A Temple is a holy place of worship, where we develop the closeness with the Almighty. It provides us the divine opportunity to identify the Supreme power, whose mere sight eliminates the darkness from within. It eliminates the materialistic desires from within, resulting in awakening of the spiritual knowledge. Just the thought of visiting the temple gives us delightful feelings and a blissful heart. As we approach the temple, all the distractions of heart and subconscious mind ends.

The temple is a medium to connect oneself to the divine. It gives realisation of the truth that a human body is a temple itself where the God resides. Through continuous contemplation, we can discover the Satyam, Shivam and Sundaram and can attain the spiritual growth. As we know that all things in the world are temporary; the body which comprises of the five elements of earth, water, air, wind and space, will return to dust, only the soul remains immortal.

A similar temple was established on a beautiful peak near the Century Rayon Factory in Shahad (Kalyan) suburb, about 54 km from Mumbai. The huge and beautiful Vithoba temple with elevated peaks was constructed by the Welfare Charity Trust established by Shri Rameshwardas ji Birla on 2nd February 1961. The Bhumi Pujan of this temple was done on 5th March 1962 by Mrs. Sharda Devi Birla and the foundation stone was laid by Mrs. Venutai Chauhan (the wife of the then Home Minister Mr. Yashwantrao Chauhan). The temple was inaugurated on 23rd November 1966 by Shriyut Vasant Kumarji Birla and Smt. Sarla Devi Birla. The temple was inaugurated on 1st March 1967 at the hands of Vatsalabai Naik, wife of then Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Vasantrao Naik. The construction of the temple was done by the architect Prabhashankar Aughadbhai Sompura. This temple, built on the peak, not only radiates till miles away in the neighbourhood, but also continues to spread its fame and glory far and wide for a long time by the visitors of the country and abroad.

Features

This palatial temple is adorned with separate shikhars of the three main deity pairs on three sanctum sanctorums of five pedestals. In front of the sanctum sanctorum there is a huge pavilion of 1400 square feet. In the middle of the temple Padaka 40 feet above ground level there is a dome of 350 ft. It is precisely as described in Shilpa Shastra. Vidyadharas are represented in different parts and forms near the Roopkund. There are also beautiful Devanganas in different dance forms near the Vidyadharas.

The Five Gates

There are five gates, two in the east-west and three in front, for the convenience of the visitors to enter the cryptic pavilion of the temple. The five gates are made of marble, and have beautiful carvings. In front of the east and west gates, the ornate ceiling of Chatushti-Kaons is worth seeing.

The courtyards of the sanctum sanctorum, the crypt, their walls are all decorated with white marble. The huge and grand vitan above and the three sanctums facing the front, with prominent sculptures, appear to be very impressive.

Sculptures

The idols installed in the sanctum sanctorum have been constructed artistically. The black marble idols of Lord Vithoba-Rukmini have been made to appear like the idols at Pandharpur, the most revered place in Maharashtra. The model of this idol of Shri Vitthal Rukmini was prepared by the famous craftsman of Mumbai, Shri Wagh and it was constructed under the guidance of Mr. Adarkar, Director of the J. J. School of Arts. The black marble stone was specially procured from Makrana.

The idol of Lord Lakshmi-Narayan was made in the lateral sanctum. These idols with conch shell, chakra, mace, Padmadhari Narayan and Varadahasta Lakshmi are unique. The idol of Shri Lakshmi Narayan was prepared by Shri Rameshwardas Mistry, the architect of Rajasthan Sculpture Center in Jaipur. Its model was prepared by Shilpi Mr. Chandulal Sompura and for this the marble stone was procured from Makrana. The idol of Bhagwati Bhuvaneshwari was prepared by Shri Manilal of Manilal & Sons, Calcutta. Marble for this was also procured from Makrana. Its model was prepared by Shilpi Mr. Chandulal Sompura.

Interior

The five-padded part of the mandapa facing the sanctum is called Antaral or Kauvi. Devotees get a glimpse of the Lord from this place. The doors of all the three sanctums are made of marble, above which are the stone statues of Sheshasayee Vishnu Kamalasana Lakshmi and the meditating Shiva. The Vamana Pratihara Jai and Vijay of the Lord on either side of the main gate stand readily in the service of the Lord. The form of Navagriha has been made in the central part of the pavilion. In this room there are panels of Gita Upadesh, Buddha Updesh, Lavkush song, Mahabharata writing, deities on the pillars and among the idols of the countrymen are Sant Gyandev, Sant Tukaram, Shivaji Maharaj, Maharana Pratap, Mahatma Gandhi etc.

Respected Aarchavakya

On the walls of three sides of the Mandal, Mananiya Arshvakya is inscribed in marble with Hindi translation. Devotees can attain a rare form of devotion with a glance of the idols and by reading and meditating on these Arshvakyas. The walls of the sanctum sanctorum and the esoteric mandapa are called Mandovar in Shilpashastra. The Kirtimukh is inscribed in the grass bar below it. It has five levels of plinths. In the scriptures it is called 'Kamadpeeth'. There are three types of peeths in the palaces of Nagradi caste. It is also called the adhishtana of the peeth.

The part from Kamad Peeth to the roof is called Mandovar. There are layers of different sizes in it, which are called Khurakh, Kumbhaka, Kalash, Antaraal Keval Manchika. They have a straight pillar, which is the main site of the sculpture display. In the pillars of this temple, stone imitations of ancient artistic soulful idols of many deities, gods, goddesses, tapas etc. have been presented.

The tiers of origin are represented on these pillars. The level of Bharani, the level of Kangari of Mahakanval, are anthral on it. On the storey above the sanctum and the mandapa, there are Davadi, Kaival, and then Kumbhaka, Kalash, Antaral etc. There is a standing pillar in the form of a god, on which tere is a udgam, karni, antaral and a roof top. The Mandovar is placed on the upper storey of the temple. The shikhar was established on the sanctum sanctorum and on the right pillar of the second window.

The praasad here is named as Bhutilek after the seventh distinction of Tilak Sagaradi Prasad, mentioned in the Shilp Shastra. Tt has a shikhar with 21 horns and 12 tilaks.

The Beauty of Idols

On the upper and lower pillars of the Mandovar, there are ten artefacts with fine carvings. The upper and lower pillars have the carvings of Dashavatar, different forms of Vishnu, Hay-greev Narayan, Trilok-Mohan, Vanshidhar, Rama, Parashurama, Vishwaroop Balabhadra, Buddha, and in the forms of Shiva Vamdev, Ishaan, Sadashiv, Nataraja, Adhireshwar etc.

Goddess Savitri, Saraswati, Parvati, Bagheshwari, Ganga, Yamuna, son Vallabha etc. are in the form of Goddess. Rishabhdev, Yashodhara, Rahul, King Kanishka, Gandharva, Shiva are the Pratiharas of Vishnu. Among the Digpalas are Indra, Agni, Yama, Dharmaraja, Kshetrapala, Niruti, Varuna, Vayudev, Soma, and Kubera. All these idols are soulful, beautiful and graceful.

Collection of many Gods

The ornaments, weapons, vehicles etc. of each idol are made according to the different idols. The Dashavatars like Matsya, Kutch, Varaha, Vamana, Narasimha etc. are extremely beautiful.

Goddess placed in the temple are Vichitra, Alasti Leelavati, looking at her face in the mirror, Shubhangini taking out thorns from her feet, Hansavali wearing a ghungroo, Dhanushwan Dharini Marichika, Patralekha writing letters, Chandralekha, Man-Hansa, Mohini (Vijaya), Tilottama, Chandra-Vakra, etc. The idols of Swarupa Devanganas are inscribed in the pillars of the temple. In the Shilp Shastra, the names and characteristics of thirty-two goddesses wearing no crown on the head and glancing towards the earth. They have been portrait as a motivator of goodwill with beauty and philosophy.

Beautiful artistic Kakshashana have been made on both the sides. On its huge balcony there is a dawadi and then the Raj Sena. The pedestal of the Vandika standing on it is called asana. At the paramount level of Kakshasana, there is an abundance and variety of ornamental shapes etc. in Sarvanga. In the womb of the pillars of Vaidika are the idols of Meera and other devotees. The kings, who admired the ancient and ancient architectural arts, encouraged and rejoiced the craftsmen by spending huge wealth and building palatial temples.

Khajuraho, Modhera, Konark, Bhubaneshwar, Ellora, Abu, Belur Halebir, Somnath, Kanji of Dravidian, Chidambaram, Tanjore, Srirangam, Vijayanagar etc. are examples of the best quality of architecture. The craftsmen used to instil life in the sculptures with their creativity and hardwork, and so they were praised in the Sanskrit literature during the construction of the Abu-Dilwara temples. In this temple, an attempt has been made to present an architecture keeping with the ancient traditions.

Open dance hall

There is an open dance mandapa of 1600 square feet in front of the esoteric pavilion. It has entrances on three sides, east, west and north. In the middle of the Nritya Mandap, there is a new Padmay, Kalamay Vitan of 1100 square feet. In the middle of the dance hall, a chhajja-shaped trishta has been constructed. There is also a small form of Trishta at the nearby post. The front window has a large replica of the Trimurti of Elephanta is placed over the idol of Ganesha. Those who look at Trimurti of Elephanta it appears lifelike to them. The pillars of the temple have been made in different types of art. The pillars here are the beautiful imitation of Ghatapallav pillars were made in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Malwa in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. The five carousels and pylons on the pillars are made with fine carvings, which enhance the beauty of the temple.

Specialty of the Temple

The specialty of this temple is that not even a fraction of distortions of the 20th century construction have affected it.

70 feet away from the temple is a beautiful Kalamay Pratoli (gate) with two pillars. It has two big Pratiharas on either side. The pillars are tall and grand with beautiful pylons on them and the form of Vishnu Lakshmi in the upper part. At the rear, a large idol of Garuda has been made bowing down in front of the temple.

The temple is built in North-South 115', East-West 60', in a 240 x 150' panel of Tekdi. The entrance courtyard is 8 feet below the front of the temple. There is a huge Shivaji Garden in the west side near the temple, which is a good place for the visitors to relax and enjoy. This is the main way to reach the temple's pedestal.

Miles of land can be seen around the temple. This beautiful temple in the middle, huge industrial establishment nearby, the view of the river Ulhas flowing, lush green fields, mountains in the distance, etc., present stunning sight of past, present and future before the mental eye. While observing the natural beauty, industrial surroundings and artistic architecture, the viewer reaches a unique world while talking to the stone sculptures.

Thousands of people come to the temple for a long period of time and by taking advantage of the darshan, they make their life successful. The religious spirit which has been resorted to, in the construction work of this temple has encouraged the preservation of Indian endangered crafts and architecture and their artists. This place will get the same prestige, the same fame that other places of faith and belief in India are getting. May God fulfil our good wishes.

Temple Prayers on Special Events

1. Kakad Aarti at 5.00 AM - Butter Prasad and Veda recitation.
2. Lord Vitthal Rukimani and Lakshmi Narayan and Bhuvaneshwari from 5.15 AM Bathing of Panchamrit and recitation of Purusha Sukta and Shri Sukta.
3. Morning 5 AM - Aarti, Mantrapushpanjali and Prasad distribution at 7.00 AM.
4. Aarti and Bhog at 11.00 am.
5. From 2.00 PM to 5.00 PM Bhajan-music singing, by Varkari sect and women - Yashwant Khode.
6. Evening from 5.00 PM to 6.30 PM - Gita, Ramayana, Bhagwat, Shivpuran, preaching by Pt. Devaki Nandan Shastri.
7. Shringar Aarti, Mantrapushpanjali and Prasad distribution at 7.00 PM.
8. Temple Door Closes at 09:30 PM.

Special Events and Information

1. There is a big prayer of Lord Vitthal-Rukimani on Ashadhi Ekadashi and Kartik Ekadashi, in which lakhs of visitors come from far and wide to participate.
2. Vishnu Sahasranama recitation, Shravani Karma event, Krishna Janmashtami, Geeta Jayanti, Sharad Purnima, Makar Sankranti, Dussehra, Ramnavami etc. Special events are organized.
3. From time to time, Ramcharit Manas Path and Katha, Dnyaneshwari Parayan, Akhand Harinama Saptah (Sankirtana) and Shrimad Bhagwat Katha and recitation etc. are organized.
4. The gates of the temple are open for visitors from 4.30 AM to 9.30 PM.