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Renuka Devi Temple, Mahur
Maa Renuka (Jagdamba) • Mahur, Nanded, Maharashtra
॥ ॐ दुं दुर्गायै नमः ॥
Renuka Devi Temple on Mahurgad hill at Mahur in the Nanded district of Maharashtra honours the goddess Renuka, also called Jagdamba, who is venerated as the mother of Parashurama. The shrine is one of the three-and-a-half Shakti Peethas of Maharashtra, and the deity is approached as a large stone face. The same hill carries the Datta Shikhar with its Dattatreya birthplace tradition, along with the Anusuya and Kalika shrines, drawing pilgrims to a cluster of sacred sites.
One of Maharashtra’s Shakti Peethas
Maharashtra holds a set of three-and-a-half Shakti Peethas in its devotional reckoning, and Mahur is counted among them. The hill of Mahurgad is the seat of Renuka Devi, and her place in this group gives the shrine a special standing across the state.
Pilgrims who follow the circuit of these peethas treat Mahur as an essential stop. The goddess here is worshipped as a large stone face rather than a fully carved figure, in keeping with the form many peetha deities take.
Renuka, mother of Parashurama
Renuka is venerated as the mother of Parashurama, the warrior-sage avatar, and that relationship is central to her worship at Mahur. Her story binds the goddess to one of the most striking figures of the epics.
She is also called Jagdamba, the mother of the world, and is held as the kuldevi, the family goddess, of many Maharashtrian households. For these families a visit to Mahur is a return to their ancestral deity.
A hill of many shrines
Mahurgad is not a single shrine but a cluster of sacred sites spread across the hill. Alongside Renuka stands the Datta Shikhar, which carries a tradition of being a birthplace of Dattatreya, drawing devotees of that lineage.
The hill also holds the Anusuya and Kalika shrines, so a pilgrimage to Mahur often takes in several deities in one journey. This concentration of shrines is part of what gives the hill its pull.
- Renuka Devi, mother of Parashurama
- Datta Shikhar — a Dattatreya birthplace tradition
- Anusuya and Kalika shrines on the same hill
Festivals and visiting
Navaratri and Datta Jayanti are the main occasions at Mahur, the first centred on the goddess and the second on the Dattatreya tradition of the hill. On these days the shrines fill with pilgrims from across Maharashtra and beyond.
The hilltop setting means a visit involves some climbing, and many families plan their trip around the festival calendar or the cooler parts of the day. The town of Mahur lies in the Nanded district and is reached by road.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Renuka Devi worshipped as the mother of Parashurama?
In tradition Renuka is the mother of Parashurama, the warrior-sage avatar, and this relationship is central to her worship at Mahur. Her story binds the goddess to a major figure of the epics. She is also called Jagdamba, the mother of the world.
Is Mahur one of the Shakti Peethas of Maharashtra?
Yes. Mahur is counted among the three-and-a-half Shakti Peethas of Maharashtra in the state’s devotional reckoning. The hill of Mahurgad is the seat of Renuka Devi. Her place in this group gives the shrine special standing.
What other shrines are on Mahurgad hill?
Besides Renuka Devi, the hill holds the Datta Shikhar, which carries a Dattatreya birthplace tradition, along with the Anusuya and Kalika shrines. A pilgrimage to Mahur often takes in several deities in one journey. This cluster of shrines is part of the hill’s draw.
Whose kuldevi is Renuka Devi?
Renuka Devi is the kuldevi, or family goddess, of many Maharashtrian households. For these families a visit to Mahur is a return to their ancestral deity. She is venerated as Jagdamba, the mother of the world.
When are the main festivals at Mahur?
Navaratri and Datta Jayanti are the main occasions at Mahur, the first centred on the goddess and the second on the Dattatreya tradition. Dates follow the lunar calendar and shift each year. The shrines fill with pilgrims on these days.
Where is Renuka Devi Temple located?
Renuka Devi Temple stands on Mahurgad hill at Mahur in the Nanded district of Maharashtra. It is one of the three-and-a-half Shakti Peethas of the state. Mahur is reached by road, and the hilltop shrines involve some climbing.
॥ जय रेणुका माता ॥ • Bhaktiras.net Temple Guide
| Primary Deity | Maa Renuka (Jagdamba) |
| Tradition | Shakti Peetha (one of Maharashtra’s three-and-a-half) |
| Deity Form | Large stone face |
| Lineage | Mother of Parashurama |
| On the Hill | Datta Shikhar, Anusuya, Kalika shrines |
| Significance | Kuldevi of many Maharashtrian families |
| Main Festivals | Navaratri, Datta Jayanti |
| Location | Mahur, Nanded, Maharashtra |
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