400-year-old Shiva lingam restored in Chandrapur, Amruta Fadnavis attends

A major religious event took place in the Lalpeth-Bhivapur area of Chandrapur on Tuesday, marking the restoration of what is described as Maharashtra's largest ancient Shiva lingam. The ceremony was held in the presence of Amruta Devendra Fadnavis. The lingam had lain in the open for nearly 400 years and now has the roof of a grand temple built over it.

The temple was built on the initiative of MLA Kishor Jorgewar, at his own expense. He had vowed to carry out the restoration during last year's Shravan month, and the work was completed this Shravan. The entire complex, not just the temple, was transformed.

The event was attended by District Collector Vasumana Pant, Superintendent of Police Ayush Nopani, Municipal Commissioner Akunuri Naresh, Western Coalfields Limited manager Sanjeev Singh Reddy, temple committee president Shankar Ballepwar, secretary Kishor Raipurkar, Mayor Sangeeta Khandekar, Deputy Mayor Prashant Danav, and several other leaders and officials.

The temple's architecture draws on traditional styles from Himachal Pradesh and Nepal. This was the first time a large-scale religious ritual was held here since the restoration. Amruta Fadnavis arrived at the temple premises carrying a kawad. In her presence, the programme included worship of the lingam, a maha-abhishek with chanting of mantras, a maha-aarti and a darshan of Mahakal shringar. Large numbers of Shiva devotees gathered for the occasion. At Kishor Jorgewar's request, Amruta Fadnavis also recited the Shiva Tandava Stotra.

Kishor Jorgewar said the site carries a history going back hundreds of years, and that the roughly 400-year-old lingam had lain in the open for years, which he felt was not right given his devotion. He said that when Amruta Fadnavis visited Chandrapur last year, she saw the lingam and remarked that it was not right for Bholenath to remain exposed like this, and that a grand temple should be built there. He said that remark was what led to his vow.

Jorgewar also said his aim is to put Chandrapur on the map for religious tourism. He said that Chandrapur, located at the heart of the country, has a temple here meant for devotees who are unable to visit the twelve Jyotirlingas. He said the complex contains idols of the vahanas of various deities and traces of old structures, suggesting that an attempt to build a temple here had begun before but was never completed.

Jorgewar said there were repeated obstacles and questions raised during the construction, but the work did not stop because it was not just about the temple but about Chandrapur's faith and future. He said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis he has full confidence in his security in Maharashtra, and that where both faith and people are safe, no injustice will be allowed against this ancient Shiva lingam of Chandrapur.

Amruta Fadnavis also praised the temple. She said, "I came here last year, and this year I got the chance to come again. There were attempts to stop the temple's construction, but faith is stronger than force, which is why this temple could stand here. Shiva Tandava means change and transformation. I felt especially happy to come here today carrying a kawad. I can see devotion on every face present here. Religious events like this bring society together. If any work is done with faith and dedication, even poison turns into nectar."

On the occasion, people who had done good work in various fields were honoured, and the foundation-laying ceremony was held for a building worth two crore rupees that is being constructed there. Following this event, the religious and tourism importance of this ancient Shiva site in Lalpeth-Bhivapur has increased further.