Lord Khandoba is an incarnation of Lord Shiva who killed the demon brothers, Mani and Malla, and freed Earth from their atrocities. He had two wives named Mhalsa and Banai. Malhari is mainly worshipped in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. It is the Kuladaivat (family deity) of millions of Hindus in these regions. Khandoba Temple in Jejuri is the main temple of Khandoba. Thousands of devotees visit the temple each year to pray to god.
Meaning of the word Khandoba:
According to Wikipedia, the word Khandoba comes from the words “khadaga” (a sword) and “ba” (father).
Different Names of Khandoba:
1. Malhari Martand.
2. Malhar.
3. Malhari.
4. Malanna.
5. Mailara.
6. Mallu Khan.
7. Ajmat Khan.
8. Khaderaya.
9. Khanderao.
Iconography:
Khandoba is depicted as having a huge body with two big eyes. He has four arms, carrying a damaru, a sword, a trident, and a bowl filled with turmeric. He has big mustaches and wears a double-pointed horizontal hat over his head. His face is red. His forehead is smeared with turmeric with a straight red Tilaka in the center. Overall, the murti appears Ugra (angry).
Turmeric and Coconut:
Turmeric and coconut are the dearest things to Khandoba. Devotees scatter turmeric over and around the temple. Because of its yellow color, the Jejuri temple is also called “Soniyachi Jejuri” (Golden Jejuri). Devotees smear dogs around the temple with turmeric. They eat pieces of dry coconut as Prasadam.
Khandoba Story per Malhari Mahatmya:
Mani and Malla:
Mani and Malla were two demon brothers who did penance and propitiated Lord Brahma. They got the boon of invincibility from him. After this, they became arrogant and started torturing sages and innocent people.
Saptarishi Seek Help from Gods:
One day, Saptarishi went to heaven and complained to Indra about the Malla demon who tortured them when they went to Manichul mountain. They requested him to get rid of these demons. Indra told them that both the demons had propitiated Lord Brahma. Therefore, he was unable to kill them. They should go to Lord Vishnu.
Therefore, Saptarishi went to Vaikuntha and requested Lord Vishnu to kill Mani and Malla, but Lord Vishnu told them that only Lord Shiva was able to kill them. Therefore, they went to Shivabhuvan to seek help from Lord Shiva.
The Incarnation of Martanda Bhairava:
When Lord Shiva heard what havoc Mani and Malla were causing on Earth, he was infuriated. He assumed the form of Martand Bhairava and left for Manichul mountain to kill Mani and Malla along with Lord Ganesha, Kartikeya, and his army.
When Martand and his army approached Manichula mountain, one servant informed Malla demon about them. Malla ordered to kill the servant because he thought he was lying. When he went to the top of the mountain, he saw that the servant was not lying. Therefore, he ordered his army to get ready for war.
Both armies met each other, and a fierce war started. Martanda Bhairava resuscitated the Shivaganas who were killed in the war. Seeing the defeat of his army, Malla got very angry and went in his chariot to kill the enemy, but he was interrupted by Khadagdanshtra, who was a valiant warrior. He requested Malla to allow him to kill his enemy.
When Khadagdanshtra saw Lord Kartikeya, he challenged him to a duel. A fierce war took place between them, but in the end, Lord Kartikeya killed the demon. Seeing this, the demon army started running away from the battleground.
The Death of Mani:
Seeing the death of his commander, Mani attacked Martanda Bhairava. A fierce war took place between them. In the end, Khandoba killed Manikasura. While dying, Mani apologized to Lord Shiva and asked for forgiveness. Lord Shiva forgave him and gave him salvation. Lord Shiva was satisfied with Mani’s devotion and decided to spare the life of Mallasura. Hence, he requested Lord Vishnu to tell Malla to go to Patala Loka.
The Death of Malla:
But Malla wanted to avenge the death of his brother and decided not to leave the battleground. Malla attacked Khandoba with many weapons, but Khandoba made them ineffective with counter-weapons. Then, Malhari threw his trident toward Malla, which struck him in the chest. When he was lying on the ground, Khandoba put his foot on his head. Therefore, all his sins were washed away, and he asked for forgiveness to the god.
After the death of Malla, his five sons attacked Lord Shiva, but Lord Shiva ignored them because they were sons of Malla. But they continued to attack him. Therefore, he cursed them to be mountains.
After this, the sages requested Lord Shiva to stay at that place permanently in the form of a Shiva lingam. Malhari accepted their request and stayed at Jejuri in the form of a Swayambhu Shiva lingam.
There is no mention of Mhalsa and Banai in Malhari Mahatmya.
Malhari Mahatmya:
The original source of the stories about Khandoba is Malhari Mahatmya, written by Siddhpal Kesari in 1585. The original Sanskrit Mahatmya was composed by a Deshastha Brahmin whose family deity was Khandoba.
Legends:
There are many popular legends in Maharashtra about Khandoba. The story mentioned above is also mentioned in legends with slight modifications and additions.
When Mani was dying, he offered a white horse to Khandoba as an act of repentance and asked for a boon. He asked Lord Shiva that he be present in every shrine of Khandoba and that he be given an offering of goat flesh. Therefore, there is an idol of Mani outside the Khandoba temple in Jejuri.
Malla asked for a boon of the destruction of the world and human flesh to Martanda Bhairava. Khandoba got angry at his request and chopped his head off. It is believed that his head is fitted in the stairs and is trampled by devotees.
Per the legends, Khandoba had two wives, named Mhalsa and Banai. Mhalsa was his first wife, who was an incarnation of Goddess Parvati. She participated in the war and helped Martand Bhairava kill demons.
Wives of Khandoba:
Mhalsa:
She was the daughter of a merchant named Timarsheth and belonged to the Vani community. Once Khandoba appeared in the dream of Timarsheth and ordered him to marry Mhalsa to him. Their marriage took place on Pausha Pournima. Therefore, an annual festival is celebrated in Pali temple to celebrate this event.
Once Khandoba and Mhalsa were playing a game named Saripat, in which he deliberately lost to Mhalsa. Therefore, Mhalsa got angry and banished him for 12 years from the kingdom (Per another version, Malhari accepted a self-exile.).
Banai:
Banai was the daughter of Indra. (Per some stories, she was a servant of Goddess Parvati). She was abandoned by Indra. A shepherd found her and brought her up as his daughter. In his exile, Khandoba assumed the form of an old shepherd and started serving Banai’s father.
One day, Banai’s father told him to wash all sheep. Khandoba took all sheep to a river, killed them, and spread their skins on the bank of a river. When Banai and her father saw it, they were shocked because, for a shepherd, their sheep are everything they have. Khandoba promised him to bring back all sheep to life if he promised to marry his daughter to him. With some hesitation, the shepherd agreed. Then Khandoba brought all sheep back to life and married Banai. It is believed that at Naldurg, Khandoba revealed his real form to Banai.
Other Wives:
Per some stories, Khandoba had five wives. Ramabai Shimpin was his third wife who was from the Shimpi (tailor) community. She is worshipped as a goddess whom Khandoba visits after his hunts. Phulai Malin was his fourth wife, who was from the gardening community. The fifth wife was Khandai Bhagavin from the Teli caste. Muslims believe that she was from the Muslim community.
Hegadi Pradhan:
Hegadi Pradhan was an incarnation of Lord Vishnu whom Martanda Bhairava appointed as his prime minister at the time of the war. He helped Goddess Mhalsa to administer the kingdom in the absence of Khandoba. His temple is in the midway of the staircase to Jejuri Fort. It is believed that one must pray to Hegadi Pradhan before praying to Martanda Bhairava.
Why are there Two Temples of Khandoba in Jejuri?
When Khandoba and Banai reached Jejuri, Mhalsa denied them entry into the fort as she was very upset because of his second marriage. Therefore, Khandoba gave the upper half of the hill to Mhalsa and the lower half to Banai. Therefore, there are two temples of Khandoba in Jejuri; one is the main temple, and the second one is called the Kadepathar temple.
Vaghya-Murali:
Many couples who do not have children or if their child does not live longer make a vow to Khandoba that they would offer their first child to him. If the child is a male, he is called Vaghya, and if a female, she is called Murali. Vaghya and Murali spend their lives serving Martand Bhairava.
Jagran-Gondhal:
It is a ritual performed in the honor of Khandoba after marriage and on other occasions by families whose family deity is Khandoba. Vaghya and Murali dance and sing all night praising Malhari and telling his stories. Jagran-Gondhal is also considered a folk art of Maharashtra.
Khandoba Temples:
1. Khandoba Temple, Jejuri:
There are many temples of Khandoba across Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka, but the temple in Jejuri is considered his main temple. Thousands of devotees visit the temple each year. It is one of the most popular Hindu temples in Maharashtra.
The temple is located on a hill and has 472 steps. The temple looks like a hill fort and is called Jejuri Garh. It has an idol of Khandoba and his wives inside it. There are some small temples of other deities around the main temple. There is an idol of the Mani demon in front of the temple.
2. Kadepathar Temple:
This temple is also located in Jejuri and is a few kilometers away from the main temple. This place is believed to be the original place of Khandoba’s incarnation.
3. Khandoba Temple, Pali:
It is another popular temple of Khandoba in Maharashtra. It is located in the Satara district. This temple is about 1000 years old.
4. Khandoba Mandir, Mangsuli, Karnataka.
5. Khandoba Temple, Naldurg, Osmanabad.
Famous Khandoba Temples in Maharashtra:
1. Jejuri.
2. Pali.
3. Satare.
4. Nimgaon.
5. Shegud.
6. Naldurga.
7. Andur.
8. Malegaon.
9. Chandanpuri.
10. Nevasa.
11. Malawadi.
12. Beed.
13. Dhamadi.
14. Rewadi.
Popular Slogans:
1. Yelkot Yelkot Jai Malhar.
2. Malhari Martand, Jai Malhar.
3. Sadanandacha Yelkot.
The Miracle of Khandoba:
When Aurangzeb invaded Maharashtra, he desecrated many Hindu temples. He wanted to destroy Jejuri Temple also, but when he tried to do so, thousands of bumblebees attacked his army. The Mughal army had to run away to save their lives.
Aurangzeb consulted a temple priest who advised him to beg for mercy from Khandoba and offer a golden statue of a bumblebee at the feet of the Lord. But Aurangzeb was a staunch Muslim, so he changed the name of Khandoba to Mallu Khan and then did what the priest had advised him to do. Immediately after, the bee attack stopped.
Read the full article: When Lord Khandoba Made Aurangzeb Flee For His Life.
Muslim Devotees of Khandoba:
Khandoba has many Muslim devotees also. They call him Mallu or Ajmat Khan. They claim that Khandoba was a Muslim. A Muslim family looks after the horses of god in Jejuri.
Books:
1. Malhari Mahatmya.
2. Martand Vijay.
3. Jayadri Mahatmya.