Kalaram Temple

Recently, Prime Minister of India took part in cleaning the Kalaram temple premises under the ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ campaign.

• Built in – 1792, with the efforts of one Sardar Rangarao Odhekar.
• Name – It derives its name from a black statue of the Lord Kala Ram translates literally to “Black Ram.”
• Location – On the banks of the River Godavari in the Panchavati area of the Nashik in Maharashtra.

Panchavati, whose comes from the existence of 5 banyan trees in the area. It was a part of Dandakaranya (dense forest in central India). According to Ramayanam, Lord Ram, Sita, and Lakshman set up a hut here as the presence of 5 banyan trees made this region auspicious.

• Features – It has 14 steps, which represent the 14 years of Ram’s exile and has 84 pillars, which represents the cycle of 84 lakh species that one must complete to be born as a human.
• Sanctum sanctorum – Statues of Ram, Sita, and Lakshman, and a black idol of Hanuman at the main entrance.
• Historical importance – It is also the site of a landmark agitation led by Babasaheb Ambedkar demanding temple entry rights for Dalits more than 90 years ago.

Bhavarth Ramayana, written in Marathi, by Sant Eknath.

Nashik Satyagraha in 1930

• Lead by – B R Ambedkar along with the Marathi teacher and social activist Pandurang Sadashiv Sane, known as Sane Guruji.
• Aim – To demand access for Dalits to Hindu temples.
• Events – On March 2, 1930, Ambedkar organised a large protest outside the Kalaram temple with many dalit protesters.
• Over the next few days, they sang songs, raised slogans, and demanded the right to enter the temple.
• Sane Guruji too, travelled all over Maharashtra to campaign for Dalit rights, and led a protest fast at the Vitthal Temple.
• This continued until 1935.

In 1927, Ambedkar had launched Mahad or Chavdar Tale satyagraha to assert the rights of Dalits to use the water in public places.