Once Ramdas was meditating in the forest near Shinganvadi when he received the inspiration to go to nearby Chaphal. It was a village on the banks of the Mand River. On the outskirts, in the vicinity of the crematorium, were remnants of temples of several traditionally less important deities. The villagers readily agreed to Ramdas’ request to be given that land.
He cleared the place and relocated some of the folk deities like ‘Mhasoba’. He could have appealed to the religious sentiments of rulers and landed gentry for funds. Indeed, according to Giridhar (author of Samarthapratap), Shivaji offered to fund the enterprise. But Ramdas collected finance from the masses, since he wanted their involvement in the construction of the temple as well as other activities he planned thereafter. When people from nearby places heard of such proposition, they came together to volunteer for the construction of the temple.
As the construction neared completion, his quest for an idol started. On intuition he recovered two idols submerged in Krishna River near Angapur. One was that of Ram and the other of a goddess with eight hands killing the demon, Mahishasoor. The second idol was installed at Sajjangadh as Anglai.
The residents of Angapur knew of the incident and went to Chaphal to claim the idol. As the myth goes, Ramdas showed willingness to let them take it, provided they could move it. Failing to do so, they gave up. The place where it was situated in Chaphal before taking it to the temple, is known as Sukhathane. The consecration ceremony continued for five days(1639 C.E.)
The author gives a description of the temple and environs.
The bastion of the temple was destroyed in Shaka 1629, 1707 C.E. due to flash floods in the Mand River. It was rebuilt by Keshavswami from public funds.
The author notes that according to iconography the idol actually represents the Sun and not Ram. As Ram hailed from the ‘solar’ Ikshwaku dynasty, it is logical to accept the idol of Sun to be equivalent to that of Ram.
The author, from information contained in the Samarthapratap as well as a ‘Bakhar’ by Hanumant Swami, describes the scheme of administration of the temple and duties at the time of the festival.
The temple received financial support from two of the fieflords of the Adilshah, Dyanatrao and Baji Ghorpade. Shivaji had also given land in 1679C.E.to support the establishments at Chaphal and eleven important places of Hanuman worship.
The administration of the temple by Akkabai, a follower of Ramdas, and nephews of Ramdas is documented. |
