Temple Tales

On the busy street in Sadashiv Peth,the 238-year-old Narsimha Temple stands amidst other concrete structures.

On the busy street in Sadashiv Peth,the 238-year-old Narsimha Temple stands amidst other concrete structures. A constant stream of visitors keeps pouring inside as blessings are sought from Lord Narsimha. Wooden pillars and their intricate wood-work immediately remind one of the era that the temple has lived through. Outside,64-year-old K Kulkarni sits offering prayers. He has been visiting the place for years. He guides you inside and relays stories of the temple.

But for this Grade II heritage structure,conservation comes with faith that the temple inspires. For more than two centuries,the complex has been surviving,taken care of by the Joshi family,the owners of the structure. Staying just next door to the temple,they are not aware of the heritage status it holds,but have cared and maintained it for it is a manifestation of their beliefs.

In 1773,Ganesh Joshi had migrated to Pune from the tiny village of Sangmeshwar situated along the Konkan coast. He felt the need to install their deity,Lord Narsimha in their house. And so the present marble statue of the Lord was brought from Benares and installed here. The statue is believed to be from the period of Mughals as it was buried for protection in case it would be damaged. The Joshis have been maintaining the temple complex since then.

Narayan Joshi’s family,the tenth generation descendant of Ganesh Joshi,has not made many structural changes to the temple. “Apart from repair work and changing the tiles,nothing else was done,” says Asha Joshi,wife of Narayana Joshi. “We look after the temple for a year till Gudi Padwa after which it is managed by my brother Jaganath Joshi’s family,” says Narayan.

The temple is cocooned by residential apartments on three sides. Arched windows line both sides of the main sabha . A small statue of Nandi sits next to the inner temple complex. One can find pictures of Hiranyakashyap being devoured by Narsimha and Prahlad in his meditative pose. A bright rangoli of the Matsya Avataar of Vishnu made by a devotee stands against the dusty background.

There are several interesting stories attached to the premises. The place was also known as a centre of revolutionary activity. Vasudeo Balwant Phadke,known for his armed revolution during the Indian Independence struggle,resided in a room in the temple premises from the year 1865 to 1879. Step out and not even a board is installed that tells you about the heritage value the temple holds. “We have never been approached by the civic body,though we do get attention from the press,” says Asha.

(Narsimha Mandir and Complex is situated at 1423,Sadashiv Peth)

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