Chapter Two:
Places of prayers in Pune
2.1 Introduction
After the discussion regarding the dynamic relation between music and religion in the first chapter, two points are taken up for discussion in this chapter –
1. Religions and cults of faith in Pune – a brief history and
2. A general outline of places of prayer in Pune
Being the cultural capital of Maharashtra, the city of Pune has always remained an important centre for devotional musical activities. For the last seven hundred years, in the vicinity of Pune, the unbroken tradition of Naradiya, Warkari and Ramdasi tradition of devotional music has embellished both, the sentiments of the devotees and the ears of connoisseurs. Arati, Haridasi Keertan, Warkari Abhanga - Bhajan, Owi, Abhang,
Wasudev Geet, Waghya- Murali Geet, Gondhal, Jogawa, Bharud, etc. practiced by
Hindus and other forms practiced by various other religions1.
There are many other religious beliefs besides Hindu religion in Pune. One finds numerous Muslim Mosques and Dargah-s, Christian churches and chapels, Parsee
Agiaries, Jain temples, Buddhist Vihar-s, etc. in Pune. In all these places of prayer, different kinds of music have been performed. This chapter deals with the historical review of the religious spaces in Pune, where music has been performed.
1 Ramachandra Dekhane, in Tikekar, 2000 (vol.2): pp. 19-20 30
2.2 Historical perspective on religions and the places of prayer in Pune
The earliest archaeological evidence of the habitation of Pune occurs in copper plate of the Rashtrakoot King Krishnaraj, dated 758 AD. In this copper plate, there is a mention of King Krishnaraj‟s donation of Bopakhalu village in the Punya Vishay (Pune district) to a Brahmin called Poogadi Bhat on the occasion of a solar eclipse on Ashwin Amawasya
Shake 670. It also mentions the boundaries of the village as Kalash (Kalas) to the east,
Darpapudika (Dapodi) to the west, Muila (Mula) river to the south, and Bhesauri
(Bhosari) to the north2. The original inhabitants were Hindus and Buddhist. The famous cave temple of Pataleshwar (also mentioned as Panchaleshwar3) belongs to circa 8th century. Though not in actual Pune but in its neighborhood, there were many Mahayana
Buddhist cave shrines from 1st century BC to 7th century AD. It is also proposed by Dhere that the cave temples of Chatushringi in Pune and Tarakeshwar in Yerwada were originally Buddhist caves which were converted into Hindu temples after the decline of
Buddhism in ancient times4. The two important temples in Pune, Punyeshwar and
Nageshwar (दक्षिण े प赍ु येश्वर दवे ो | नागेश्वर महादवे ो ||) are mentioned by Sant Namdeo (early 13th century) while explaining the boundaries of Alandi5.
2.2(A) - Hindu Places of Prayer
The „Tambadi Jogeshwari‟ is a tutelary goddess of Pune. Günther Sontheimer states that this might be originally a „Rakshak Yakshini‟, i.e. a minor guardian deity, who was
2 R. C. Dhere, in Tikekar, 2000 (vol. 1): pp. 11 3 Fergusson, 2012: pp. 130 4 Dhere, op. cit. pp. 15 5 ibid: pp. 12 31
uplifted as a „Graam Devata’6. There are many Shakti temples in Pune, including
Bhavani Mandir in Bhavani Peth, Piwali Jogeshwari, Kali Jogeshwari, Mahakali Mandir,
Ashtabhuja Devi, Mahalakshmi Mandir, etc.
From the 14th century onwards, the Warkari cult became predominant in the Pune region and the temples of Vitthal became centers for Warkari Bhajan. From the 16th century,
Ramdasi cult too became a major sect and many temples of Ram and Maruti were established. As the Peshwa were worshipers of Ganesh, the cult of Ganapati flourished in the vicinity of Pune in 17th and 18th century. The Datta and Nath cult also got followership in Pune region in the same period. Many Gosavi-s from Nath cult and
Shaiva cult settled in Pune and established their hermitages and temples. In the Peshwa period, many Vaishnav temples (other than Warkari cult) were built in Pune, such as
Narpatigir Vishnu Mandir (1760), Ramji Devasthan in Tulshibaug (1761), Vishnu
Mandir in Belbaug which was built by Nana Phadanvis (1769), Lakshmi-Nrusimha
Mandir in Sadashiv Peth (1774), Khunya Muralidhar Mandir (1797), etc.7 The Peshwas took initiative in building a huge complex of temples on Parvati hill (1749-1760).
Natu8 mentions the popular places of worship in Pune during 20th century as following –
Kasba Ganapati, Modi Ganapati, Gundacha Ganapati, Trishund Ganapati, Dagdushet
Halwai Ganapati, Belbaug Vishnu, Nava Vishnu, Nrusimha Mandir of Joshis, Khunya
Muralidhar, Tulshibaug Ram Mandir, Kenjale Vitthoba, Bhikardas Maruti, Dangalya
Maruti, Dulya Maruti, Sonya Maruti, Tambadi Jogeshwari, Omkareshwar, Pataleshwar,
6 Sontheimer, in Tikekar, 2000 (vol.1): pp. 33 7 ibid.: pp. 40-44 8 V N Natu, 1995: pp. 51 32
Someshwar, Amruteshwar, Rameshwar, Nageshwar, and the Parvati temple complex with shrines of Vishnu, Vitthal, Ganesh, Kartikeya, Shankar, and Devi (here Dhrupad singers and Vajantri players were employed for music service). He also gives a list of popular Matthas such as Akkalkot Swami, Raghavendra Swami, Bidkar Maharaj, and
Gondawlekar Maharaj Mattha9.
The Hindu communities from other parts of India also established their temples in Pune.
The Gujarati, Marwari and Rajasthani community started settling in Pune in the later
Peshwa period. The Maheshwari and Agrawal communities came in Pune, chiefly, for business and as they become established as citizens of Pune, they created their own places of prayer in Kasba Peth, Raviwar Peth, Budhawar Peth, and Guruwar Peth. There were two Hawelis, i.e. Pushtimargi Mandirs, in Pune. The oldest is Shri Hariray Ji Ki
Haweli where religious activities still take place. However, another one, Shri
Balkrishnaeay Ji Ki Haweli was shifted to Surat some six years ago10.
The influx of Sindhi families into Pune, for the purpose of establishing businesses, began during the pre-independence period itself, but the process of their migration geared up after the partition in 1947. The „Sai Tionaram Tikana‟ in Aggarwal colony, the first
Sindhi temple, was established in 1942 followed by „Baba Gurpatsahib Tikana‟ (1946),
Jhulelal Mandir in Pimpri (1947), Gur-Sangat (1949), and Amrit Vela Mandir (1973).
The most celebrated Sindhi place of worship which has gotten worldwide followership is the Sadhu Vaswani Mission (1978)11.
9 ibid.: pp. 57 10 Interview with Mr. Rasesh Sugandhi in Dec. 2016 11 Jasu Murjani, in Tikekar, 2000 (vol.1): pp. 365-368 33
After 1950‟s, many south Indian and Bengali families settled in Pune after joining civil
services, military services and industries. The Kannada, Tamil and Kerala communities
have many temples of Ayyappa, Murugan and Balaji, situated mostly in the outer circle
localities of Pune. Although the Bengali community also celebrates the Durga Puja
festival with enthusiasm, they don‟t have many permanent places of worship in Pune. In
the last two decades, due to the development of IT sector in Pune, there has been a
constant growth in the temples of non-Marathi Hindu communities in Pune. This has
brought a variety of regional flavor in the devotional music culture in Pune.
2.2(B) - Non-Hindu places of prayer:
Following the Hindu community, the Muslim Community has the second biggest share in
the population of Pune. The communities following other faiths entered in Pune only
during Peshwa period, i.e. early 18th to 19th century AD. The sequence of the
establishment of these communities can be stated as Hindu > Muslim > Jain > Christian >
Jew > Parsee > Sikh > Navayan Buddhists > new cults. Following this chronological
sequence, the historical review of settlement of the non-Hindu communities and their
places of prayer is taken here.
Muslim
The history of Muslim community in Pune goes back to 13th century AD. In the latter half
of the 13th century, during the movement of Islamic conversions by a group of 700 Sufis
34
under the leadership of Muntajab-ud-din Jarjar-Bakshi of Delhi12, Sufi saint Salah-ud-din came to Pune, with four of his disciples, for the propagation of Islam. The Punyeshwar
Mandir, originally a Shaiva temple was converted into the Dargah of senior Sheikh
Salah-ud-din and another temple Narayaneshwar was converted as Dargah of junior
Sheikh Salah-ud-din13. Senior Sheikh Salah Dargah has the tomb of Hazrat Sheikh Salah- ud-din Gazi. Sheikh Salah-ud-din Gazi was direct descendant of Hazrat Abu Baqar
Siddiqi, who was Khalifa or successor of Prophet Mohammad. Salah-ud-din was born in
Medina, Arabia in 1238 AD. He travelled India circa 1300 AD and become disciple of
Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia of Delhi. He came to Pune with four followers, namely Akbar
Sheikh Abdul, Peer Munim, Peer Abbas and Sayyad Masoob, circa 1340 when Sultan
Tughlaq conquered fort Kondana by defeating Nag Nayak, the Koli chieftain on
Kondana. Sheikh Salah-ud-din Gazi resided in a mosque in the „Phoolamala‟ area, on the banks of river Mutha in Kasba Peth. He died in 1356 and a Dargah with his tomb was built14.
In early 17th century, Pune had four main divisions. The original habitat was known as
Kasba Peth. Today‟s Somwar Peth was then known as Shahpur. The area now known as
Shaniwar Peth was known as „Murtajabad‟ because Murtaja Nizam Shah of Ahmad
Nagar constituted this section. Malik Ambar formed „Malikapur‟, which is known as
Raviwar Peth today. In 1660, Shahistekhan formed a new area which was called as
„Astapur‟, i.e. today‟s Mangalwar Peth. Today‟s Budhwar Peth was founded by
Aurangzeb in 1703 and it was known as „Mohiyabad‟ at that time, which was named after
12 Ibid.: pp. 13 13 Ibid.: pp. 13 14 Jalgaanvi, 2016: pp.21-25 35
Mohi-ul-Millat, Aurangzeb‟s grandson who died at a young age in Pune and was buried near junior Shekh Sallah Dargah. The boundaries of Pune were broadened after 1726 under the reign of Peshwa Bajirao I15.
The earliest Muslim population consisted of converted natives. Later, some Muslim groups from Ahmadabad, Aurangabad and Ahmad Nagar migrated to Pune. Bohra
Muslims, a trading community from Gujarat, migrated to Pune and settled down in
Raviwar Peth. Bohri Muslims belong to the Shia Ismaili cult. The earliest „Jamat Khana‟
(a community prayer hall) of Bohra Muslims, „Anjuman-E-Taheri‟ was founded around
1730 in Raviwar Peth. Pune has another Jamatkhana belonging to the Bohra community, known as „Anjuman-E-Burhani‟ on M G Road, Camp.
In mid-19th century, Momin and Khoja Muslims settled in Pune who became influential in the economic and socio-political scenario. In around 1880, Muslim weavers from
Malegaon, Nasik came to Pune and resided in Ganj Peth and Guruwar Peth, which was known as „Mominpura‟. Similarly the settlement of Muslim craftsmen working in paper industry was known as „Kagadipura‟. The census in 1952 shows that Muslim population in Pune was concentrated in specific areas such as Raviwar, Kasba, Mangalwar, Bhavani,
Nana and Ganj Peth, Cantonment area in old Pune and Shivaji Nagar, Yerawda, Gultekdi in new Pune. Muslim population was dense in areas such as Modikhana (old and new) and Kamathipura. Most of the Muslim population in Pune consists of the Sunni sect, whereas Bohra Muslims belong to Shia sect.
15 Mistri, Malika B., in Tikekar, 2000 (vol.1): pp. 299-323 36
Khoja Muslims belong to another sect of Shia Ismaili cult. In 1850, 46th Ismaili Imam
Shah Hassan Ali alias Aga Khan I came to Pune and purchased a huge land property near
the Pune railway station. The second and fourth Aga Khan also resided in Pune for a long
time. In 1887, Aga Khan III built the well-known Aga Khan Palace. There are three
Jamatkhanas of Khoja Muslims in Pune, Wadi Jamatkhana in Camp area, Narangi Baug
Jamatkhana at Boat Club Road and Palace View Jamatkhana in Kalyani Nagar, near Aga
Khan Palace16. There a few people who follow the Baha‟i sect, but there is no special
place of worship, except the Baha‟i Centre in Sadhu Vaswani Chowk, Camp.
The Sunni sect comprises of Sheikh-s which consisted largely of converted Muslims.
Other communities in Sunni sect are Sayyad, Moghul and Pathan-s who are known as
„Ashraf‟.
The Peth areas in Pune, mainly Peths such as Kasba, Somwar, Mangalwar, Budhwar,
Raviwar, Ganj, Ganesh, Bhavani, Nana, and Rasta Peth have a high density of Muslim
shrines – Masjids and Dargahs. There are more than 150 Masjids in urban Pune. Munshi
Jalgaanvi has given a descriptive account of more than 400 Dargahs in Pune district with
fascinating anecdotes about the Muslim saints17.
Jain
In the first half of the 18th century, with the expansion of the Maratha Empire under the
Peshwa rule, money lenders and merchants from Gujarat and Marwar were encouraged to
16 Interview with Aman Rajabali 17 Jalgaanvi, 2016: pp. 209-246 37
shift to Pune. From the Peshwa archives, it seems that Nemidas Anidatt Sahukar was the first Marwadi financier who settled in Pune circa 1750, who was a Jain18. The number of
Jains coming from Marwad increased in Pune after 1780‟s. Similarly, some Digambar
Jains from southern region came to Pune around the same time. The Jain religion has two mainstream cults – Digambar and Shwetambar. Shwetambar Jains are divided into two sects - Sthanakwasiya and Mandir-Margi. The Sthanakwasiya don‟t worship idols much, but believing more in philosophical discussions, they conduct sermons in their prayer halls, called „Upāshray‟ or „Sthānak‟. The other sect, Mandiramargi Shwetambar allows the recitation of songs in the prayer place. The cults other than Mandiramargi Jains prohibit the music in the Jinālaya, i.e. Jain temple. The Digambar Jains, believing in nonviolence, don‟t even allow clapping and playing Ghanta in the temple19.
The first Jain temple in Pune was built in 1750. The Jain community asked the Peshwas permission to build a temple, but the Vedic Brahmins in Pune strongly opposed to this due to the philosophical differences between the two dogmas. The Jain merchants convinced the Shankaracharya (head of the Vedic cult) by paying him many offerings and finally obtained piece of land to build a temple in Vetal Peth (now Guruwar Peth), which was then at the outskirts of the city. After the fall of the Peshwa Empire in 1818, the Jain community started building many temples in the city. The original temple was reconstructed with establishment of Godiji Parshwanath. This temple is the most celebrated prayer place of Jains in Pune. In the same locality, various Jain communities such as the Porwal, and Oswal built temples. So, this area in Guruwar Peth, now known
18 Mrinalini Shah, in Tikekar, 2000 (vol.1): pp. 346 19 Interview with Leena Binayakiya 38
as Parshwanath Chowk, has four old Jain temples – Godi Parshwanath, Shri Adeeshwar
Oswal Mandir, Chandraprabhu Digambar Jain Mandir (est. 1889) and Adeshwar Visa
Porwal Mandir. In 1854, the Jain Jati-s built another temple of Parasnath. After 1970, the
flourishing Jain traders established many more Jain temples in various residential
societies in expanded Pune. The concentration of Jain temples are more in the belt of
Guruwar Peth, Shukrawar Peth, Swargate to Bibwewadi, Katraj. Today, Pune has more
than 50 temples belonging to various Jain sects.
Christian
The Christian community deserves a special mention in the socio-religious scenario of
Pune20. Around the seventh decade of 18th century, many Portuguese and other
Europeans joined the Peshwa army. One such Portuguese officer was Dom Manuel Da
Noronha, who settled down in Pune with his family. As the number of these Christian
residents in Pune was increasing, on the request of Noronha a Christian presbyter called
Father Manezis was sent to Pune by the Archbishop of Goa. Noronha started raising fund
to build a chapel and on his appeal, Madhaorao Peshwa offered a piece of land near
Quarter Gate area. On 25th December 1792, the first Christian church in Pune was
consecrated. Though the original name was Nossa Senhora Da Conceição (Church of
Our Lady of Immaculate Conception), this church was, and still is, known as City
Chapel.
20 Bhaskar Jadhav, in Tikekar, 2000 (vol. 1): pp. 395-415 39
In Pune till this time, there was only European Christian population belonging to the
Catholic sect. But after the Kirki war in 1817, the number of military men in Pune increased and Pune‟s Christian population also included people following the Protestant sect. The first Protestant pastor in Pune, Thomas Robinson requested the East India
Company to make arrangements for building a Protestant Church in Pune and on 3rd July
1825, St. Mary‟s Church was inaugurated by the Bishop Heber of Calcutta.
The British governor requested that a temporary chapel for the army men be built. Hence, a small church was built near Bhairoba Nala in 1830, which was later converted into St.
Patrick‟s Cathedral in 1855. Till 1830, the East India Company did not allow any
Christian Missionaries to enter Pune. Dr. John Wilson, Charles Forer and Stevenson were the first group of British missionaries who visited Pune in 1831. In the same year
Reverend Robert Nesbit, a Scottish missionary settled in Pune. Rev. Nesbit was a learned
Sanskrit and Marathi Pandit. He, along with Stevenson started a Mission school in Pune.
Gradually the Christian population started growing in Pune and new Churches were established such as Christ Church (1831), St. Andrew‟s Church (1861), St. Paul‟s Church
(1963), Oldham Methodist Church (1872), St. Matthew‟s Church (1893), St. Crispin‟s
Church (1903), Church of Holy Angels (1915), etc.
St. Xavier‟s Church, an Anglican church, was built in 1862. The Peshwas had gifted this piece of land to a Christian missionary doctor who cured one of the Peshwa ladies.21
The Bishop‟s Mission or Panch Haud Mission was set up in 1877 and later in 1885, the
„Church of Holy Name or „Pavitra Naam Devalay‟ was opened. A 130‟ tall bell tower is a
21 V N Natu, op. cit. pp. 63 40
special feature of this church. This tower contains 8 bells which were played with change
ringing method and the sound used to fascinate the people of Pune. Natu mentions that
the Marathi church prayers with tunes similar to Marathi Natya Sangeet and traditional
Marathi songs are recited at these Protestant churches as most of Protestants in Pune were
native Marathi people22. Pandita Ramabai relocated „Sharada Sadan‟ from Mumbai to
Pune in 1890 and started her mission in Pune.
In the post-independence period, many Christians from Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Uttar
Pradesh started migrating to Pune due to army service and private business. From 1970‟s
onwards, the Christian community from Kerala became really active and started
establishment of the Jacobite Syrian churches in Pune. Today, Pune has more than ten
Jacobite Syrian churches.
One can find three different streams of church music that practice in Pune – (1) the
original European Church music, (2) Marathi and Konkani church music and (3) Church
music with South Indian origin.
Jew
The Jewish community came to India as early as in BC 175 seeking shelter from the
invasion of Palestine by the Syrian King Antiochus Epiphanies. They landed on the
coastal line of the Konkan region and settled in Naogaon, Alibaug, Pen, and later in
22 ibid. 41
Mumbai. Shirley Berry Isenberg (1988) explains the process of Jewish colonization in
Pune in following words:
“Poona was the capital of the Peshwa rulers of Maharashtra (1750 – 1817) and under
British, it became the administrative capital of the Bombay presidency during
Bombay‟s humid and unpleasant monsoon months (June through September) …
After 1818 a large contingent of troops was always stationed in Poona. The Bene
Israel came to the city not only with the military and the ancillary services, but also
settled there as army pensioners. On the other hand, relatively few Baghdadis ever
settled in Poona, and they did so only after the Sassoons chose Poona as their place
of residence during the monsoon season23.” In 1863, Subhedar Abraham David
Churrikar was appointed as Assistant Superintendent of Police of Poona. Churrikar
become Chairman of then Poona Municipality and during his tenure the Bene Israel
in Poona settled in one particular street which is still called as „Israel Alley‟ or „Jew
Lane‟. The Ohel David Synagogue was built by a wealthy Baghdadi Jew, Sir David
Sassoon and it was opened in 1867. Due to its eye catching construction in red
bricks, it is called „Laal Dewal‟ (red temple)24.
A detailed account of the establishment of Jewish synagogues in Pune is given by
Isenberg (1988) as below –
“In 1877 the first of the four Bene Israel prayer halls was opened in the Rasta Peth
house of Joseph Solomon Jhiradkar, who personally conducted the services. This
23 Isenberg, 1988: pp.178 24 G. K. Kanhere, in Tikekar, 2000 (vol.1): pp. 216 42
first Bene Israel prayer hall in Poona possessed one Sepher Torah. Classes in Jewish
religion and teaching Hebrew were held on the verandah. Poona‟s other three prayer
halls, also located in Rasta Peth, were known respectively as the Bene Israel Prayer
Hall, which had three Torah scrolls and a regular hazan (Baghdadi); the Hebrath
Beth Yakob Prayer Hall, with four Torah scrolls; and the Ghosalkar Prayer Hall. In
1916, these congregations decided to cooperate; they purchased the property and
house of the first, i.e. the Jhiradkar Prayer Hall, and collected funds for erecting on
this property a large Bene Israel synagogue inaugurated in 1921. … This new
synagogue was named the Succath Shelomo (Booth of Solomon) Synagogue in
honor of Solomon Aaron Bhondkar and his wife who had made the largest donation
toward the synagogue building fund. The Succath Shelomo Synagogue has a seating
capacity of about 500 persons, with a women‟s gallery on three sides; it also has
office space and a classroom with its own small library of Judaica. The Holy Ark
contains twelve Torah scrolls. This synagogue was a very lively centre of Bene Israel
life in Poona until the mid-1960-s, i.e. when the bulk of the congregation immigrated
to Israel. As of 1970 Friday evening services barely managed25 to muster a minyan of
men, some 10 to 12 teenagers and, seated in the upstairs balcony, 10 to 12 women
with a few babies and youngsters. In spite of advertising and other efforts, the
congregation could not find a permanent hazan-cum-shohet (as well as a mohel). …
In May 1971 Succoth Shelomo Synagogue celebrated its Golden Jubilee26. … Bene
Israel place of worship are struggling to remain the focal points of community life,
even though they lack their former dynamic vitality. … There are some orthodox
25 ibid.: pp.179 26 ibid.: pp.180 43
Bene Israel individuals, not only in Bombay, but also in Poona and elsewhere, who
either walk along the distances to the nearest house of prayer on each Sabbath, or
else they say the Sabbath prayer and perform the Sabbath kiddush and havdala
ceremonies at home. … At least during the first half of 20th century the Sabbath for
most Bene Israel retained a distinctively Jewish atmosphere: hymns were sung by all
the family together27.”
Pune, now, has handful Jew families with a total headcount not exceeding 150. Today,
there is not a single Jewish house in the famous Israel Alley in Rasta Peth, which was full
of Jewish families till the 1960‟s. Most of the Jewish families either have dispersed in
other localities of Pune and other cities of India, or have migrated to Israel. Hence, the
practice of Jewish prayer music in Pune is retreating.
Zoroastrian
The Zoroastrian community in Pune has two sections – (1) Parsees and (2) Iranis. Parsees
were early migrants from Persia to India, during circa 651 AD due to the Arab invasion
on Persia. The Iranis came to India much later, in last century28.
The earliest reference of a Parsee person in Deccan region occurs with Kharshetji
Jamshetji alias Khusroji Modi, a young Parsee from Khambayat region in Gujarat. He
was in service of British officer Col. Cloze in Pune and was upgraded as Native Agent in
1809. In the same year, Bajirao Peshwa II appointed him as „Sar-Subhedar‟ or Governor
27 ibid.: pp. 233 28 Interview with Khushnuma Daruwala 44
of Karnataka region. Mountstuart Elphinstone ordered him to hold either of the two positions and Modi chose to be in the British service. He was planning to return to
Khambayat after leaving both the services. But unfortunately, in 1815 he was murdered in Pune29. It is interesting to note that besides being a Zoroastrian, Modi took initiative in building a temple of Ganapati in Narayan Peth, where he used to reside30. Even today, the
Ganapati temple is known as „Modi Ganapati Mandir‟.
After the battle of Kirki in 1817, many Parsees got settled in Camp area of Pune seeking new business opportunities under the British Raj. The first and oldest Agiary in Pune is
Sardar Sorabji Ratanji Patel Der-E-Meher (Atash Adaran). It was established on 05 June
1824 by Sardar Sorabji Ratanji Patel, after whom it is named. This Agiary, in Nana Peth, is a hub of Parsees in Pune and is very popular place for prayers as well as Parsee social gatherings31.
On 29th November 1844, Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy built the second Agiary in Pune. This
Agiary on Dastur Meher Road, Camp area was named after him and is known as J.J.
Agiary32. In 1877, Sardar Khanbahadur Dastur Hoshang Jamasp established a Parsee religious organization called „Bazm-e-Roz-e-Behram‟ and later under the leadership of
Hamasp a third Agiary in Pune, Poona Kadmi Shehenshahi Anjuman Daremeher, was consecrated on 18th October 1893. This Agiary is also famous as „Komda Agiary‟ as there is a symbol of a cock on the roof of this fire temple. This Agiary has beautiful
29 Nagarwala, N. D., in Tikekar, 2000 (vol.1): pp. 387 30 M. S. Dikshit, 2001: pp.82 31 Interview with Mr. Zarin Kotwal 32 Nagarwala, op. cit. pp. 389 45
carvings of Asho Farohar, the feathered manlike mythological character. Both Parsees
and Iranis visit this Agiary33.
Besides these three Agiaries, there is another small Agiary in the campus of Petit High
school on Bund Garden Road. It is called as „Dinbai Nasarwanji Petit Orphanage
Dadgah‟. It was consecrated on 16th March 1889. This Agiary is not commonly known
and was not documented in this research work.
Sikh
The Sikh community came to Pune in British era along with the army. The earliest Sikh
habitations were either in Camp and Ganesh Peth area, or in the areas near Army the
stations such as Bombay Sappers and Kirki. „Shri Guru Singh Sabha‟, the oldest
Gurudwara in the Ganesh Peth area of Pune was built circa 1940. After the independence
and partition of India, many Sikh families migrated to Pune. This resulted in the
establishment of many Gurudwaras in Pune. Gurudwara Shri Guru Singh Sabha in Aundh
was established by Baba Nidhan Singh ji in February 1947. It was reconstructed in 1978
by Baba Harnam Singh. In 1950, Gurudwara Dasmesh Darbar was in built in Dasmesh
Nagar, Yerwada. There is an ambiguity about the date of establishment of Central
Gurdwara Sahib or Sapras Gurudwara at Sapras Road, Kirki. The authorities at the
Gurudwara believe that this is the oldest Gurudwara in Pune area, built as earlier as in
1905. However, the plaque on the door wall mentions the date of establishment as 15th
November 1956. Gurudwara Guru Nanak Darbar in the Camp area is also famous as
33 Interview with Mobed Gayomard Sinor 46
Hollywood Gurudwara, as it was built in 1964 on the land of British club called
„Hollywood Club‟. This is a very much celebrated prayer place of Sikh community and
one gets an opportunity to listen to authentic Gurmat Sangeet here. Circa 1970,
Gurudwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha was opened in Jai Jawan Nagar, Yerwada. Besides
these, there are many Gurudwaras that were established in last 30-40 years, such as
Gurudwara Nanaksar (Katraj), Gurudwara Guru Teg Bahadur Ji (Prem Nagar, Wadgaon
Sheri), Command Hospital Gurudwara (Wanowari), Gurudwara Saadh Sangat
(Lohagaon), Air Force Gurudwara (Viman Nagar), Gurdwara Shri Gurusingh Sabha
(Elphinstone Road, Khadki), and Bopodi Gurudwara. The Gurudwara which is built in
latest times is Gurudwara Shri Guru Nanak Darbar in Lulla Nagar, founded in 1998.
Buddhist and Nava Baudha or Navayan Buddhist
There are four types of Buddhist places of prayer – Chaitya, Stupa, Vihār and
Sanghārām. Stupa consists of the mortal remains of Gautam Buddha, kept in a vessel,
buried under a mound. Chaitya is a prayer hall enclosing a Stupa. So, Stupa and Chaitya
are in a way inseparable prayer places. Vihar is a residential quarter of a Buddhist monk
and Sangharam is a Buddhist monastery or school. There are no Stupa and Chaitya in
Pune, but Vihar and Sangharam, there are many34.
In the ancient period, the Buddhist monks had their shrines in the vicinity of Pune and the
Buddhist caves at Karle, Bhaje, and Bedse are famous for their architectural details. It is
also mentioned that temple of Chatushringi and Tarakeshwar were originally Buddhist
34 Interview with Dr. Shrikant Bahulkar 47
places of worship. Buddhism was present in Maharashtra from the second century BC and, eventually, it started diminishing from 8th century AD35.
The Buddhist religion makes a comeback in Pune in modern times with Dr. Babasaheb
Ambedkar‟s movement of Dalit regeneration. Dr. Ambedkar accepted Buddhism on 14
October 1956 at Nagpur and also converted six lakh Dalits to Buddhism. He mentioned this new Buddhist sect as Navayan Buddhism (Nava Bauddha). These newly converted
Buddhists were chiefly from the so called Dalits, i.e. lower caste Hindus such as Mahar,
Mang, Bhangi, etc. Many of these converted Buddhists call themselves as „Ambedkarite‟ rather than Buddhist.
Traditionally the Mahar community served at the temples of Mariaai, a folk goddess related to child diseases. The temples of Mariaai are usually tiny shrines at public squares near Mahar settlements in a village. Most of the Mariaai temples were in the custody of the Mahar community and after the movement of their conversion to Buddhism, many of these temples were converted to Buddhist Vihar36. After 1956, many Navayan Bauddha
Vihar were built in Pune and at present, the number of these Vihar is more than 150.
35 R. C. Dhere, op. cit. pp.15 36 Eleanor Zelliot, in Tikekar, 2000 (vol. 1): pp. 280 48
2.3 Places of prayer in Pune’s urban setup
The socio-religious fabric of Pune was diverse from the beginning. Along with the original Hindu population, consisting of the twelve Balutedar-s and other castes, it also had a sectarian multiplicity. Along with the worship of aboriginal folk deities such as
Mhasoba, Vetal, Khandoba, Kasardevi, Bolhai, etc. there have been other mainstream cults such as Shaiva, Vaishnav, Shakta, Ganapatya, Datta in Pune for centuries37. Muslim population was there since the fourteenth century AD38. The earliest Muslim shrine in
Pune is the Dargah of Sheikh Salah which was founded circa 1356. Makka Masjid is said to be the oldest Masjid in Pune, built some 400 years back. The Jain community got settled in Pune in early 18th century. The earliest Jain temple is Godiji Parshvanath
Mandir in Guruvar Peth which was established in 1750 AD39. The Sindhi community was present in Pune from as early as 1920‟s, but many Sindhi families migrated to Pune after the partition in 1947. Sai Tionram Tikana was the first Tikana, i.e. Sindhi temple, built circa 194240. The most sought after Sindhi religious center is Sadhu Vaswani Mission, established in 1930.
Although the earliest Christian church in Pune was founded in 1792, but the oldest living monument is St. Peter‟s Cathedral that was built in 183041. Ohel David Synagogue, the first Jewish place of prayer in Pune was built in 1867 under the patronage of Sir David
Sassoon42. After 1857, many families from the Bene Israel community, who follow
37 Gunther Sontheimer, in Tikekar, 2000 (vol. 1): pp. 29 38 Malika B Mistry, op. cit. pp. 299 39 Mrinalini Shah, op. cit. pp. 349 40 Jasu Murjani, op. cit. pp. 361 41 Bhaskar Jadhav, op. cit. pp. 396 42 G K Kanhere, op. cit. pp. 216 49
Judaism, migrated to Pune and there settled was in Jewish lane in Rasta Peth. After Dr.
Babasaheb Ambedkar‟s movement of social liberation in 1956, there is strong following of Nava-Buddhism in Pune with emergence of ample of Vihar-s. All these sects and cults with diverse philosophical principles and devotional ideologies have made Pune‟s devotional music diverse in nature.
The total population in Pune was recorded at 9,429,408 in „Census 2011‟ and the census also mentions the religion ratio in Pune as following43 –
Religion Population in percentage Hindu 85.80 % Muslim 7.14 % Christian 1.42 % Sikh 0.29 % Buddhist 3.61 % Jain 1.36 % Other religions 0.10 % Not stated 0.28 %
There is co-existence of various religious sects besides those of Hindu religion in Pune and all these communities have their own places of player. One finds Jain temples,
Buddhist Vihar-s, Sikh Gurudwara, Muslim Mosques and Dargah-s, Christian churches
43 District Census Handbook – Pune, Census of India 2011, Series-28 Part XII – B. Mumbai: Directorate of
Census Operations, 2011
50
and cathedrals, Parsee Agiary and Jewish synagogues in Pune. These places of prayers are mostly situated in the area where these communities are densely populated. Their architectural and acoustical structure is also different. In all these places of prayer, different kind of music is being performed.
A general survey gives an estimate of number of places of prayer belonging to various religions as following –
Religion Place of prayer Rough number Hindu Mandir, Mattha More than 800 Jain Mandir 30 Buddhist Vihar 40 Sikh Gurudwara 10 Islam Masjid, Dargah, Jamatkhana More than 200 Christianity Church, Cathedral More than 100 Parsee Agiary 3 Judaism Synagogue 2
The following chart depicts the weight of faiths followed in Pune and it also points out the percentage of musical genres practiced in these religions.
51
Graphic depiction of chronological presence of places of prayers of various religions in Pune:
52
The chart shows the historicity of the places of prayer in Pune at a glance. Another chart
of the places of prayer in Pune gives a more clear perspective of the chronological
development of temples of various religions, cults, the localities and founders –
Chronology of places of prayer in Pune Date / Religion / No. Name Founder Year Cult 8th century Pataleshwar Cave temple - Jangali Maharaj Road, Hindu, Rashtrakoot 1 AD Pune Shaiva dynasty 9th century Tambadi Jogeshwari Mandir - 33, Budhawar Peth, Hindu, Gram-Devata 2 AD (First reference near Appa Balawant Chowk, Pune Shakta of Pune in 1159 AD) 11th Hindu, 3 century Vriddheshwar Mandir Shaiva AD Reconstruction 11th Nageshwar Mandir - Mangalwar Peth, Near Apollo Hindu, firstly in 1730 4 century and later in Talkies, Pune Shaiva AD 1780 by Aba Shelukar It was 14th Pasodya Vitthoba Mandir - Budhawar Peth, Hindu, originally a 5 century Pasodya Vitthoba Chowk, Pune Warkari temple of Hari-Hara. These were Thorala Sheikh Salah Dargah & Dhakla Sheikh Muslim, originally 6 1356 Salah Dargah Sufi Shiva temples.
17th Rokadoba Maruti Mandir - Shivaji Nagar Gawthan, 8 Hindu century Behind Congress Bhawan, Pune
17th Gorakshnath Samadhi Mandir - 242 A, Rasta Peth, 9 Hindu, Nath century Near Madrasi Ganapati, Pune 11 Shri Vitthal Mandir Devasthan - 52, Kasture Hindu, 11 1620 circa Chowk, Raviwar Peth, Pune 02 Warkari
1660 circa Bhawani Mandir - near Ramoshi Gate, Bhawani Hindu, 12 (reconstructi Peth, Pune 42 Shakta on in 1761)
53
Hindu, 13 1660 circa Bholeshwar Mandir - 377, Bhawani Peth, Pune 42 Shaiva Jijabai Bhosle and Hindu, 14 1669 circa Kasba Ganapati Mandir - 2, Kasba Peth, Pune 11 Vinayak Ganapatya Shashtri Thakar
Sakshi Vinayak Mandir - 373, Bhawani Peth, in Hindu, Balaji 15 1670 circa front of Bhawani Mandir, Pune - 42 Ganapatya Mandir Trust
Kalbhairav Mandir - Swartirth Sudhir Phadke Hindu, 16 1680 circa Chowk, Erandawana, Pune 52 Shaiva
Nrusinhashram or Narsoba or Nrsimha Mandir - Hindu, Sardar 17 1730 73, Sardar Shitole Wada, Kasba Peth, Pune - 11 Vaishnav Shitole
Muslim, Masjid Anjuman-I-Taheri or Al-Masjid-Ul Ajamas Reconstruction 18 1730 Dawoodi in 1937 and Saifi - Raviwar Peth Bohra 1990
1738 Oct Omkareshwar Mandir - 233, Shaniwar Peth, Near Hindu, Shivrambhat 19 26 Shinde Bridge, Pune 30 Shaiva Chitrav Nanasaheb 1749 April Hindu, Peshwa (on 20 Devadeveshwar Mandir - Parvati, Pune 23 Shaiva Kashibai's order) Godiji Parshwanath Jain Mandir - Guruwar Peth, Jain, 21 1750 Near Vetal Mandir, Pune Murtipujak Hindu, Nanasaheb 22 1751 Ramana Ganapati – Lakshmi Nagar, Parvati Ganapatya Peshwa Mahant Shri Trishunda Ganapati Mandir - 139, Mangalwar Hindu, 23 1754 Bheemgir Peth, Pune Ganapatya Gosawi Hindu, Nanasaheb 24 1758 Shri Vishnu Mandir - Parvati Vaishnav Peshwa Hindu, Raghoba 25 1760 Kartik Swami Mandir - Parvati Shaiva Dada Peshwa Hindu, 26 1760 Narpatgir Vishnu Mandir - Rasta Peth Vaishnav Hindu, 27 1760 Siddheshwar Mandir Shaiva Bhiubai Amruteshwar Mandir - 67, Chandrashekhar Agashe Hindu, Baramatikar 28 1760 Path, Apte Ghat, Shaniwar Peth, Pune 411030 Shaiva (sister of Bajirao II) 54
Hindu, Ram Govind 29 1760 circa Kate Ram Mandir - 221/222, Narayan Peth, Pune Vaishnav Kate Ramji Devasthan, Tulshibaug - Shukrawar Peth, Hindu, Naro Appa 30 1761 Pune Vaishnav Khire 1764 Junnarkar Datta Mandir - Lakshmi Road, near Hindu, 32 (Vaishakh Common Wealth building Datta Shuddha 9) Vitthal Rukmini Mandir - Vitthalwadi, Sinhagad Hindu, 33 1765 Road, Pune Vaishnav Belbaug Vishnu Mandir - near City post, Lakshmi Hindu, Nana 34 1769 Road Vaishnav Phadnvis Trishund Ganapati Mandir - near Kamla Nehru Hindu, Bhimgiri 35 1770 (1754 to 1770) Hospital Ganapatya Gosavi
Lakshmi Nrusimha Mandir - 1420, Sadashiv Peth, Hindu, 36 1774 Ganesh Joshi in front of Pune Vidyarthi Gruh, Pune 30 Vaishnav
Goswami Harirayji ki Haweli - Vallabhacharya Chowk, 1437, Vaishnav, 37 1780 circa Gopeshwar Kasba Peth, Pune 11 Pushtimargi Maharaj Sawai Siddhivinayak Mandir or Sarasbaug Ganapati Hindu, 38 1784 Madhaorao Mandir - Sarasbaug, Pune 02 Ganapatya Peshwa Chatushringi Devi mandir - Senapati Bapat Road, Hindu, 39 1786 Durlabhsheth Pune 07 Shakta 1792 Christian, (present Church of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception 40 building Roman (City Church) - Quarter Gate, Nana Peth, Pune constructed Catholic in 1852) Mahadev Mandir - at Mahadaji Shinde Chhatri, Hindu, Mahadaji 41 1794 Wanawori Shaiva Shinde Sadashiv 1797 May Khunya Muralidhar Mandir - 1236, Sadashiv Peth, Hindu, 42 Raghunath 06 Pune - 30 Vaishnav Gadre Temples in later Peshwa period (late 18th century to early 19th century) Hindu, 43 Kali Jogeshwari Mandir, Budhawar Peth, Pune Sardar Raste Shakta
Shitala Dewi Mandir - 785, Raviwar Peth, Opposite Hindu, 44 Satyanarayan Mandir, Pune 02 Shakta
Ashtabhuja Dewi Mandir, 624, Shaniwar Peth, Pune Hindu, Chintaman 45 30 Shakta Diwekar
55
Somawanshiya Kshatriya Dashmukhi Dewi Hindu, 46 Mandir, Sahasrarjun Bhawan, Swargate Corner, Pune Shakta 02
Dhangiriraj Maharaj Shiva Mandir, in front of Hindu, 47 Narpatgiri Police Chowki, Somawar Peth, Pune Shaiva
Lakshmi Narayan Mandir, 669, Raviwar Peth, Pune Hindu, 48 - 02 Vaishnav Bandiwan Maruti Mandir, 95, Raviwar Peth, Pune Hindu, 49 - 02 Vaishnav Khane Maruti Mandir, Near East street Police Hindu, 50 station, Camp, Pune 01 Udasi cult Hindu, 51 Tai Raste Ram Mandir, near Sadashiv Peth Haud Raste family Vaishnav Hindu, Ramanandi 52 Hanuman Mandir, 822, Bhawani Peth, Pune 42 Vaishnav Bairagi Hindu, 53 Vitthal Mandir, Lakadi Pool, Sadashiv Peth, Pune 30 Warkari Hindu, 54 Navi Peth Vitthal Mandir, Navi Peth, Pune Warkari
Khanduji Baba Samadhi Vitthal Mandir, 731/732, Hindu, 55 Pulachi Wadi, Shivaji Nagar, Pune 04 Warkari
Hindu, 56 Maticha Ganapati, 107, Narayan Peth, Pune - 30 Ganapatya Hindu, Early 19th Ramanandi 57 Hanuman Mandir, 822, Bhawani Peth, Pune 42 century Vaishnav Bairagi Shri Jhanzale Vitthal Mandir, Vishrambaug wada, Vaishnav, Limbaraj 58 1808 Shukrawar Peth, Pune Warkari Maharaj Devasthan Ganesh Bhatt Modi Ganapati Mandir or Bombalya Ganapati, 527, Hindu, (in garden of 59 1811 circa Narayan Peth, Pune 30 Ganapatya Khusruji Modi) Upashi Vithoba Mandir, 1327, Sadashiv Peth, Pune Hindu, 60 1817 circa Girame Saraf 30 Warkari
56
Bhikardas Maruti Mandir, 192 B, Near Narad Hindu, Bhikardas 61 1818 Mandir, Guruwar Peth, Pune Vaishnav Saraf
1824 June Sardar Patel Agiary, 613/8, Nana Peth, Pune 02 Sardar 62 Zoroastrian 5 (Sardar Sorabji Ratanji Patel Der-E-Meher) Sorabji Patel
St. Mary's Church or Mother Church of Deccan, 63 1825 July 3 Christian Bishop Heber General Bhagat Road, Solapur Road, Camp
Shri Someshwar Devasthan, 1162, Raviwar Peth, Hindu, Narayanrao 64 1830 Pune 02 Shaiva Natu Jivaji Shri Rameshwar Vishnu Khasgat Devasthan, Near Hindu, 65 1830 Khasgiwale Mandai, 10&11, Shukrawar Peth, Pune 02 Vaishnav Limaye Niwadungya Vitthoba Mandir - 572, New Nana Hindu, 66 1830 Peth, Rasta Peth, Pune 411002 Warkari Christian, 67 1831 Christ Church, 381, Rasta Peth, Pune - 11 Protestant
Shri Adeeshwar Jain Mandir, 786, Shukrawar Peth, 68 1834 Jain Parshwanath Chowk, Pune 02
Hindu, Ganesh 69 1838 Rahalkar Ram Mandir, Sadashiv Peth, Pune 30 Vaishnav Rahalkar Hindu, Balaji 70 1840 circa Balaji Mandir, Bhawani Peth, Pune 42 Vaishnav Mandir Trust
1844 Nov Sir Jamsetji Jijibhoy Agiary, Dastur Meher Road, Parsee, Sir Jamsetji 71 29 Opp. Sir J. J. Garden, Camp, Pune 11 Zoroastrian Jijibhoy
1854 May Shri Chandraprabhu Digambar Jain Mandir - 72 Jain 08 110/A, Guruwar Peth, Pune 02 Christian, St. Patrick's Church / Cathedral, Solapur Road, 73 1855 Roman Camp, Pune Catholic Pandit Ram Mandir, Tilak Smarak Mandir Campus, Hindu, Babamaharaj 74 1858 Sadashiv Peth, Pune 30 Vaishnav Pandit Hindu, Sardar 75 1860 Vriddheshwar Mandir, 563, Shivaji Nagar, Pune 05 Shaiva Ghorpade St. Andrew's Church, 15, Solapur Road. Camp, Near Christian, Church of 76 1861 St. Mary's Church, Pune 01 Protestant Scotland Hindu, 77 1862 Bhajiram Mandir, Narayan Peth, Pune Devgirikar Vaishnav St. Xavier’s Church, St. Vincent Street, Camp, Pune Christian, 78 1862 - 01 Catholic 57
1863 Aug St. Paul's Church - 2, Church Road, next to GPO, Governor 79 29 (working Christian Agarkar Nagar, Camp, Pune 01 Bartle Friar from 1867) Nanjangudu Vaishnav, Raghavendra Swami Mattha, 555, Sadashiv Peth, shri 80 1864 Madhwacha Pune 30 raghavendra rya Mattha
Junnarkar Datta Mandir - Near Common Wealth Hindu, Junnarkar 81 1864 Building, Lakshmi Road, Pune 30 Datta Saraf
Ohel David Synagogue i.e. Lal Deval, Moledina Sir David 82 1867 Jew Road, Camp, Pune Sassoon
Ganesh Joshi Hindu, alias 83 1868 Nawa Vishnu Mandir, 1277, Sadashiv Peth, Pune 30 Vaishnav Sarvajanik Kaka
M G Ranade Pune Prarthana Samaj, 441, Budhawar Peth, Pune - Philosophic 84 1870 & R G 02 al Sect Bhandarkar 1872 Father (working Oldham Methodist Marathi Church - General Christian, 85 William from 1886, Thiyyama Road, Camp, Pune 01 Protestant reconstructed Taylor in 1971) Hindu, Akkalkot Swami Samarth Mattha, Near Mandai, HariAnna 86 1879 Swaroop Shukrawar Peth, Pune 02 Shete Sampraday Jain, 87 1880 Dadawadi Jain Mandir, Sarasbaug, Pune Murtipujak 1883 Nov Hindu, Wamanshastr 88 Narad Mandir, 1739, Sadashiv Peth, Pune 30 25 Vaishnav i Kemkar Hindu, 89 1884 Maruti Mandir, 53, Solapur Bajar, Camp, Pune - 40 Vaishnav Church of the Holy Name or Pavitra Nama Christian, 90 1885 Devalay of Pancha Haud Mission, 4, Guruwar Peth, Anglican Pune 42 Sultan Agakhan Palace, Pune-Nagar Road, Kalyani Nagar, Muslim, Muhammed 91 1887 Pune Ismaili Shah Aga Khan III Jangali Maharaj Samadhi Mandir, Jangali Maharaj Hindu, Nath 92 1890 Shirole Patil road, Bhamburda cult
58
Muslim, 93 1890 Masjid-i-Burhani - M G Road, Camp, Pune 01 Dawoodi
Bohra Shri Shantinath Digambar Khandelwal Jain Jain, 94 1892 Feb 7 Mandir, 520, Raviwar Peth, Pune 02 Digambar Ramchandra Vishnu 1892 Feb Varad Ganapati Mandir or Gupchup Ganapati, Hindu, 95 Gupchup & 12 106, Nene Ghat, Shanivar Peth, Pune Ganapatya Moreshwar Raoji Dixit Poona Kadami Agiary / Shehenshani Anjuman 1893 Oct Parsee, 96 Daremeher, 893, Synagogue Street, opp. Cosmos 18 Zoroastrian Bank, Camp, Pune 01 Kasar Devi Mandir of Twashta Kasar Samaj, 1385, Hindu, 97 1893 Kasba Peth, Pune - 11 Shakta 98 1893 St. Matthew's Church Christian
Lakshmibai Dagadushet Halawai Ganesh Mandir, 250, Hindu, 99 1893 Dagdusheth Budhawar Peth, Pune - 2 Ganapatya Halawai Dr. Sa Shi Sahasrabuddhe Datta Mandir, 1334 to 1341, Hindu, 100 1897 Sahasrabudd Sadashiv Peth, Opp. Godbole Hospital, Pune - 30 Datta he
Markandeya Mandir - Rameshwar Chowk, ear Hindu, Vyankatesh 101 1899 Mandai, Shivaji Road, Budhwar Peth, Pune 02 Shaiva Vidwans
Temple built Gramdaiwat Mhasoba Mandir, Dattawadi Chowk, Hindu, 102 in early 20th century Near Vitthal Mandir, Pune 30 Shaiva Aranyeshwar Dewalay, 82/2 C, Parvati Peth, Satara Hindu, Deshpande 103 1900 circa Road, Pune 09 Shaiva Inamdar Dagadu Vitthal Rukmini Mandir, Survey no 50, Karve Hindu, 104 1900 Mahadu Nagar, Pune 52 Warkari Phengse Bhiku Padmawati Mandir, Survey no 50, Karve Nagar, Hindu, 105 1900 Krishna Pune 52 Shakta Phengse Christian, St. Crispin's Home (Church) - 10/12, Karve Road, SSJE and 106 1900 Roman Erandawana, Pune 411004 CSMV Catholic Shriram Mandir (with Samadhi of Rakhamabai Hindu, Inamdar & 107 1903 Gadgil & Tulshi Akka), Opposite Rokdoba Mandir, Vaishnav Shirole Bhaburda
59
Lakshmibai Dagadusheth Halwai Datta Mandir, Budhwar Peth, Hindu, 108 1904 July 4 Dagdusheth Pune 02 Datta Halwai
Mhalasakant Devasthan or Khandoba Mhalasa Vishnu Hindu, 109 1906 Mandir, Manorama Apts. Gawali Lane, near Balwant Shaiva Vijayanand Theatre, Budhawar Peth, Pune 02 Bhave
Piwli Jogeshwari Mandir, 887, Shukrawar Peth, Hindu, 110 1910 Shivaji Road, Pune Shakta Hindu, Ram Mandir (Maheshwari Samaj), Kapadganj, 111 1910 Maheshwari Raviwar Peth, Pune / Vaishnav Sthanakwasiya Jain Mandir, Nana Peth (First 112 1910 Jain Sthanakawasiya temple) 1911 June Dadhiwala Datta - near Kunte Chowk, Lakshmi Hindu, D K 113 01 Road, Shukrawar Peth, Pune Datta Ghanekar Hindu, 1913 Swaroop Bidkar Maharaj Mattha - 245, Shaniwar Peth, Near Babamaharaj 114 (reconstructi Sampraday Narayan Peth Police Chowki, Pune 30 Sahasrabuddhe on in 2000) of Swami Samarth
Likhite Ram Mandir - Lakshmi Road, near Umbarya Hindu, Inaugurated by 115 1914 Gondavlekar Ganapati, Narayan Peth, Pune Vaishnav Maharaj Namdew 1915 mar Hindu, 116 Lashkar Ram Mandir, M G Road, Pune 01 Shimpi 16 Vaishnav Samaj 1915 Oct Church of Holy Angels, Jew Lane, 84, Rasta Peth, Christian, 117 10 Pune 11 Anglican
Shivram Datta Mandir of Bhagwat family - Hindu, 118 1919 Sadashiv Peth, near Nrsimha Mandir, Pune 30 Datta
Succath Shelomo Synagogue, 93, Rasta Peth, Jew Jew, Bene 119 1920 Lane, Pune 11 Israeli 1922 Jan Khandoba Mandir, Kasba Peth, pumping station Hindu, 120 22 premises, near Kumbharwada Shaiva Hindu, Mahanubhaw Shrikrishna Mandir, 358, Ganesh P B 121 1925 circa Mahanubha Peth, near Dulya Maruti Chowk, Pune 02 Mahanubhav w Hindu, Sadhu 122 1930 Sakhi Satsang Sindhi Vaswani
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Hindu, Shri RadhaKrishna Mandir, 1448, Kasba Peth, 123 1930 Maheshwari Pune 11 Vaishnav Vitthal Rukmini Mandir, Narvir Tanaji Wadi, Hindu, Vishnu 124 1930 Shivaji Nagar, Pune Warkari Bhosale Patil Ganesh Hindu, 125 1931 Vitthal Rukmini Mandir, Parvati Govind Vaishnav Mudgal Babajan Dargah - Chaar Bawdi, Babajan Chowk, Muslim, Hazrat 126 1932 Camp, Pune 01 Sufi Babajan Madrasi Ganapati or Shri Harihara Bhajan Hindu, 127 1935 Samajam - 14, Rasta Peth, near Apollo talkies, Pune Sardar Raste Ganapatya 11
Shri Shantinath Digambar Saitwal Jain Mandir - Jain, Martand 128 1935 846, Raviwar Peth, Lonar Ali, Pune 02 Digambar Lonkar
Balbheem Mandir - 769/8, Off Bhandarkar Road, Hindu, Bhagirathi 129 1937 Deccan Gymkhana, Pune 04 Datta Vaidya
Rahalkar Ram Mandir - 918, Sadashiv Peth, Near Hindu, Ganesh 130 1938 Nagnath Paar, Pune 30 Vaishnav Rahalkar
Waheguru Gurudwara Shri Gurusingh Sabha - Gurusingh 131 1940 circa Sikh 431/32, Maharana Pratap Road, Ganesh Peth, Pune 02 Sabha Trust
Dhanurdhari Ram Mandir - Pune Vidyarthi Griha, Hindu, 132 1942 Sadashiv Peth, Pune 30 Vaishnav Hindu, Swami 133 1942 Sai Tionram Tikana - Aggarwal Colony, Camp Sindhi Sarvanand Hindu, Madhawi Shri Thirumal Murugan Temple - Plot 43, Aundh 134 1942 Tamil Amma (from Gaon, Pune - 07 Kartikeya Tamilnadu) Hindu, Baba 135 1947 Jhulelal Mandir - Pimpri, Pune Sindhi Govindram Shankar Maharaj Samadhi Mattha - Satara Road, Hindu, 136 1947 Pune Mattha Gurudwara Shri Guru Singh Sabha - Ward 8, Baba Nidhan 137 1947 Feb Sikh Aundh, Pune – 27 Singh Hindu, Babasaheb 138 1948 Sadawarte Ram Mandir - 1922, Sadashiv Peth Vaishnav Sadawarte Guru Sangat Sindhi Mandir - Connaught House, Hindu, 139 1949 Camp, Pune 01 Sindhi
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Gurudwara Dasmesh Darbar - Dasmesh Nagar, 140 1950 circa Sikh Yerwada, Deccan College Road, Pune 06
Shri Saibaba Mandir - 83/84, Shivaji Nagar, Old Hindu, Nanasaheb 141 1950 Tophkhana, Rasane Chowl, Pune - 05 Saibaba Cult Rasane
Sadguru Sainath Krupa Mattha - Satara Road, Hindu, Bhausaheb 142 1951 Pune 37 Saibaba Cult Lombar Shri Hindu, Vimochananand, 143 1956 Ayyappa Mandir - 198, Rasta Peth, Pune 411011 Ayyappa Ayyappa Dharma Parishad
1956 Nov Central Gurudwara Sahib/ Sapras Gurudwara - 144 Sikh 15 Sapras Road, near Bombay Sappers, Kirki, Pune - 03
Buddha Vihar - Pune University, Sewak Vasahat, Nava 145 1957 SPPU, Pune 07 Bauddha Hari Krishna Mandir - Model Colony, Shivaji Hindu, Dilipkumar 146 1959 Nagar, Pune 16 Vaishnav Roy Hindu, Swami Narayan Mandir - Jew Lane, Rasta Peth, 147 1962 (New Swami Building 1993) Pune 11 Narayan Satya Narayan Mandir - 892, Raviwar Peth, Pune - Hindu, 148 1962 02 Vaishnav 1963 Apr St. Teresa Church - 764/5, Guruwar Peth, Papasheth Andrews 149 Christian 20 Khanna Road, Pune 411002 D'Souza
Awatar Meharbaba Kendra - 441/1, Somawar Peth, Mehar baba 150 1964 Mehar Baba Near KEM Hospital, Pune 02 Cult
Shri Gurunanak Darbar (Hollywood Gurudwara) - Gyani Hardit 151 1964 Sikh Pattinson Road, Camp, Pune 01 Singh
Hindu, Gulawani 152 1965 Wasudew Niwas - Erandwana, Pune 04 Datta Maharaj
Nava 1967 Navayan Dhammachakra Prawartan Bauddha 153 (Reconstruct Mahavihar - 179/180, Janawadi, Pune 411016 ed in 2008)
Shriram Gondawalekar Maharaj Mattha - 504, Mitramandal Hindu, 154 1968 Maharaj Chowk, Parvati, Pune 09 Vaishnav Kulkarni
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Shri Vinayak Omkar Mandir aka Bedekar Hindu - Vishwanath 155 1969 Ganapati Mandir - 43/2, Omkar, Rambaug Colony, Ramdasi Bedekar Paud Road, Pune 38 Sampraday
Gurudwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha - Jai Jawan 156 1970 circa Sikh Nagar, Yerwada, Pune 06
1970 circa Hindu, Shri Balaji 157 (reconstructe Balaji Mandir - 14, Narayan Peth, Pune 30 d in 2014) Vaishnav Mandir Trust Amrutwela Mandir - 815/16, Padamji Compound, Hindu, Dada Ishwar 158 1973 Bhawani Peth, Pune 42 Sindhi Balani
Shri Parshwanath Jain Shwetambar Mandir - Jain, 159 1974 267/2, New Timber Market Road, Pune 02 Shwetamber
Osho Ashram - 17, 1st lane, Koregaon Park Road, Acharya 160 1974 Osho Pune 01 Rajneesh Sadhu Vaishnav, 161 1975 Vitthal Rukmini Mandir - Dattawadi, Pune Amruta Warkari Mohol Hindu, Sharda Mattha - Sinhagad Road, Near Rajaram Ramakrishn Ramakrishna 162 1975 Feb Bridge, Pune 411030 a Mission Paramahans Hindu, Ayyappa 163 1977 Ayyappa Mandir - 198, Rasta Peth, Pune 411011 Dharma Tamil Parishad Paramarth Niketan (Kalawati Mata) - 1000/4, Navi Hindu, Siddhakala 164 1978 Peth, Pune Mattha Trust
Sadhu Vaswani Mission - 10, Sadhu Vaswani Road, Hindu, Sadhu T L 165 1978 Near GPO, Camp, Pune 01 Sindhi Vaswani
Hindu, Shri Gurudev 166 1980 circa Gurudew Datta Mandir -Near Kamla Nehru Park Datta Datta Trust Shri Gurunanak Darbar - Gate 5, Property no 167 1980 circa Sikh 7/5/726, Pimpri, Pune 17 Bansilal Hindu, 168 1981 Mahalakshmi Mandir - Opp. Sarasbaug, Pune Ramnath Shakta Agrawal Shri Mukund Daulat Ram Mandir - Mukund Nagar, Gultekdi, Hindu, 169 1982 Bhawan Pune 411037 Vaishnav Trust Suryakant 1983 Sept Hindu, 170 Santoshi Mata Mandir - Katraj Maniklal 15 Shakta Shah 63
Santram Hindu, Mahanubhaw Shrikrishna Mandir - Gokul Nagar, Vyas / 171 1983 Mahanubha Kondhawa Budruk, Pune - 48 Krishnaraj v Kapate Shri Akkalkot Swami Samarth Mattha & Hindu, 172 1985 Gurudew Datta Mandir - 1734, Sadashiv Peth, Near Datta Narad Mandir, Pune 30 Hindu, Shri Swami 173 1986 Dindori pranit Swami Samarth Mattha, Sarasbaug Swami Samarth Samarth Sansthan
1986 St. Joseph Church - Near Railway Staff Quarters, St. Valerian 174 (renovated in Christian 1995 Aug 28) Ghorapadi, Pune 01 D'Souza
Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam Shri Adya Sankara Hindu, Kanchi 175 1987 Mandir - Near Sawarkar Statue, Sarasbaug, Pune 30 Shaiva Mattha
Yashvant Khandoba Mandir - Market Yard, Backside of Hindu, 176 1989 Anant Gangadham Building, Bibwewadi - Kondhwa Road Shaiva Pradhan 1984 Hindu, Ramakrishna Mattha - Near Dandekar bridge, Ramakrishn Ramakrishna 177 (New building - 1989 March Sinhagad Road, Pune 30 a Mission 29) Paramahans Dhammacharka Parivartan Mahavihar alias Trailokya 178 1992 Triratna Buddhist Order - Raja Harishchandra Bauddha Bauddha Road, Dapodi, Pune 12 Mahasangh Hindu, 1995 May Akkalkot Swami Samarth Mattha - Ganj Peth, Pune Virendra 179 Swaroop 02 02 Kirad Sampraday Hindu, Sri Radha Kunj Bihari Temple - 4, Tarapore Road, Gopalkrishna 180 1995 Vaishnav Near Dastoor Boys School, Camp, Pune 01 Goswami (ISKCON) Gurudwara Guru Nanak Darbar - Lulla Nagar, 181 1998 Sikh Pune - 40 Hindu, 182 1998 SiddhiVinayak Mandir - Veda Bhavan, Paud Road Ganapatya Christian, Rev. Fr. 183 1998 St. Mary's Syrian Catholic church - Warje, Pune 52 Anthony Syrian Valiyavilayil
Mandhardewi Kalubai Mandir - 222, Budhwar Hindu, Satish 184 1999 Peth, Near Dagdushet Ganesh Mandir, Pune - 02 Shakta Chavan
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Shiloh Church of Christ - Gurunanak Nagar, Behind 185 2001 Christian Kumar Pacific Mall, Shankar Shet Road, Pune
Ahobil Mattha Balaji Mandir - 116/11, Sus Road, Hindu, Ahobil 186 2002 Aug Pashan, Pune 21 Vaishnav Mattha 2003 Sept Christian, Thomas I 187 St. Mary's Jacobite Syrian Church - Yerwada 24 Syrian Catholicose Khandoba Mandir - Plot 11, Near Sawarkar Statue, Hindu, Kadepathar 188 2003 Sewa Mandal Sarasbaug, Pune 30 Shaiv Trust
2004 Oct Vimala Jivan Jhulelal Mandir - Survey no 59/5, Hindu, Ashok G 189 22 Near Disney Park, Wanawri, Pune 40 Sindhi Thakur
Bharatiya Nava 190 2006 Anand Buddha Vihar - Dattawadi, Pune 30 Bauddha Bauddha Mahasangh Shri Mahaveer Digambar Jain Mandir - Manik Jain, 191 2006 Baug, Behind Brahma Veg Restaurant, Sinhagad road, Digambar Pune 411051
Balaji Mandir (Maheshwari Samaj), Narayan Peth, Hindu, Maheshwari 192 2007 Near Narayan Peth Police Chowki Maheshwari Samaj Trust
Anand Bauddha Vihar – Sane Guruji Colony, Nava 193 2008 Sinhagad Road, Pune Bauddha
Jain, Shri Shri Vasupujya Swami Jain Derasar - 7/9, Behind 194 2008 Murtipujak Vasupujya Sweekar Hotel, Erandavana, Pune 411004 Shwetamber Swami Jain Temple Trust St. Peter's Marthoma Church - Phase II, Sant 2009 Christian, 195 Shiromani Namdew Maharaj Path, Wanawori, Pune October 24 Syrian 411040
NVCC ISKCON Temple - New Vedic Cultural Hindu, 196 2013 Center, Survey no 50, Kondhwa Budruk, Katraj- ISKCON Vaishnav Kondhwa Bypass, Pune 411048.
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Pune witnessed a great disaster in 1961, the floods caused by the collapse of Panshet
Dam. Didee and Gupta44 correctly mention:
“Following the floods, the old face of the city was greatly changed. … Colonies of
flood-attacked people sprouted almost overnight near Parvati, on the Satara Road
(Sahakarnagar), and at Kothrud, which soon became a haven for many who had
found the old city too restrictive and congested. … In the next two decades, Kothrud
became the most attractive area for many Puneites and was talked about as the fastest
growing suburb in India.”
The colonial expansion took places in the areas such as Navi Peth, Datta Wadi, Parvati,
Lakshmi Nagar, Mukund Nagar, Maharshi Nagar, Padmavati, Bibwewadi, and Katraj45.
With ever increasing amount of various industries, including automobile industry and the recently developed IT industry in Pune; the city is expanding its boundaries in neighboring localities such as Pimpri, Chanchwad, Khadki, Bhosri, Hadapsar, Kondhwa,
Mundhwa, Salisbury Park, Koregaon Park, Wanawori, Kalyani Nagar, Lohagaon, Viman
Nagar, Aundh, Baner, Bawdhan, Pashan, etc46. In these newly developed localities, many new places of prayer have emmerged in the last three decades. As most of these newly developed areas are cosmopolitan in nature, multiple religions and cults are followed here and this has contributed to the formation of new Jain, Buddhist, Sikh, Muslim and
Christian places of prayer. Although, the Jews and Parsee have not built any new prayer
44 Didee and Gupta, 2000: pp. 253 45 S. D. Deshpande and Suresh Garsole, in Tikekar, 2000 (vol. 1): pp. 177-178 46 G. K. Kanhere, ibid., pp. 183d 66
places in these localities and have stuck to their original places of worship in the old
Pune.
In the second chapter the religious configuration of Pune has been discussed while reviewing the places of prayers. It leads us to the following chapters which deal with the actual survey of prayer music in mentioned eight religions.
[Important note: The famous centers of worship in the vicinity of Pune such as Moraya Gosawi
Devasthan in Chinchwad, Vitthal Devasthan in Alandi, Dargah at Khed Shivapur and many churches in Pimpri, Chinchwad were deliberately omitted from the survey, though they have a prominent devotional music practice, as these places are not part of urban Pune‟s municipal area and I have restricted the area for fieldwork as Pune municipality.]
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