Historical Background of Naldurg Fort and the Khandoba Temple
King Nal built a fort called Ranamandal at Naldurg. Within this Naldurg fort stood the first temple of Shri Khandoba.
Later, Ibrahim Adil Shah demolished this temple and constructed the Upli Bastion at that site.
After this destruction, a new temple was built about two kilometers from Naldurg, on the banks of the Bori River. However, due to an incident involving the killing of a cow at this temple, it was shifted again and finally rebuilt at Andur, about four kilometers away.
Contributions of Maratha Rulers
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Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj donated 500 acres of land for the maintenance of the temple.
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Later, Ahilyabai Holkar constructed the Sabhamandap (assembly hall).
Because of these developments over time, the Andur temple appears to have been built in three distinct phases.
Dispute Over the Deity’s Idol and the Final Agreement
A dispute later arose between Naldurg and Andur regarding the possession of the deity’s idol.
As a resolution, a formal agreement was made:
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The idol stays in Andur for 10¼ months
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The idol stays in Naldurg for 1¾ months
This agreement is still strictly followed today.
The New Temple at Naldurg
The new temple at Naldurg was built on the banks of the Bori River, about 500 meters away from the old temple site.
Historical records mention that it was built by a devotee named Korpe.
Originally, this temple did not have a spire (shikhara). The present temple committee later constructed the spire and carried out beautification work.
Priesthood, Trust, and Lineage
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Both temples (Andur and Naldurg) share the same priests and the same trust.
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Sadanand and Honkals Mokashe were the original priests of Shri Khandoba. Their descendants continue the priestly duties today.
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Over time, branch surnames such as Dhepe, Dhobale, Yelkote, and Harale emerged from the Mokashe lineage.
Rotation of Priests
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In Andur, the priest changes daily, according to the lineage share system.
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In Naldurg, the same four priests serve continuously for 1¾ months.
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When the deity moves to Andur, the daily rotation system is followed there as well.
Presence of Shiva Linga
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When the idol is in Andur, only a Shiva Linga is visible in the Naldurg temple.
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When the idol is in Naldurg, only a Shiva Linga is present in the Andur temple.
Shri Khandoba is considered an incarnation of Lord Mahadev (Shiva), and therefore a Shiva Linga is visible beneath the idol.
Form of the Idol and Daily Worship
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The idol of Shri Khandoba itself is a Shiva Linga.
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It is coated with turmeric, facial features such as eyes and nose are shaped, and a silver crown is placed on it.
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Ritual worship is performed twice daily—morning and night.
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At night, the Shejarti (night prayer) is recited.
Musical and Interfaith Traditions
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During both worship ceremonies, a Nagara (traditional drum) is played.
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This honor belongs to a Muslim devotee, Yakub Sheikh.
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In earlier times, another Muslim devotee, Babu Pinjari, used to bring flowers to the temple daily.
This highlights the strong tradition of communal harmony associated with Shri Khandoba’s worship.
Festivals, Yatras, and Wrestling Traditions
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Andur and Naldurg have different traditional honor holders and separate Yatra Committees.
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During the Andur Yatra, a grand wrestling arena (Kushti Akhada) is organized.
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Wrestling competitions are also held after the Naldurg Yatra.
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When the deity resides in Naldurg, a weekly Yatra is held every Sunday, and a grand Mahayatra takes place on Paush Purnima.
Shri Khandoba and Banai: The Sacred Marriage Site
Shri Khandoba is an incarnation of Lord Mahadev, and there are eight major Khandoba pilgrimage centers in Maharashtra.
Among them, Andur–Mailarpur (Naldurg) is regarded as a very important spiritual center.
According to legend, Shri Khandoba manifested at Naldurg in response to the devotion of Queen Damayanti.
The marriage of Shri Khandoba and Banai took place at Naldurg (District Osmanabad), giving this place exceptional religious significance.
Unique Two-Temple, One-Idol Tradition
A rare and ancient tradition has continued for hundreds of years:
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Two temples
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One idol
The distance between Andur and Mailarpur (Naldurg) is about four kilometers.
Whenever the idol is transferred from one village to the other, a written agreement is formally executed between the traditional representatives of both villages—an extraordinary and unique practice.