Importance of Nashik’s Kalaram Temple

The first sanctuary committed to an obscure god was exceptionally old, assessed to be of the Rashtrakuta Time frame from seven to eleven hundred years. However, there is no evidence to support the Rama idol's alleged ancient age of more than 2,000 years. As per a tale, during the time of early Turkish attacks, the symbol of divinity was tossed in the Godavari Waterway by the Sanctuary Brahmins to save it. The new sanctuary was subsidized by one Sardar Rangarao Odhekar and was revamped around 1788. It is said that Odhekar once dreamed that the black Rama statue was in the Godavari River. He set out on an expedition to bring the idol back to life and miraculously got it. Odhekar took the sculpture from the stream and constructed the sanctuary. Odhekar's undertaking is a significant piece of Nashik's history.

There is a sculpture of Sardar Odhekar in the sanctuary. As per the old epic of the Ramayana, Rama was sent in banishment for quite some time. After the 10th year of exile, Rama alongside Lakshmana and Sita, lived for two and half years on the northern bank of the Godavari close to Nasik. This spot is known as Panchavati.

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B.R. Ambedkar's Satyagraha The temple was in the middle of the conflict that was brought on by the Satyagraha, which was organized and led by Ambedkar. Presently it is known as Kalaram Mandir Satyagraha. Ambedkar coordinated an enormous dissent outside this sanctuary on 2 Walk 1930, to go into the temple.

Numerous Dalit nonconformists showed up to the town by trucks, they encompassed the sanctuary and lounged around it. They sang tunes, frequently raised calls to arms, and requested to enter the sanctuary. Individuals of Nashik boycotted the dissidents. Upon the arrival of Rama Navami on 9 April 1930, the Dalit dissenters attempted to stop the sanctuary ratha yatra; battles and stone pelting in the middle among Hindus and Dalit nonconformists, later Ambedkar came to the mob spot, he and other dissidents experienced minor wounds. Some way or another a dissenter named Bhaskar Kendre broke the police cordon who were safeguarding the sanctuary and entered and fell on the floor. This satyagraha ran till 1935.