Bhagwati Devi Temple, Munge (Munage), Devgad, Sindhudurg, Maharashtra, India
Shri Devi Bhagwati Temple of Munge (Munage) in Devgad taluka is one of the most prominent temples in the district of Sindhudurg, Maharashtra, India.
A temple dedicated to Shri Bhagwati Devi is situated 20 km from Devgad in Munge (Munage), a village on the Devgad-Malvan border. Devi's temple stands in the midst of the village, just adjacent to the road. The idol of Bhagwati Devi was erected around 500 years ago. According to the inhabitants, the village was given the name Munge (Munage) simply because sages resided there at the time.
Shri Bhagwati Devi, the incarnation of Adimaya and the centre of the villagers' eternal faith, is the presiding deity of the village. The Goddess's west-facing idol, in the form of Mahishasurmardini, is four feet tall and elegantly sculpted in black stone.
A silver leaf carved arch is engraved on the side of the idol. The goddess is standing on Mahishasura, cradling a sword in one hand, a trident in the other, a shield in the third, and a conch shell in the fourth.
The Goddess performs Somasutri circumambulation due to Gomukh and Shivsthan on the north side of the temple. Devi's palanquin is carried in the same manner. The temple's whole structure is Hemadpanthi. The temple is large and split into four sections. In the second section of the temple, Aarti and Puranas are performed. In the third section, a palanquin is placed. Dance, Gondhal, Kirtan - Pravachan, and other programmes are held in the fourth section.
Perennial water flows from the gomukha beside the temple. Within the temple premises are temples dedicated to Shri Devi Anbhavani, Shri Devi Pavani, Shri Dev Chitakyacha Chala, Dev Gango, and Devi Bhavay. The Dev Mahapurusha shrine is located behind the temple.
The yearly pilgrimage is the goddess's most important celebration. It begins on Paush Pournima and lasts five days. In Devi Bhagwati Temple, festivals like as Navratri, Dasara, Tripurari Pournima, Shimga Festival, Ganesh Festival, Devdeepavali, and others are celebrated.
