One of the most famous temples in Maharashtra, the Yedeshwari Mandir, is a renowned pilgrim route taken by many devotees across the nation. The temple is home to the Goddess Parvati and requires devotees to climb and reach the temple near the town of Osmanabad in the state.

Plenty of buses operate from cities such as Pune and Mumbai, which sees many devotees throng during the festive season. Located near the road to Barsi, the temple is precisely at Kalamb Tehsil and is surrounded by the agricultural village of Yermala. Plenty of pilgrims come from bigger cities, and you’re sure to find a lot of company should you choose to make this trip.

Quick Facts

Address: Yermala, Maharashtra 413525, India

Opening hours: 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM All days of the week

Deity: Yedeshwari (Goddess Parvati)

Festivals celebrated: Yedeshwari Fair on Chaitra and Shravan Pournima, Navratri.

Location and Other Temples Nearby

It is situated atop a hillock that is two kilometers to the south of the village. It is also known as Yedai and requires pilgrims to climb 200 steps to reach the summit. One of the temples close to this is the Tuljabhavani Temple.

The Tuljabhavani Temple is another temple you could visit in the vicinity, and it also holds significant historical importance. Dedicated to the Goddess Bhavani, it is located near the Yedeshwari Temple and is considered one of the 51 Shakti Pithas.

Built-in the 12th Century AD, the temple is the second “shakti peeth,” which is a designated spot for worship consecrated to the Goddess Shakti, the female form of Lord Shiva. These temples are present all over India.

The Goddess is the family deity of the Bhonsale Royal family, the Yadavs, and countless other families from different castes. The famous ruler of the Maratha Kingdom, Chhatrapati Shivaji, also visited the temple regularly, as he firmly believed in her powers.

People believe that he was gifted a sword by the Goddess, the Bhawani Talwar, to help him succeed in his endeavors. The word “Tulaja” is indicative of a Hindu Monastery at Tolaja village, present in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

 

A Slice of History Awaits -

The Yedeshwari temple is designed in the style of Hemadpanthi. There are two different entrance doors located right at the front, with the principal one consisting of lamp pillars and lamps. The central one is slightly taller than the ones flanking. As there are two rows of solid pillars, the mandap has two rooms at the end. There are also beautiful vestibules present at the other end.

There is an idol of the Goddess with a small linga present nearby. These are considered divine by the devotees as there is a story behind them. During Lord Ram’s search for Sita, Goddess Parvati appeared in the form of Sita to please him. However, Ram recognized her and asked, “Tu ka Ayi,” which translates to “Why you, mother.” Even then, Parvati didn’t give up and appeared a second time when Rama said, “tu yadai,” referring to her as a Goddess. Since then, the temple was established and has become Yedai or Yedeshwari.

There are regular fairs held at the Chaitra Shuddha Purnima as well as the Shravan Purnima, which are the two most important festivals that are celebrated here. Thousands of pilgrims throng and pay their respects to the idols here, and the first festival sees crowds upwards of 80,000. The second event also sees nearly 15,000 appear and pay their respects to the idols.

Getting there

Many cities and towns are close to Yedeshwari, making it easier to get to the temple. It is important that you choose a route that doesn’t take more than an overnight trip, as it should be comfortable. Some trains and buses ply towards Yedeshwari, and you can choose the one that suits your fancy the most.

Sites such as redBus make it easier to reach Yedeshwari Temple and get to the shrine for the morning darshan so you can also explore the surrounding area when you get the time. The surrounding agricultural areas are peaceful to gaze at and can give you the peace of mind you are expecting.

How to reach Yedeshwari Temple by bus

You can book a bus from various locations in Maharashtra to Yedeshwari Temple at affordable rates. MSRTC (Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation) buses are best to travel within Maharashtra as they are safe and state government-owned buses. You can book buses to Yermala via redBus from various cities like Dhule to Yermala, Shirdi to Yermala, Pune to Yermala, etc.

How to reach Yedeshwari Temple from Pune?

You can book a bus from Pune to Yermala by redBus at affordable rates. Buses are the most convenient way to travel from Pune to Yedeshwari Temple. The road distance between Pune and Yermala is 253 KM, and it takes around 4-5 hours to cover this route by bus. You will drop off at any bus station/stop in Yermala and can catch a local bus or auto to the Yedeshwari Temple.

How to reach Yedeshwari Temple from Mumbai?

You can book MSRTC buses on redBus from Mumbai to Yermala at affordable rates. The road from Mumbai to Yermala is 414 KM, and it takes around 8 hours to cover this route by bus. Local transportation within Yermala is available at all hours and frequent intervals.

How to reach Yedeshwari Temple from Solapur?

Solapur is located 102 kilometers far from Yedeshwari Temple, and it takes around 2 hours to cover this route by bus. You can book MSRTC buses on the redBus from Solapur to Yermala at affordable rates. MSRTC is the major bus operator in Maharashtra that provides bus services to Yermala. Local buses, autos, taxis, etc., are frequently available from the Yermala bus station to the Yedeshwari Temple.