The Ekaveerika Shakthi Peeth at Mahur is one of the 18 Maha Shakthi Peethas. Devi is worshipped as Ekaveerika Mata here. It is said that Devi Sati’s head had fallen here.
Mahur, Nanded, Maharastra is the birth place of the great God Dattatreya. Dattatreya’s parents Atri Rishi and Sati Anasuya Mata lived here. Pleased with the devotion of Anasuya, Brahm, Vishnu and Lord Shiva were together born as their son Dattatreya. So Dattatreya is a Trinity incarnation.
Ekaveerika Shakthi Peetha is situated on the of Pancha Ganga River banks, at a village called Heure in Mahur, Nanded District, Maharashtra. Another temple to visit here is Renuka Devi temple. This Shakthi Peeth is a small one with just one hall. This temple sanctum Sanctorum has only the head of the deity. Ekaveerika is said to be the elder sister of Renuka Devi, the wife of Sage Jamadagni. This Shakthi Peetha is a center famous for Tantric worship. Offering Bali to Devi here is quite common.
There are three important temples here. Renuka Mata Temple, Lord Dattatreya Temple and Anusaya Mata Temple. All are built on three close mountains. Renuka Devi temple on the hill top is about 800 years old. In the form of a Shiva ling Rishi Jamadagni is also present in this temple. The temple was built in the 13 century by the Yadava King of Devagiri.
Unlike the prasad in other temples Pan and Supari are offered as Prasad to the Goddess.
According to the story in the Puranas, Renuka Devi used to get water every day from the river in a new pot. On one fateful day, she saw several Gandharvas enjoying in the river and thought that they were enjoying happily. She could not make the new pot that day. On return she told the entire story to Rishi Jamadagni. On hearing about her getting infatuated by seeing the enjoyment of the Gandharvas he got very angry and asked his four sons to cut of Renuka’s head. Three of the sons refused and only Lord Parushurama cut of her head with his axe. So the head of Renuka Devi is worshiped as Ekaveerika Mata and the body as of Renuka Devi.
Lord Parushurama felt sad for killing his mother. He prayed Rishi Jamadagni to bring her back to life and pleased with his son’s love for his mother the Rishi made Renuka Devi alive.
The Devi Dasara festival during the September – October time is a major festival here.
Another major event is the Dattatreya Jayanti also known as Datta Poornima.
Temple timings: 6 AM to 9 PM.
The places to visit here are:
1) Dattatreya temple.
2) Parushurama temple and Parushurama pond
3) Anasuya Temple.
4) Atri Maharushi temple, father of Dattatreya situated next to the temple of Anasuya temple.
5) Matru Tirtha is the pond where Parushurama performed the Shradh rites of his father Sage Jamadagni. There is a mention of this pond in Guru Charitra. Taking a dip in this pond is said to get rid of ones sins.
6) Devdeveshwar Mandir is the place where Dattatreya sleeps. It is said that he takes bath at Varanasi, then Bhiksha in Kolhapur and finally sleeps here!!
7) Ramgad Fort.
8) Chintamani Ganesh temple.
9) The Palace of the king of Mahur Raje Udaram.
Accommodation: Several decent hotels are available.
How to reach:
By air: Nearest airport is Nagpur 154 km away.
By train: Lonavala railway station is 42 km away. State transport buss are available. You get local taxis also.
By Road: It is 126 Kms from Nanded and 50 Kms from Kinwat.
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