Jyotiba History
Shri Jyotiba or Kedareshvar is incarnation of Bramha, Vishnu, Mahesh and part of sage Jamadgni’s anger; and shine of 12 sun. It is another story that Adishakti created another set of Tridev i.e. Bramha, Vishnu and Mahesh which was 100 times more powerful than original Tridev to down their ego; when her motive become successful she ordered her newly created trideva to come again when she will call for her help. When Kolhasura & his army was ruling at karvir kshetra with full of unjust mehods Mahalaxmi decided to go back karvir at this time she called the trideva & they appeared in hands of Mata Vimalambuja, in the form flame.
After knowing Mata’s wish that flame took form of eight years child bearing khadag (Sward), Damaru (Drum) Trishul (Trident) and Amrut Patra (Pot filled with nectar).
History of Temple
There was a small temple in the place of today’s Jyotiba’s big temple. The original temple is built by the devotee named Naavji from village kival near Karad. In 1730, Maharaja Ranoji Shinde of Gwalior renovated the original place in a grand place. This temple is simple and has been constructed with fine black basalt stone.
The other (second) kedareshvar temple is particularly standing without pillars. This temple is build about 155 years ago means in 1808 by Doulatrao Shinde. There is chopdai Temple present in between Kedarling and kedareshvar temple which is built by Pritirao Chavan, Himmatbahadur in 1750. So particularly this is a group of three temples.
The 4th Temple of Goddess Rameshwari has built in 1780 by Malji Nikam, Panhalakar. In front of Kedareshvar, on a small square platform, there are two nandi’s in black stone. This is also installed by Daulatrao Shinde. On the east side of temple there is a Goddess Satvai facing towards east. On west side of temple Shree Ramling is situated facing towards east. At five to six places of temple wall, the veergal stones are fixed.
The 4th Temple of Goddess Rameshwari has built in 1780 by Malji Nikam, Panhalakar. In front of Kedareshvar, on a small square platform, there are two nandi’s in black stone. This is also installed by Daulatrao Shinde. On the east side of temple there is a Goddess Satvai facing towards east. On west side of temple Shree Ramling is situated facing towards east. At five to six places of temple wall, the veergal stones are fixed.
Shri Kedarnath has established twelve Jyotirlingas around Jyotiba Mountain, so he is also called as Jyotirling. In order to establish the twelve Jyotirlingas, they first established Badrikedar ling in the remembrance of their original place in Himalaya so it is called as Kedarling too.
Lavajama of Jyotiba
Horse & Camel in Lavajama of Jyotiba Raja
Respected Horse and Camel
On Shree Kshetra Jyotiba Mountain, for the religious rituals of Shri Jyotiba or the king of Deccan, the respective animals camel, Horse
and Elephant has a great value. Camel and Horse are involved in Palakhi sohala, Puja Archa and Dhuparati Sohala. The horse has a great
value as it is a ride of Jyotiba. On every Saturday Jyotiba puja is built as sitting on horse, at the time of puja the respected horse
is placed in temple’s main Gate ( Naavji Gate) till the puja completes. On every Sunday at 12:00 in afternoon and at 8:00 in evening, while
the Palakhi Sohala starts,these animals get adorn to stand in front of Palakhi Sohala. During Jyotiba's Chaitra Yatra, there were huge waves
of gulals, coconuts and dry dates on these animals.
Shree Jyotiba Ornaments
The Idol of Shree Jyotiba is self-made idol. It is about four and a half feet in height. This idol is in the form of Batu Bhairav which is a four handed. Trident, Damaru, Kadis Snake are in hands of idol and on head there is a Shesh Naag. The idol has different ornaments in neck, hand and feet. In daily routine Shree Jyotiba is worshiped by different ornate. In a standing Puja of Shree Jyotiba it has a dressing as on a head Maratheshahi hat, Twelve bandi Shirt, Shela also there are many gold ornaments of god’s idol like gold tode in feet, diamond rings in finger, various type of necklaces etc.
Cannon Fire
Cannon salute is given at the Jyotiba Mountain on important occasions. Palakhi Sohala is celebrated on every Sunday and on full moon day, on these days at 9:00 in evening the cannon salute is offered to the god. During the Vijaya Dashami Dasara, cannon salute is offered five times in the evening at 6 o’clock. During Chaitra Festival the cannon salute is offered two times in main temple and one time in a Yamai Temple. Usually the honored cannon fire is offered on the days like before reading almanac on Gudhi Padva, on Ramnavmi, Shrikrishna Janmashtami, Kalbhairav Jayanti.
Inner side Temples
Nandi Temple
In Main Jyotiba temple there is a group of temples which has some specialties apart from the Kedarnath temple. In which one of the temple is Nandi Temple. The feature of this temple is that the temple is south-facing. Also, there are two nandis instead of one. Both of these Nandis are in Black Stone and this type of temple is rarely found in India. The temple was built by Daulatrao Shinde of the Shinde family of Gwalior in 1808.
Mahadev Temple
The temple of Lord Mahadev is seen in front of Nandi temple and it is north-facing. There is no pillar to support the Mandapa within this temple and this can be called a masterpiece of architecture. In the inner house of the temple, there are pilgrimages of Badrikedar and Kashi Vishwanath. Shri Kedarnath established twelve Jyotirlingas on this mountain for his devotees. In which the first is Badrikedar and on east side of this ling there is another ling established and it is called as Kashi Vishvanath. While constructing this temple, Shinde of Gwalior established the Linga which they brought from Narmada River. This temple, established by these three Lingas, can be called as a rare and excellent invention of spiritual science and excellent architecture.
Goddess Chopdai Temple
The temple of Adimaya Goddess Chopdai is coupled with the temple of Shri Mahadev. This is an artistic and distinctive temple, and the goddess stands as west-facing. This is a Hemadpanthi style temple and has a southern style of architecture than Kedareshwar Temple. This Aadishakti Goddess Chopdai (Charpat Amba) is one of the manifestations of Mahishasurmardini Durga, which is one of the Adimaya’s power and helped Shree Kedarnath in his southern expedition. There are four pillars in the front of the Goddess, which are all part of a Purushartha. Shree Jyotiba established eight Bhairavas around the temple. These include Kaal Bhairav, Baal Bhairav, Suvarn Bhairav, Gand Bhairav, Aakash Bhairav, Kalpant Bhairav. Apart from Eight Bhairavas there is establishment of gods -Gorakshnath (Aadinath), Rameshvar, Shankh Bhairav etc. Small temple of God Harinarayan is also presented in Jyotiba Temple premises.
Kaalbhairav
During the incarnation of Kedarnath, Kalbhairav has performed supernatural and important role so Karveer Nivasini Mahalakshmi elected him as the Chief Commander of Bhairavsena. After forming incarnation, Kedarnath initiated the South Digvijay expedition from Kashi on request of Shree Mahalaxmi. At that time Shree Kaalbhairav requested to participate in kedarnath’s supernatural work so Kedarnath happily accepted his request and participated in the South expedition. When Toran Bhairav betrayed and joined Ratnasur then Kaalbhairav is elected as chief commander of Bhairav Army as suggested by Shree Mahalaxmi. Kalabhairav has contributed a lot to succeed in the South expedition with its supernatural power. Many powerful monsters were destroyed and they established pilgrimages on that places.
Kalbhairav is an intense and glorious incarnation of Shiva Shankar. The four-handed idol has Trident, Broadsword and AmrutPatra in hands and standing like Shree Kedarnath. Chief of Bhairav army Shree Kaalbhairav is a protector of Wadi Ratnagiri or Ratnagiri mountain. This Mahankal Dhundiraj Kaalbhairav is a grandeur of protection in Wadi Ratnagiri, which has given him the honor of offering coconuts as the ruler of this area.