About Devasthan
Shree Shantadurga is one of the forms of Goddess Adimaya Durga. It is believed that once there was a fierce war between Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu due to which the entire world was distressed. Hence Lord Bramhadeva prayed and beseeched Goddess Adimaya Durga to intervene and stop the war. The Goddess held Lord Shiva by one hand and Lord Vishnu by the other hand and brought about reconciliation among them. This stopped the war and brought peace to the world. This form of the Goddess Adimaya Durga, is known as Shree Shantadurga. In view of this background, in the Garbhagruha (sanctum sanctorum) of the temple, on either sides of the beautiful murti (idol) of Shree Shantadurga with four hands, there are small six-inch idols of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu.
Shree Shantadurga devi is both the wife and an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. Hence it is imperative that while worshipping the Devi, Lord Shiva is also worshipped. In the temple’s Garbhagruha near the Devi’s murti a six-inch Shivalinga carved out of a black stone is placed. While doing ‘abhisheka’ (bathing of the murti) both the deities are worshipped together.
The original murti (image) of the Devi was stolen by Pathans from the temple during 1898 a.d . In 1901 a new murti was sculpted by Shri Laxman Krishnaji Gaitonde which was installed on Wednesday, the Phalgun Shukl Dashmi, Shake 1823 i.e. on 19 March 1902.
And this murti is at its place till date. Till the new murti was installed, the murti of Shree Shantadurga was worshipped along with Shree Bhavanishankar by Shree Gaudpadacharya of Kavale Muth. All daily pujas were performed and festivals celebrated with this murti. On installation of the new murti, this murti has been placed in a cupboard-temple exactly behind the murti of Shree Shantadurga and is daily offered puja.
Due to the continuous abhishek and puja over the years, the shivalinga kept near the murti of the Devi had started wearing away in some places. Hence, after obtaining permission from Shree Shantadurga by way of prasad kaul, the job of sculpting a new shivalinga was assigned to the sculptor Shree Ramchandra Sunder from Mumbai. The new shivlinga was installed in the temple on Margshirsh Shukl Panchami 1887 a.d i.e. on 27 November 1965, among chanting of Vedas and Mantras. The old Shivalinga was submerged in the ocean in a religious ceremony.