Gopikanarayaneshwar (pronounced ‘Gopika-Narayan-Eashwar’) Mandir

A small quaint lane in Pune, near ModiGanpati, houses a temple – ‘Gopikanarayaneshwar’. Wonder how my teammates traced it. Small world, a resident of the housing complex around which this temple is built turned out to be a the uncle of a friend;he took us around and gave us leads to its dateline.It was constructed by the ‘Natu’ family,the head of whom was an administrator in the court of the Peshwas.  This is one of the three temples built by the Natus so that their women folk could worship in private.

The temple was built following typical Maratha architecture, where the base is made of black stone (probably basalt) and the Dome (Kalas) with Amalak and very ornate, lotus  motifs which has Mohammedan influence, is made of (softer) lime stone.

This is a Shiva temple with the effigy of Parvati in one of her various forms as Durga-Mahisasuramardini*. This is a fierce form of Parvati – depicting feminine power, independence, fearlessness, patience and a sense of humor. According to Hindu mythology and iconography, she was gifted with weapons of all the Gods —Rudra’s trishul (trident), Vishnu’s chakra (discus), Indra’s vajra (thunderbolt) , Brahma’s kamandalu, (a type of Hindu Aspersorium or a vessel that holds holy water), Kuber’s Ratnahar (Necklace of precious stones). In addition, she wielded a talwar (sword), gada (mace) and dhanush (bow). Accessories include a conch shell and lotus. This form of Parvati was also depicted with snakes.

*Mahisasurmardini — slayer of the MahisAsura (demon that rode a buffalo and terrorized heaven and earth).

It’s interesting how humans expressed complex emotions and feelings through pictures and sculptures. There definitely is a message in every story, and possiblythe creator of these masterpieces used them as forms of teaching for the coming generations. The Tattavas (principles), Gunas (qualities) and Mahaguna (elements) and senses on which was based the philosophy of life had to be communicated. How it took form of idol worship later is something to be studied.

My journey into visiting these fading/forgotten/neglected heritage sites does not follow any pattern of study…yet there emerges a pattern of beliefs, basis, myths, evolving and separating itself from philosophy.