Mehkar

Mehkar
City
Nickname(s): The Historical City, Heart of Maharashtra.
Mehkar Location in Maharashtra, India
Coordinates: 20°9′0″N 76°34′30″E / 20.15000°N 76.57500°E / 20.15000; 76.57500Coordinates: 20°9′0″N 76°34′30″E / 20.15000°N 76.57500°E / 20.15000; 76.57500
Country	India
State	Maharashtra
District	Buldhana
Area
• Total	200 km2 (80 sq mi)
Population (2016)
• Total	65,245
• Density	330/km2 (840/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Marathi
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	443301
Telephone code	(07268)
Vehicle registration	MH-28
Coastline	0
Nearest city	Chikhli,Washim,Khamgaon,Jalna
Sex ratio	92 ♂/♀
Literacy	89%%
Avg. summer temperature	45 °C (113 °F)
Avg. winter temperature	22 °C (72 °F)

Mehkar is a city and a municipal council in Buldhana district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It was previously known as 'Meghankar Nagari'.

Demographics

As of 2011 India census Mehkar had a population of 65,245 aless constitute 51.64% of the population and females 78.36%. Mehkar has an average literacy rate of 78%, higher than the national average of 62.5%: male literacy is 76%, and female literacy is 65%. In Mehkar, 18% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Haran Tekdi

Haran Tekdi is a great old temple. It is a myth that Lord Rama had caught hold of one Deer (Haran in local language), hence it is named as Haran Tekdi.

Shri Nrusiha Mandir

Prahlad varad Shri Laxmi Nrusiha Mandir is the emple of God Nrusiha situated at the bank of Painganga. It is oldest idol in city belongs to 4th century A.D. Pre Vakatak Period. This idol is founded by Shri Shyamraj Maharaj Pitale in 1479. According to dream, he got it in Malipeth area in underground two rooms. Sant Shri Balabhau Maharaj Pitale was a sant, devotee of Nrusiha. Now his disciple Ad. Rangnath Maharaj Pitale (Babasaheb) is maintains all traditions of this Mandir.

Shwasanand Saraswati at Sant Shri Balabhau Maharaj Pitale

Om Brahmi Shwasanand Saraswati Urf Sant Shri Balabhau Maharaj Pitale is the first saint of Varkari Sampradaya in Vidarbh borne at mehkar in 1888 A.D. He was Disciple of Aanandi Aatmanand Rangnath Maharaj, Navha (Di. Buldana). He formed Hans Sampradaya which is under Varkari Cult. Many miracles was happened by his biography. He started first Dindi for Pandharpur, Paithan, Mahur, Ghrushneshwar, Muktai Nagar from Mehkar. He worked for Jatibhed Nirmulan (demolishing of Cast system), equality, spread of love in society and upgradation of suppressed class like women and lower classes of society. In his life of 42 years he obeyed all four Aashramas and in the last he became Paramhans Parivrajkacharya 1008 Om Brahmee Shwasanand Saraswati. He took Sanjieevan Samadhee at Varanasi in 1930 A.D. At Mehkar he built Dnyanmandir as his Gurupeeth. Now Gurupeethdhish Ad. Rangnath Maharaj Pitale is keeping all Parampara.

Shree Sant Gajanan Maharaj and Senaji Maharaj Mandir (Nabhik)

It has a temple called "Shree Sant Gajanan Maharaj on Dongaon road and Senaji Maharaj" And "Vitthal Rukhmini" (Mola Road, Sena Nagar, Mehkar). It also has in its surrounding i.e. 12 km to its north a mosque of Awaliya Naba outside the precincts of a village named Mola and which is largely revered by Muslims as well as Hindus all around Mehkar.

Balaji Temple

There is a temple of the Hindu God Balaji that is more than 120 years old. The documents written on copper found with Balaji's sculpture are now in the British Museum, England. it is the largest sculpture of Lord Balaji in Asia.

This idol is made in a single black stone. There is a yearly celebration for Lord Balaji. Everyday visitors/tourists and the poor are provided with free food.

Kanchani mahal

Kanchani Mahal is an old building. It is a myth that Queen Kanchani was very egotistical and had a desire to see the Lamp of Devi (Lonar) from Mehkar. She built up this Mahal but when she went to the terrace of Mahal god curse her, she fell down and become a slab of stone. The aforesaid monument is currently in ruins due to lack of attention from the ASI. However, the story connected to KANCHANI MAHAL seems to be a myth. Looking at the ruins one could easily gauge that the bricks are of Mughalia shapes and the monument would have been constructed to house and camp a general (or Shahenshah) of Aurangazeb's stature during Great Shivaji's period in their campaign to crush the rising of the great Maratha warrior. The ASI will be the right authority to ascertain the truth if they take interest. N G Deshpande, one of the best poets of Maharashtra, write epic on Kanchan Mahal. Deshpande was a great poet of his time after that Kiran shivhar Dongardive is one of best writer poet from Mehkar he also write some poem of Kanchan Mahal but he is not believed in the story which indicate the concept of Lonar and Kamalja Mata Mandir.

Painganga River

Mehkar is on the banks of the Painganga River, another name of Paingnga river is 'Pranhita', which provides multiple recreational activities. On the bank of this river there is saoji galli, In it there is an old vitthal mandir rather first vitthal mandir in Mehkar, Idol of this Vitthal, got in hands of Kimbahune Anster in Vari, to Ananta Shastri, it was very religious place. P. P. Pralhadh Maharaj Reads Bhagwat many time. A religious story is also attached to Painganaga River that this river is formed by falling out of "PRANITA PATRAM" form lord Vishuns hand and has on location and story also mentioned in "PADMAPURAN". At the site of Olandeshwar tempel river Painganga changes its direction when the water level is low.

References

{Ekadash Nrusiha Aani Meghankar Mahatmya-by Ad.Rangnath Maharaj Pitale |Shwasanand Mauli -by Ad, Rangnath Maharaj Pitale |Datta Badshah- by Ad. Rangnath Maharaj Pitale |Southeast = Risod(Washim district) |South = Lonar |Southwest = Sindkhed RajaJalna Aurangabad |West = |Northwest = ChikhliBuldana }}