Patit Pavan Mandir

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Patit Pawan Mandir, also known as Patit Pawan Temple, is a Hindu temple in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, India.

Contents

Creation

There is debate over the history of the creation of the temple, especially regarding the contributions of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and Bhagoji Baloji Keer. The Nationalist Congress Party claims that Keer, a great philanthropist, built the temple in Ratnagiri under his own initiative. [1] [ better source needed ]

According to Jyoti Trehan, the temple was conceptualized by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. It was built by businessman Bhagoji Baloji Keer and inaugurated on 22 February 1931. [2] [ page needed ] [3] [4]

History

Savarkar approached Bhagoji Baloji Keer, a businessman and admirer of Savarkar, who readily agreed to fund the project at a cost of ₹2.5 lakh. The temple's foundation stone was laid on 10 March 1929 by Kurtkoti, and it was formally inaugurated on 22 February 1931. Savarkar named the temple Patit Pavan, meaning "savior of the downtrodden." [3]

The idea that Savarkar advocated for any caste, including the Dalit, to be allowed into the temple is contested.[ who? ][ citation needed ]

Akshay Jog documents the story in this way: Shriman Bhagojisheth Keer was a business man and member of the Bhandari caste. [5] [ better source needed ] [6] [ better source needed ] Because his people could not access a normal temple, he built a private temple for his people to perform Puja, a type of worship or prayer. [6] [ better source needed ] He invited Savarkar to a festival at the temple. Savarkar challenged Keer to build a temple for all, regardless of birth caste, and Keer accepted the suggestion and the template was built. [6] [ better source needed ]

Jog reports intercaste dining (known as Rotibandi) was also taboo. [7] [ better source needed ] In 1931, 75 women attended the first inter-caste dining event held at the temple, called a Sahabhojan, at the temple; follow up events grew larger. [7] [ better source needed ] In 1933, a cafe staffed by untouchables was opened to all Hindus. [7] [ better source needed ]

In 1930 when orthodox section of Brahmins started sabotaging the growing activisim against untouchability, they passed a resolution that untouchables would not be allowed in Vitthal Mandir during Ganapati festival. Savarkar opted for a separate Ganapati festival for Hindus in order to counter the move. The idol installation was done by a lower caste and the prize for reciting Gayatri Mantra was also won by a lower caste in the festival. [8]

The Patit Pavan Mandir was raised due to opposition by Brahmins towards the installation of idols with vedic rites by Bhagojisheth Keer who belonged to Bhandari caste. [5] [ better source needed ] [8]

Displays

A statue of Keer was added to the center of the temple during his lifetime. [1] [ better source needed ]

There is also a monument of Savarkar in the premises of the temple. On the first floor of the memorial, there is an exhibition and the history of 1857 to the time of independence is presented here. The belongings of Savarkar are preserved there as well. A replica of the Moria boat, the boat from which Savarkar took his historic plunge into the sea, is kept at Marseilles port. In the hall on the ground floor, one can view documentaries. [9] [ page needed ]

References

  1. 1 2 "मंदिर बांधलं भागोजीशेठ कीर यांनी, चित्रा वाघ यांनी नाव जोडलं सावरकरांचं, रत्नागिरीकर म्हणतात, 'माफी मागा'" (in Marathi). Maharashtra Times.
  2. ↑ Trehan, Jyoti (1991). Veer Savarkar: Thought and Action of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. Deep & Deep Publications. ISBN   978-81-7100-322-8.
  3. 1 2 Sampath, V. (2021). Savarkar (Part 2): A Contested Legacy, 1924-1966. Penguin Random House India Private Limited. p. 96. ISBN   978-93-5492-071-4 . Retrieved 1 Jul 2023.
  4. ↑ Grover, V. (1993). V.D. Savarkar. Political Thinkers of Modern India: V.D. Savarkar. Deep & Deep Publications. p. 505. ISBN   978-81-7100-425-6 . Retrieved 1 Jul 2023.
  5. 1 2 "Patit Pavan Mandir, Ratnagiri, Maharashtra". 17 September 2017.
  6. 1 2 3 Jog, Akshay (Sep 16, 2020). "Veer Savarkar and Patitpavan Temple - Part 1".
  7. 1 2 3 Jog, Akshay (Sep 29, 2020). "Veer Savarkar and Patitpavan Temple - Part 2".
  8. 1 2 Sharma, J.N. (1998). Encyclopaedia Eminent Thinkers (vol. 12 : The Political Thought Of Veer Savarkar). Encyclopaedia of Eminent Thinkers. Concept Publishing Company. p. 106. ISBN   978-81-8069-492-9.
  9. ↑ Smith, Walter (2003). "Ratnagiri" . Oxford Art Online . Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-1-884446-05-4.

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