Appeal

Where?

Who?

Present Condition

How to help

Sathe Nyas Address

Kuldev photos






Where?

Who?

Present Condition

How to help

Sathe Nyas Address

Secretary's letter of appeal


Dear Vashishtha-Gotraj brothers and sisters, we would appreciate your help in getting our "Kuldevi-Jogeshwari's" shrine renovated. Let me describe the location and related details for your comprehension.
I had visited this little place Sadye-Pirandavne about 13 Kms (less than 10 Miles) from Ratnagiri on way to Kotavde. (Ratnagiri-Kotavde bus has a stop at Pirandavne). One of our "poorvajas" probably in pre-Shivaji era has privately built a massive shrine there. It had been in a good shape till about 30-35 years ago. It was built in "Hemadpanti" style using the locally available laterite stone. The domes are all constructed with the same material and it was waterproof to the local rainfall of ~ 180 inches till about 10 years ago. The structure of this kind is rarely found in Konkan. To my knowledge such a structure is in Goa (Shrine of Lord Shankara at Taambdi-Surla built with black "paashan" in 7th century). The other temples built on similar lines are at Parshuraam, Chiploon and a temple of Lord Shankar at Burambaad in Sangmeshwar Taluka. Plenty of such kind of temples are found in Karnataka in Pattadakal and Aihole.

No one knows when exactly our Kuldevi's temple was built. But from the structure and the size of that temple it can be assumed that our poorvaj must have been a very wealthy person, probably some government official or local ruler. He built it in 14th century. He had made the constitution which has passed the temple down the generations and is still owned "privately" by a Sathe family in Tolwadi which is 3 Km (~2 mile) from the shrine.

They now are barely managing to perform "pooja", "gondhals", "kirtans" and such other religious activities. Daily pooja of the deity is done out of courtesy (as a free service) by the "Guravs" who also perform the pooja of nearby deities in the same campus. They do this as they feel sorry for such a deterioration that has occurred in the last decade. The constitution bars the "Graam-dev saunsthan trust" of the village from taking control of the temple. This Sathe family told me that they will keep doing the services to the deity till they can manage. Thus the temple is now in a pretty pitiable situation, needing mending seriously.

Because of neglect over decades, the masonary roof has developed crevices into which stubborn trees like 'PIMPAL' have gained foothold and the roots are now penetrating through he roof into the sabhagriha.

A commitee has been established for this renovation. They had inspected the shrine in Dec 2000. They made an estimate of ~ 5,00,000/- Rs to 6,00,000/- Rs for the work. Please make your valued contribution for whatever amounts you can spare for this job. Please follow the instructions as shown in attached picture. Hopefully by your help this work could commence soon after monsoon gets over. As on (25th June 2001) the total contribution received is a mere 1000/- Rs only. During the Kulparivaar melava, about 50 to 60 families had got together and they "THEORETICALLY" contributed a massive 50,000/- Rs "IN PRINCIPLE". But "ACTUAL" money collected by the committee so far is a mere total of 1000/- Rs. Therefore this humble request. Please see the current status of work in progress here.

Your generous cheque will be more than welcome at this address.

Address

SATHE, SATHYE, SATHAYE KUL-PURASKRUT NYAS,
348-A, Shaniwar Peth,
Sathe Trust Building,
Opp. Navin Marathi School,
Pune 411 030, Maharashtra, India
Phone: (020) 4463479
web: http:// www.sathefamily.org

Figure of the Cheque

If any of you do have any suggestions or doubts, please feel free to contact us through the website.

I have updated the site with the pictures of the relevant areas and the shrine when I visited the temple in Sept 2001. Please keep a watch on the site.

Kuldevi *** Photos

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