Context:
Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the iconic Kalaram Mandir in Maharashtra’s temple town of Nashik.
About Kalaram Mandir:
- Kalaram Mandir is located on the banks of the Godavari in the Panchavati area of Nashik city in Maharashtra.
Temple’s Uniqueness and Architecture:
- The Kalaram temple derives its name from a black statue of Lord Kala Ram translates literally to “Black Ram”.
- The sanctum sanctorum has statues of Ram, Sita, and Lakshman, and a black idol of Hanuman at the main entrance.
- The temple, which is visited by thousands of devotees every day, was built in 1792 with the efforts of one Sardar Rangarao Odhekar.
- It is said that Sardar Odhekar dreamt of a black-colored statue of Lord Ram in the Godavari, recovered the statues from the river, and built the temple.
- The main temple has 14 steps, which represent the 14 years of Ram’s exile.
- It has 84 pillars, which represents the cycle of 84 lakh species that one has to complete to be born as a human.
- On the temple premises, there is also a very old tree, with an impression of Lord Dattatreya’s footprints on the stone beneath it.
About Panchavati’s Uniqueness:
- Panchavati has a special place in the Ramayana and, therefore, in the Hindu religion.
- Panchavati, a part of Dandakaranya in central India, holds significance in the Ramayana as the initial abode during Lord Rama’s exile.