha Swamee Maharaj jayanti, (Bhadrapad Shuddh Chaturthee) is celebrated in this project on a very grand scale. Since the Lord was born at sunrise the programme starts very early in the morning, before the sunrise, with a keertan depicting the birth of the Lord. It is followed by collective Sadhana, Pavaman Maha Abhishek Pooja, Discourse, Devotioned Songs and Mahaprasad. All these go on throughout the day. The climax of the celebration is the 'Palanquin Procession' in the evening, The 'Padukas' of the Lord are placed in the Palanquin decorated with flowers and 'Suwasinees' perform 'Oukshan' to it with lighted lamps. The palanquin with the 'Padukas' is then carried over the shoulders of devotees around the temple three times to the accompaniment of music, dance and full fan fare. The celebration conclude with 'Aaratee.' Large number of devotees from all centers are present for the function along with a large gathering of devotees from nearby places.
Daily Programmes in the Temple Every day at sunrise 'Kakad Aratee' is conducted to the accompaniment of the 'Choughada'. 'Pavaman – Abhishek Pooja' is conducted every morning. Evening Aratee along with Karuna Tripadi takes place at 7 PM and the 'Shejaratee' at 9 PM.
Darshan Timings 06.30 AM to 12.00 Noon. & 04.00 PM to 08.00 PM (The temple is closed for darshan between 12.00 Noon and 04.00 PM.
Activities at the Project Similar to all the projects of Shreepad Seva Mandal 'Annadana' takes place daily even here. A free Reading Room is run on behalf of the Mandal. One can become a member of the Library by paying a nominal amount as deposit. All the publications of Shree Wamanraj Prakashan and other literature written by Saints are also available to any reader who wants to study.
Since the location of the Project has a lively presence of Bhagwan Shreedattatreya Prabhu the believers experience many amazing things and their problems vanish merely by the Lords's darshan.
Directions to Jalgaon (Jamod) by train
Maharashtra Express leaving from Pune or the Vidarbha Express, Sevagram Express, the Kurla-Howrah Express leaving from Mumbai, halt at the Nandura Railway Station. Jalgaon (Jamod) can be reached from Nandura in an hour's time by ST Bus of private vehicles. One can also travel up to Khamgaon by ST or Private Buses and reach Jalgaon (Jamod) from there via Nandura.
Back to Top