Lokmat News Network
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:
The Gajanan Maharaj temple on Garkheda Road has become a major centre of faith for devotees. The marble idol of Gajanan Maharaj installed here was crafted by a sculptor from Jaipur in Rajasthan, and this year marks 37 years since its installation.
Who came up with the idea of building the temple?
The Shri Kshetra Shegaon-Pandharpur dindi used to halt at the Zilla Parishad ground in Aurangpura from 1976. At that time, prof Shridhar Wakte was the president of the dindi reception committee. Large numbers of citizens would gather to witness the grand dindi. It was then that prof Vakte put forward the idea that the city should also have a temple dedicated to Gajanan Maharaj.
When was the trust established?
To facilitate the construction of the temple, a trust was established in 1981, with prof Shridhar Wakte as its president.
Land purchased at Garkheda, temple constructed
The trust purchased a corner plot on Garkheda Road and undertook the construction of the temple there. In 1984, the bhumi pujan of the temple was performed by Shivshankar Patil, the then trustee administrator of the Shegaon Sansthan. Construction of the temple continued for ten years, up to 1994.
When was the idol installed?
The marble idol of Gajanan Maharaj was installed in 1989. The pran pratishtha ceremony was held in the presence of Shankaracharya Swami Jayendra Saraswati Maharaj of the Karvir Peeth. The first discourse during the ceremony was delivered by H.B.P. Vasudev Maharaj.
Contribution of Kishore Kumar, Asha Bhosle, and R. D. Burman to the temple construction
“Funds were required for the construction of the temple. To raise these, a sangeet rajni was organised on January 2, 1987 at the Marathwada Cultural Mandal ground. Legendary playback singer Kishore Kumar, playback singer Asha Bhosle, and senior music composer R. D. Burman enthralled the audience. The funds collected from the event made a significant contribution to the construction of the temple,” said president, gajanan maharaj temple trust, prof Pravin Wakte.
caption:
The pran pratishtha ceremony of Gajanan Maharaj’s idol in 1989, with the then trust president prof Shridhar Wakte and his wife.