Khandoba is a much-married god with wives from many communities, who serve as cul tural links to the communities. His first wife Mhalsa is from the Lingavat merchant caste; his second wife Banai is a Dhangar (shepherd caste); the third wife Rambhai is from Terror caste; fourth wife Phulai is a gardender and fifth caste Candai is a Muslim or described as a Telin (oil presser caste).
The Malhari Mahatmya also gives an account of the two wives of Khandoba, Mhalsa and Banai.
Mhalsa is believed to be a combined avatara of Mohini and Parvati. Mhalsa was born as the daughter of a rich merchant in Newase called Timshet. On the dinine orders of Khandoba in a dream to Timshet, she was married to Khandoba on Pausha Pournima(the full moon day of Hindu calender month of Paush) in Pali(Pembar). Two shivlingas appeared on this occasion. An annual festival marking this event is celebrated in Pali every Paush Pournima.
Banai is believed to the daughter of Indra, the king of the gods. Banai was found by Dhangar shepherd, when she was abandoned on earth by an angry Indra. When Banai grew up, it was predicted that she would get her match at Jejuri. There, she felt in love with God Khandoba. Khandoba also felt in her love. Khandoba accepted a self-exile for 12 years by intentionally losing a game of chess(Saripat) to his wife Mhalsa. He took disguise of shepherd and started serving Banai's father. One day, Khandoba killed all the sheep and goats of Banai' father and promised to make them alive again if he was married to Banai. The reluctant Banai was married to Khandoba, the shepherd in disguise at Naldurg. Khandoba revealed his real form to Banai on their way back to Jejuri.
On reaching Jejuri, Khandoba was greeted by Mhalsa's fury and her strong protest of his second marriage. To avoid the quarrels of his wives, Khandoba gave the upper half of the hill to Mhalsa and the lower half to Banai. The idol of Mhalsa is placed with Khandoba in the main shrine at top of the hill at Jejuri. A separate shrine to Banai is situated halfway down the hill.
Story of the birth of Hridrachurna (Turmeric powder) alias Bhandara :
The Yognidra (Yoga sleep or Devine sleep) of God Vishnu left him because of fear of demon Mani and Malla and hide herself in a rock in Patala. To search her gods 1) Vishnu, 2) Shankar and 3) Bhramha took the disguise appearance (Rupa) as trees as follows 1) Pimple, 2) Wad (Ficus bengalensis ), and 3) Palas (Butea Monosperma) and began to meditate (Tapa). They meditated the Tripur mantra for one hundred thousand times, and an incident was happened. A terrible sound happened underneath the seat of god Vishnu and he ran because off fear. He told Bhramha that the sound was happened. God Bhramha went to seat of God Vishnu and he saw a yellow germ. When god Bhramha saw the germ, he told the story to god Shankar. When god Shankar saw the germ he told to worship it or make Puja with sixteen rituals (Sanskara) along with Shreesukta mantra and when prayer, the goddess Tripuradevi will be pleased. After a long prayer goddess Tripuradevi said from beneath the rock, “Break the rock and extract the knot from bottom. Wash the knot with pure water and worship it with goddess Tripuradevi’s mantra and 108 times in the name of Martandbhairava, and make powder it and use to body. After then meditate (Japa) my name for 100 thousand times, so the enemies will destroy.” After then god Bhramha asked the goddess for her name, she answered “god Vishnu who destroyed the time (Kal) I made him ran, so my name is Hridra.” (Haridra-Haris – she who make run) Nowadays it is called as turmeric. |
