Patit Pavan Mandir

Patit Pawan Mandir, also known as Patit Pawan Temple, is a Hindu temple in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, India.[1] The temple was conceptualized by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, who envisioned it as a place of worship open to all castes without discrimination. It was funded by businessman Bhagoji Baloji Keer and inaugurated on 22 February 1931.[2][3][4][5][6][7] At the time, those from the Dalit caste were considered untouchables and not allowed to enter temples; this built allowed all people, including the untouchables, to enter together on instance of Savarkar.[7][8] A yearly Ganesh festival is held here every year.[9] The festival was converted into a pan-Hindu festival that everyone, regardless of caste, could attend.[10]

History

In 1930 when orthodox section of Brahmins started sabotaging the growing activism against untouchability, they passed a resolution that untouchables would not be allowed in Vitthal Mandir during Ganapati festival. Vinayak Damodar 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.[11]

Amidst widespread untouchability against the lower castes, Savarkar conceptualized a temple that would be open to people of all castes without discrimination. To bring this vision to life, he 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 shankaracharya Dr. Kurtkoti, and it was formally inaugurated on 22 February 1931. Savarkar named the temple Patit Pavan, meaning "savior of the downtrodden", symbolizing its role in promoting social equality and inclusivity.[4] Challenging the Brahmins opposition, the idol was installed with vedic rites by Keer who belonged to Bhandari caste at the behest of Savarkar.[8][11]

Display

A monument of Savarkar has been erected in the premises of this 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.[12]

Veer Savarkar, a Hindi film by Sudhir Phadke on the life of Savarkar, was shot in Ratnagiri and has scenes shot in Patit Pawan Mandir. This film was in fact the last film for which Phadke last sang and composed music.

References

  1. ^ "मंदिर बांधलं भागोजीशेठ कीर यांनी, चित्रा वाघ यांनी नाव जोडलं सावरकरांचं, रत्नागिरीकर म्हणतात, 'माफी मागा'" (in Marathi). Maharashtra Times.
  2. ^ Keer, Dhananjay (1966). Veer Savarkar (2nd ed.). Popular Prakashan, Mumbai. pp. 184–192.
  3. ^ Trehan, Jyoti (1991). Veer Savarkar: Thought and Action of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. Deep & Deep Publications. ISBN 978-81-7100-322-8.
  4. ^ a b 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.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ Bharatiya Janata Party (2003). BJP Today. Bharatiya Janata Party. p. 8. Retrieved 1 Jul 2023.
  7. ^ a b "आंबेडकर और सावरकर में क्या जाति के मुद्दे पर वैचारिक दूरी थी? -विवेचना". BBC News हिंदी (in Hindi). 14 Apr 2023. Retrieved 3 Jul 2023.
  8. ^ a b "Patit Pavan Mandir, Ratnagiri, Maharashtra".
  9. ^ "Patit Pavan Mandir at Discover India".
  10. ^ Jayapalan, N. (2001). History of India. Atlantic. p. 134. ISBN 978-81-7156-914-4. Retrieved 1 Jul 2023.
  11. ^ a b 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.
  12. ^ Smith, Walter (2003). "Ratnagiri" . Oxford Art Online . Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-1-884446-05-4.

Further reading

  • Kane, Pandurang Vaman: History of Dharmasastra: (ancient and mediaeval, religious and civil law) — Poona : Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, 1962–1975