Shrigonda

Shrigonda, Maharashtra, India
श्रीगोंदा
city
Shrigonda, Maharashtra, India

Location in Maharashtra, India

Coordinates: 18°36′58″N 74°41′53″E / 18.616°N 74.698°E / 18.616; 74.698Coordinates: 18°36′58″N 74°41′53″E / 18.616°N 74.698°E / 18.616; 74.698
Country  India
State Maharashtra
District Ahmadnagar
Elevation 561 m (1,841 ft)
Population (2001)
 • Total 26,331
Languages
 • Official Marathi
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN 413701
Telephone code 912487
Vehicle registration MH-16
Website www.shrigonda.in

Shrigonda is an old city and a municipal council in Ahmednagar district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. The place is described as Santanchi Punyabhumi (Holy Land of Saints).

Historical monuments

Balkhandeshwar (Shiva) Temple on banks of Saraswati river, Shrigonda

The place consists of: '* Twelve Shivlingas, i.e. 12 temples of Lord Shiva,

All these temples are of historical importance and are worshipped by Shrigodekars (people of Shrigonda).

Mythology

Saints

Sant Shri Sheikh Mohammad Maharaj, Patron Saint of Shrigonda

Eight saints are called as Eight Jewels of this holy land. They are:

Shri Krishanand kene and Shri Nana Maharaj both are the great saints. People from all over maharashtra and mostly from Mumbai come for the annual Utsav and Palakhi Sohola which is one day prior to Gatari Amavasya in the month of July–August. When Lord Krishna has taken birth the same period when all these saints were working for society. Pralhad Maharaj and Shri Shaikh Mohammad Maharaj existed in the same time between 1658 to 1710. A tale of their meeting is very interesting. Both wanted to meet each other and the venue was decided to be ‘Lake Padmavati’ (now a part of city). It is believed that Shri Shaikh Mohammad sat one feet under the water in the center of Lake Padmavati. Then came Shri Pralhad Maharaj and sat one feet above the water in the center of the lake. Thus they showed each other the Yogic powers.

Shri Sadguru Pralhad Maharaj was awarded “Mahapurush” upadhi (title) by Shrigondekars. He was a priest at Alamgir Badshah’s Darbar (palace). When Badshah ordered him to carry a dead body, he carried it without touching it, the body floated a feet above his head. After the incident Shri Pralhad Maharaj left the Darbar and returned to his ancestral home in Shrigonda. Since then his ancensters are not supposed work under any authority. Hence, none of his descendants who form the native population in this place work as an employee. Dattatray mahapursh in born 1908 in shrigonda in mahapurush family. He distribute knowledge of gyaneshwari bhagawat in people. He not expect money or other faciltey. People in shrigonda call them TATYA. Means he is prerent of all people and told them way for moksha. Govind Gaba born in Belwandi Bk,themple is at Belwandi BK (Bhambhach mala) and every Dipawali fesival there is God Name week.

History

This place has a long history tracing back to the 13th Century.. In the ancient time Shrigonda was known by the "Chambargonda". In the 17th century, during the regime of Peshwa's about 208 acres (0.84 km2) of land was donated to Shri Hari Mahapurush, the 7th generation descendent of Shri Pralhad Maharaj Mahapurush. Shri Hari had only one son, Narayan. Narayan had three sons – Vishnu, Dattatraya and Gopal. Of the three, Dattatraya has spent his life in Kirtan and Pravachan and enlightenment of Bhagwat Dharma. He was instrumental in starting a big religious movement among the illiterate class and especially farmers of Shrigonda Taluka. There are over a lakh of his followers all over Maharashtra. After his nirvana in 1992, his followers contributed and built his Samadhi, near Samadhi of Shri Pralhad Raj and other ancestors. The sons of Dattatraya and Gopal devoted their time in Bhajans and Kirtans.

Shri Raulbuva and Shri Godhadebuva lived in the following period. They are equally revered by Shrigondekars. However, recent influx of immigrants (without much knowledge about them) has decreased the importance of these saints in the town.

The great Maratha nobleman Mahadji Shinde was resident of shrigonda before he had moved to North India and became Maharaja of Gwalior. His descendant Maharaja Jiwajirao Shinde donated palaces and land to Rayat Shikshan Sanstha which run schools in rural areas of Maharathra.

Rituals

Mohamad Maharaj Yatra

Shri Shaikh Mohammad Maharaj Samadhi is worshipped by people of all the religions in the region. Hindus worship Mohamad Maharaj with Haldi and Kumkum. It is an example of Hindu-Muslim brotherhood. The Mohamad Maharaj Yatra is held for two days in the month of March when all the worshippers and believers visit the temple-mosque. During the ceremony of applying Chandan (Sandalwood) paste to the Samadhi. This YATRA held on "AAMLAKI EKADASHI" i.e, on "Falgun Shukl-Paksh 11" of Hindu calendar.

Khandoba Yatra and Bhairoba Yatra

Khandoba Yatra and Bhairoba Yatra are the big events in the city after Mohammad Maharaj Yatra. The famous Shani temple and Jodhpurcha Maruti temple are quite old and are looked after by the Guravs who traditionally do the Pooja in here. Khandoba temple is outside the city on the bank of river Saraswati.

Salvandevi Yatra

Salvandevi Yatra is celebrated in Navratra. In these 9 days before Dashami, a huge number of people visit the Salvandevi Temple located about 3 km. south of city. According to mythology, a Devi-Bhakta (worshipper) asked Bhavani Mata to come to his house in Shrigonda. Mata agreed and came along, walking behind him. But he was not supposed to turn back. However just before reaching the city, he turned back to check on her and the Mata disappeared for the lack of his faith on her. The temple is believed to have been built on the place where she disappeared...

Hangeshwar Yatra ( Hangewadi): Hangeshwar yatra is also femous yatra of south shrigonda taluka, each year chaitra pornima celebrated as a hangeshwar yatra and it is very femous & religious yatra, thousands of devotees gather together for the marriage of lord shiva & Parvati whole night of pornima there are lot of religious functions are celebrated along with Royal Palki of lord shiva. Hangewadi is small village also famous for tourist spot for one day tour, it is located at the bank of river Hanga, from Hangewadi we can go to tour of famous Ghod dam and it is only 4 km from Hangewadi village. In the month of Shravan (July-Aug) we can observe very beautiful climate of Hangewadi and each Monday of Shravan celebrated as a yatra day. This month number of school trip are coming to Hangewadi for celebration.

Geography

Shrigonda is located at 18°36′58″N 74°41′53″E / 18.616°N 74.698°E / 18.616; 74.698.[1] It has an average elevation of 561 metres (1840 feet).

Demographics

As of 2001 India census,[2] Shrigonda had a population of 26,331. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Shrigonda has an average literacy rate of 71%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 77%, and female literacy is 64%. In Shrigonda, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.

People

The people of Shrigonda are called Shrigondekar. The inhabitants of Shrigonda are divided in two. The first category consist of people who have been residing there for generations. They run small businesses or shops or do farming. The second category consist of people who migrated and settled in Shrigonda. They are mostly working or retired government employees, professionals or new generation guys from nearby villages. In various district government offices at Ahmednagar, Pune and Nasik, Shrigondekars are found employed. Many people from every Shrigondekar family is living in Metropolitan cities across the world.

Transportation

Despite its quietness, there is now much life on the muddy roads of Shrigonda. The transport facilities are increased recently and the mobility is increased. The new big ST stand with regular buses plying to Daund, Pune and Ahmednagar make people convenient to go anywhere easily. With Railway connectivity to south and north side, goods transport is also easy. The nearest big railway station is Daund, Ahmednagar, Pune and Manmad are the nearest rail junctions.

Education

Being the nearest and low cost education provider, the city has two senior colleges : Maharaja Jivajirao Shinde College and Chhatrapati Shivaji College. The primary and secondary schools are run well with good quality teachers. Rayat Shikshan Sanstha's Mahadaji Shinde Vidyalaya and Shrimant Rajmata Vijayaraje Shinde Kanya Vidyalaya are well known for its quality education. The old school building was constructed in the 17th century. This Shinde Wada was said to be seven stories high, now it is only two stories comprises. This consists of two big chowks (courtyards), stony floor and wooden carved entrances. Other reputed schools in taluka includes Shrigonda Vidyalaya and PRATAPRAO SHELAR primary school run by Politician Mr. Ghanashyam Shelar. Rayat Shikshan Sanstha's Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Vidyalaya Adhalgaon. Also there are many new generation English medium schools started in Taluka. Recently Parikrama Trust has started a new college for Engineering at Kashti. Soniya Gandhi Polytechnic, a well known institute of technical education for rural students is situated in shrigonda city at Balajinagar and Indira Gandhi Polytechnic is also situated away 10 km from shrigonda at Belwandi(sugar).

Politics

Shrigonda’s political atmosphere has always been very active revolving around two prominent political figures Shivajirao Nagawade, founder chairman of The Shrigonda Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana, and Babanrao Pachpute, former MLA and Kundlik Jagtap. Kundlik Jagtap's son Rahul Jagtap is a Member of the Legislative Assembly. However, Babanrao Pachpute, who was MLA for 35 years and Ex-Minister for many years.Other powerful political leader are Ghanshyam Shelar, Ex- Vice President of Nationalist congress party. He recently joined Shivsena along with his supporters. Babanrao Pachpute left Nationalist Congress party before few day of legislative assembly election 2014 and joined Baratiya Janata Party. He was said to had very close relations with NCP Supremos Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar. He contested the assembly elections against Rahul Jagtap from NCP. Also there is the rise of second generation young politicians like Vikram Babanrao Pachpute, Rajendra Shivajirao Nagawade, Rahul Kundlik Jagtap, Prashant Ghanshyam Shelar, Rushikesh Gaikawad, Shahaji Ramesh Ithape.

Industry and business

There are four sugar mills in Shrigonda Taluka namely The Shrigonda Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana founded by Shri. Shivajirao Nagawade, Kukadi Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana founded by Shri. Kundlikrao Jagtap, and Saikrupa Sugar Factory Pvt Ltd.Ukkalgaon and Saikrupa Sugar factory Pvt Ltd Phase 2 at Hiradgaon. Despite having this large no of sugar factories in Shrigonda, farmers still remained as major sufferers. Lack of industrial growth has made educated class to migrate to nearby cities like Pune. Business is operated on the level of small workshops and businesses, bazaars, shops, and retail market.

      Kalpataru haritgrah shetkari sangh,shrigonda (KHaSSS) is a group of local farmers . Chandukaka waje,Arvind kapse sir and hemant (dada) patil are the founder members of this polyhouse farmers group.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Shrigonda
  2. ↑ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. Retrieved 2008-11-01.

External links

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