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Journalism of Courage
In the maze of narrow lanes that make up Somvar Peth, half hidden by recent constructions, the exquisitely crafted facade of the Trishund Ganpati temple comes as a sudden surprise. Two sculpted dwarpals stand guard at the narrow entrance to the temple while intricately carved peacocks, parrots, elephants in combat and mythical figures and curiously, even a chained rhinoceros with soldiers, crowd its facade.
A spacious sabhamandap leads to the sanctum where the idol of the unusual three-trunked Ganesh, which gives the temple its name, is installed. While today the temple attracts the devout as a place of worship, it is believed that the Trishund Ganpati temple was also built as a samadhi temple and a practising school for mystics 8211; Hathayogis and disciples of Mantrashakti!
The cloisters, where mystic practices were taught, was discovered in the foundation of a house near the Nagzari bridge in Somvar Peth as it was being excavated. The cloisters are located in the cellar adjoining the samadhi. Tell tale signs of doors, slots in the ceiling, through which ropes could be passed led Kanhere to conclude that these cloisters were used by its mystic occupants to practice hathayoga. 8220;The guru used to give lectures, teach the mantras or mystic verses in the main hall of the cellar while in the underground adjoining inter-connected rooms the students practiced yoga and mastered the knowledge that was imparted to them,8221; writes Kanhere, professor emeritus, town planning department, College of Engineering, Pune in his book Temples of Maharashtra.
Interestingly, Kanhere also believes that the peculiar motifs of the rhinoceros and the soldiers on the facade of the temple depict a political message. 8220;The advancing British rule in Bengal and their threat to the sovereignty of the other Indian states is represented symbolically. The sculpture of the rhinoceros represents Bengal and Assam suggesting that the Marathas had better guard themselves against the external threat8221;.
The sect of practising Hathayogis slowly died out early this century and the temple was claimed by one Narendragiri Goswami who claimed ownership of the temple and again by one of his descendants Pradip Goswami. 8220;The plaque on the sanctum in Persian clearly states Is makan ka malik datta guru hai indicating that the temple is dedicated to god so this claim was disproved through a court case,8221; says Kanhere. The temple has since been converted into a public trust.
8220;Every Gurupurnima the water which has filled the cellar is removed so that the devout can pay their respects to the guru,8221; says Anant More, the priest of the temple for the past 46 years and one of the trustees.
Today new constructions have come up on what used to be the courtyard of the temple. Maintenance of the temple has become yet another issue of contention between the trustees and some of the residents nearby. 8220;They want renovations to be carried out on the heritage structure. We hope to hand the temple over to the state archaeological department for its upkeep,8221; says Kanhere.
A beautiful temple which once attracted mystics and continues to attract devotees, the Trishund Ganpati temple is an archaeological legacy that needs to be nurtured.
