Shri Dev Rameshwar Temple

Shri Dev Rameshwar Temple is situated in the village of Rameshwar Wadi in Sindhudurg District’s Devgad Taluka. Built in the 16^th century, the historic temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and houses a Shiv Linga and a four-armed idol of Shri Rameshwar seated atop a bull. The divine idol is made entirely of solid silver and weighs about 100 kg. The auspicious occasion of Mahashivratri is celebrated with great fanfare at Shri Dev Rameshwar Temple. Nearly 5,000 people from nearby villages and towns visit the temple during the six-day fair held in the month of Magha.

The path towards Shri Dev Rameshwar Temple is 250 yards long and has been cut through rock 50-feet-deep. The temple building is spread over an area of 4,025 sq. ft. The temple’s architecture indicates that its structure has been modified and expanded at least thrice since its establishment. In the early 18^th century, Sarkhel Kanhoji Angre built the temple’s quadrangular Gabhara or inner shrine which contains the Shiv Linga at its center.

Later, in the mid-18th century, Sardar Sambhaji Angre and Sankhoji Angre built a ‘Mandap’ in front of the Gabhara, with four huge beautifully carved wooden pillars. They are also credited with building a ‘Pradakshina Marg’ around the gabhara. In addition, stone tiles were placed in the area outside the main temple building covering an area of about 15,000 sq. ft. Two new gates on the temple’s western and southern side were also constructed in this era.

In 1780, the temple was expanded when Subedar Gangadhar Bhanu built a huge Sabha Mandap with 20 carved wooden pillars. One of the most notable changes to the temple’s structure was made by Sarkhel Anandrao Dhulap who built two additional gates on the northern and eastern side of the temple. The eastern gate was built by creating a path or ‘Ghati’ by cutting a small hill adjoining the temple on the eastern side.

Sarkhel Anandrao Dhulap also built the temple’s ‘Mukhya Pravesh Dwar’ or the main entrance. A huge bell brought from the Portuguese Ship which was captured by the Maratha Navy hangs on the eastern gate. It has the year 1791 engraved on it. The main wooden mast of this particular ship has also been installed in front of the temple’s main entrance.

Another major highlight of the temple is its walls which showcase ancient drawings of scenes from mythological epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. The beautiful drawings were made by artists appointed by Sardar Sambhaji Angre. The temple complex also houses the ‘Samadhi’ of Sarkhel Sambhaji Angre, which is located just outside the southern gate. The almost 250-year-old tomb is made up of stones. Seven smaller stones representing the seven wives of Sarkhel Sambhaji Angre are placed inside and outside the tomb.