Jejuri

For the series of poems by Arun Kolatkar, see Jejuri (poem).

Jejuri जेजुरी Jejurigadh (जेजुरीगड)
City
Khandoba Temple of Jejuri
Nickname(s): Khandobachi Jejuri
Jejuri Location in Maharashtra, India
Coordinates:
Country	Template:Western India
State	Maharashtra
Pune District	[Tehsil Purandar, Pune]]
Elevation	718 m (2,356 ft)
Population (2001)
• Total	12,000
Demonym(s)	Jejurikar
Official
• Language	Marathi
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	412303
Telephone code	+91-2115
Vehicle registration	MH-12,MH-14,MH-42
Website	www.jejuri.in

Jejuri is a city and a municipal council in Pune district in the Western Indian state of Maharashtra. It is famous for the main temple of Lord Khandoba.

Geography

Jejuri is located at. It has an average elevation of 718 metres (2355 feet).

How to reach

Jejuri is situated 48 km from Pune on Pune-Satara-Pandharpur Road in Maharashtra State. Jejuri can be reached is by Road or Rail from Pune. Number of State Transport buses ply from Pune. Jejuri railway station is a railway station that can be reached from Pune Railway Station by Express trains. Maharashtra Express Train no.11040 departure 0450 hrs from Pune PN arrival Jejuri JJR 0549 hrs Koyna Express Train no.11029 departure 0045 hrs from Pune PN arrival Jejuri JJR 0148 hrs Sahyadri Express Train no.11023 departure 2205 hrs from Pune PN arrival Jejuri JJR 2308 hrs.These trains runs all days.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Jejuri had a population of 12,000. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Jejuri has an average literacy rate of 73%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 79%, and female literacy is 67%. In Jejuri, 14% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Khandoba Temple

Jejuri Temple is located in the Jejuri town, which lies to the southeast of the Pune city of Maharashtra. The town is known for being the venue of one of the revered temples in the state, known as the Khandobachi Jejuri. The temple is dedicated to Khandoba, also known as Mhalsakant or Malhari Martand or Mylaralinga. Khandoba is regarded as the 'God of Jejuri' and is held in great reverence by the Dhangars, one of the oldest tribes in India.

Jejuri Khandoba Temple can be easily divided into two separate sections - the Mandap and Garbhagriha.

Lime mineral

Jejuri has Lime (mineral) deposits. The historic Shaniwar Wada fort at the central seat of Maratha Empire at Pune was completed in 1732 by the famed Peshwa Bajirao I, at a total cost of Rs. 16,110, from the Lime (mineral) mined from the lime-belts of Jejuri.

Temple Priests Loot Funds

Recently, there was a news which stated how the Jejuri Temple Priests came down to the level of looting the funds, thereby fueling the ire of the devotees. Nearly 7 crores of booty were shared amidst the priests’ families leaving a very few amount for the trust. Since the donations were divided among the priests only, the authorities were forced to carry out the maintenance on a shoestring budget. As a result, Joint charity commissioner Navnath Jagtap issued an order to seal the donation boxes till a further step is taken forward.

Gallery

• 

  On the way to Jejurigad. Notice the stairs to temple and arches on the stairs

• 

  Looking down the stairs, through one arch

• 

  Holy flame in front of the temple

• 

  Deepstambha in front of the temple

See also

• Jejuri (poem) by Arun Kolatkar

Bibliography

• Günter-Dietz Sontheimer: Some Incidents in the History of the Khandoba. In: Asie du Sud. Traditions et changements. VIth European Conference on Modern South Asian Studies 1973. Hrsg. von M. Gaborieau u. A. Thorner, Paris 1979, S. 11-117.