Tamhini's Vinzhai Mata

Tamhini’s Vinzhai Mata

Shri Vinzhai Devi Temple at Tamhini

Vinzhai Mata of Tamhini is the Kuldevi (family deity) of Chandra Senani Kayasth Prabhumandali. The Shri Vinzhai Devi temple is a vibrant and active place of worship in the village of Tamhini. Situated at an elevation of 438 meters above sea level, this spot is surrounded by dense forests and a pleasant climate, making it incredibly scenic. Located near the Tamhini Ghat on the Pune-Mangao road, it is a beautiful place to visit. The temple provides accommodation for devotees. There are buses available throughout the day from Pune’s Swargate bus station to the temple.

On November 21, 1991, during the auspicious occasion of Tripuri Purnima, the renovation of the temple began. If you wish to witness the beauty of nature in its full glory, it is recommended to visit after the monsoon. The landscape is covered with lush green grass, and the numerous waterfalls cascading in the vicinity will leave you spellbound. Near Tamhini, the confluence of two rivers, Jula and Nila, occurs. The water then flows into the Mulshi Reservoir.

Legend

A long time ago, Lord Mahadev and Lord Ram, brothers, were meditating on the Vindhyachal mountain. The elder brother, Lord Mahadev, offered his head as a lotus to the Goddess and renounced his body. The younger brother, Lord Ram, stayed on in meditation. During his meditation, the Goddess appeared and said, “You walk southward towards your home, I will follow you. Do not open your eyes and do not look back until the dawn.” As per the Goddess’s instructions, Ram closed his eyes and started walking towards his home.

In the early morning, after a breeze blew and the day began to brighten, Lord Ram opened his eyes to see if the Goddess was truly following him. When he looked back, he saw a large fireball coming towards him, which then disappeared. At that moment, a voice from the sky was heard: “You looked back; I will not come any further.” Where the fireball disappeared, a large rock appeared.

This place was once located at the foot of a mountain and was very remote, making it extremely difficult for devotees to have darshan (view the deity). Considering this, Lord Ram established the Goddess’s idol at a nearby location, Tamhini, according to the legend. Over time, devotees began to visit the temple frequently. Around 100-150 years ago, repairs were made to the temple walls and thatched roof by Badoodekar Ramrao Balwant Harnekar, as per records. Later, Raghunath Madhavrao Deshmukh brought the current idol of the Goddess from Pune, created by a craftsman, and had it installed at Tamhini in 1942 by Shri Joshi Guruji.

A committee and devotees gathered funds to build a grand temple, which was completed in the year 2000. The temple has five kalashes (decorative pots), and its interior walls and sanctum are made of marble. The idol of Shri Vinzhai Mata is a 2.5-foot-high four-armed Mahishasuramardini (the slayer of the demon Mahishasura). In her right hand, she holds a sword, a shield in her left hand, and in her right front hand, a trident impaled in Mahishasura’s back, while her left hand presses the demon’s face.

The right foot of the Goddess is placed on Mahishasura’s back, while her left foot is firmly grounded. Her garments are tucked, and she wears a crown on her head, with loose hair and a garland on her neck, presenting a serene and graceful idol.