Sonari

Ramling        Osmanabad         Ter          Naldurg          Paranda        Kunthalgiri        sonari

About Sonari:-

Sonari is largely an agricultural village in Parenda tahsil. The village however is known for an antique shrine dedicated to Bhairavnath.
History:-

It is said and testified to by the Puranas also that Sankar appeared in Bhairava incarnation in order to put an end to the menace of the demons who were destroying the yajnyas and killing Brahmanas.. Suvarnasur was destined to die at the hands of a married person only, Bhairavnath decided to marry a maidan from Ambejogai in Bid district. The marriage, however, did not consummate and hence Bhairavnath married a Ses Kanya from Muganv, a village some where in the vicinity of Sonari and then killed Suvarnasur with the help of Kalbhairav Devi. A victory pillar or ranastambha was erected on the spot where the demon lay dead and it is said that the present temple was constructed on the same spot in much later times. Bhairavnath also succeeded in destroying the other demons. Nearby are two well constructed tirtha kundas known as Lahabai or Loha Tirtha and Suvarna Tirtha
About Temple:-
The temple is encompassed by a compound wall with two solid entrances, the one on the eastern side being surmounted by a nagarkhana or drum chamber. In the wall of this entrance gate an illegible inscription is to be seen. Immediately inside there are four stone masonry well designed dipmals or lamp-pillars illuminated only on festival occasions and cloisters to accommodate the pilgrims.
The temple can be divided into three parts, the outer and inner sabha mandaps and the vestibule. Whereas the outer sabha mandap is practically in ruins with half its roof having been collapsed, the inner one supported on twelve teak-wood pillars is in good order.
The vestibule crowned with a 13.716 metre (45 ft.) high sikhar contains the black stone idol of Bhairavnath and has a broad circumambulatory passage around. Two fairs, one in Karttik commemorating the incarnation day of Bhairavnath and the other in Caitra celebrating his marriage and the killing of Suvarnasur demon are held annually. On both the occasions a huge ratha or chariot of Bhairavnath is drawn, followed by a large procession, to the accompaniment of cymbals and other musical instruments. Devotees from all over Maharastra as well as from North India gather on the occasion.
In the vicinity of this temple there is a math or a monastery whose head priest is elected every twelve years at Kasi at the time of the Kumbha Mela.

Yermala.

About YERMALA:-

Yermala, is an agricultural village in Kalam tahsil situated on the road from Barsi. Occupying the crest of a hillock, lying nearly two kilometres south of the village, is an old temple of Yedesvari, otherwise known as Yedai. It is built in honour of Parvati.

History:-
It is said that while Rama was in search of Sita, Parvati, in spite of Shankar’s advice to the contrary, appeared before Rama in the guise of Sita with the intention of pleasing him. But recognizing her, Rama said "Tu ka Ayi (why, you mother?) Parvati did not give up her efforts and appeared a second time when Rama said "tu yedai" and hence the temple established here came to be called as Yedai or Yedesvari.

About Temple:-
Hemadpanti in style, the temple has two entrance doors, in front of the principal one of which are three dipmals or lamp pillars, the central one being a little taller than the flanking ones. Supported on two rows of solid pillars, the 9.l4x9.l4 metres (30' x 30') mandap has two rooms at one end of it, with the vesti-bule at the other end. The vestibule is 2.438 x 2.438 metres (8' x 8') and contains an idol of the goddess with a brass prabhaval around and a small linga symbol nearby.

Fairs:-
In honour of this goddess fairs are held on Caitra Suddha Paurnima and Sravan Paurnima. At the time of the first one of these nearly 80,000 people gather and on the second occasion nearly 15,000. People also gather on the Simolanghan day.
Yermala has a high school, a post office and a civil dispensary. The weekly bazar is held on Wednesdays.

Osmanabad.

Ramling        Osmanabad         Ter          Naldurg          Paranda        Kunthalgiri        sonari

About Osmanabad:-

Osmanabad district is located in the southern part of the state of Maharashtra. Most of the area of the district is surrounded by Small Mountain called "Balaghat". Bhoom, Washi, Kalamb, Osmanabad & Tuljapur Tahsil lie in the range of this Balaghat Mountain. The district is surrounded by Solapur to the south-east, Ahmednagar to the North-West, Beed to the North, Latur district to the East and Bidar & Gulbarga districts of Karnataka to the South.
Osmanabad along with the other four districts of the Marathwada region was formerly a part of the Nizam’s State. After India got its freedom in 1947 the reorganisation of various princely states was carried out. In 1956 the Marathwada region was included in the then Bombay State into Maharashtra and Gujarat. In 1960, Osmanabad along with the other districts of Marathwada became an integral part of Maharashtra. Today Osmanabad is a full fledged district of Maharashtra playing significant role in various aspects of the state.

Tehsils in Osmanabad district:-

• Osmanabad
• Tuljapur
• Omerga
• Paranda
• Bhoom
• Kalamb
• Vashi
• Lohara

DHARASHIV CAVES:-
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The dharashiv caves are situated 8 km away from Osmanabad city in Balaghat Mountains.
There are total 7 caves in the Balaghat Mountain lane.
The first cave is without any statue with small open space .
The second cave consists of a statue with Artistic work on right side of statue.
The art work is of gandharva era.

The fourth cave is with open space without any statue inside.
The statue in the sixth cave is damaged while the seventh cave has no statue
These caves were originally Buddhist, but were later converted into monuments of the Jain religion and fresh caves were also excavated nearby.
There are some more Buddhist caves excavated in the hills, about 8 miles from Dharashiva.

The earlier of them are referred by Burgess to the middle of the 7th century A. D. Cave No. II is modeled on the plan of the Vakataka caves at Ajanta. It has a central hall measuring 80 feet by 80 feet, with 14 cells for the residence of the Bhiksus and garbhagraha with a colossal image of the Buddha in Padmasana.



Another cave (No. III) has a hall of 59’ by 59’, closely resembling Cave No I.
Later some Jain caves (No. V and VI) were excavated on the same hill. They are described in the Prakrt work Karakandacariu as excavated by the king Karakanda, who came to know about the earlier caves from the prince Siva of Terapura (Tagara).
The Karakandacariu is a work of the 11th century A. D. so these later caves were probably excavated in the 9th or 10th century A. D. during the age of Rastrakutas.


Khvaja Samsuddin dargah:-
The other object of interest is the dargah of Khvaja Samsuddin at which a largely attended urus is held in the month of Rajab.



A Persian inscription in the dargah gives the, date of Khvaja's death as 720 Hijri. Said to have been erected during the period of Muhammad-bin-Tughluq, the dargah stands in the midst of an encompassed courtyard having entrances on three of its sides. The main edifice of solid masonry crowned with a huge vaulted dome is 12.19 x 12.19 metres (40' x 40') and contains two tombs one of which is that of Samsuddin.

It has an arch-shaped entrance with similar arches on the other three sides also. The top corners are also adorned with minars. Within the same compound and exactly opposite Samsuddin's dargah is the tomb of his son, Tajuddin, housed under a canopy of twelve columns. Its top is also decorated with minars, but of smaller size. The dargah looks majestic and is an excellent specimen of mediaeval Muhammedan sculpture.



Dhrtarastra Nagesvar Temple:-
The principal mosque and the ruins of an old fort or gadhi lie to the southern extremity of the town. Of the many Hindu shrines that of Dhrtarastra Nagesvar claims antiquity as well as religious importance. Situated on the banks of the Bhogavati, it is said to be the 108th and the last tirth or holy place along the Bhogavati from its source somewhere in the hills at Dharasiv.