By Makarand Joshi, Naturalist, Journalist & Travel Consultant
The Shilahar rulers called themselves ‘Konkan Nripati’—the kings of Konkan. Their capital was Shristhanak, which is today’s Thane. The ancient history of this city is now known only through copper plates and stone inscriptions. Unfortunately, not a single monument from that period has survived. According to Thane’s history, the Shilahars ruled here from the 9th century until the end of the 12th century. They were not originally from Konkan; their native place was Ter (Tagar) in today’s Osmanabad district. In the beginning, they were subordinates to the Rashtrakutas dynasty.
Towards the end of the 10th century, the Rashtrakuta dynasty came to an end, and the Shilahars began to rule North Konkan independently. Emperor Aparajita of the Shilahars made Shristhanak, that is, Thane, his capital.
The Shilahar kings were deeply religious and devoted to Lord Shiva. Copper plates of that time mention donations made to different temples. Records also show that during their rule, several temples were built on the banks of the Masunda Lake in Thane. Today, none of those temples exist, but many idols from that era have been discovered in different parts of the city.
The rule of the Shilahars was brought to an end by the Yadavas of Devagiri, who then established their power over North Konkan, including Shristhanak (Thane). Later, with the invasions of the Khilji, the Yadava kingdom also collapsed. After this, the Bimb dynasty took control of North Konkan. In the royal seal of King Keshavdev from this dynasty, there is a mention that he “ruled from Thane.”
During the Bimb rule, the temples built earlier by the Shilahars remained intact, and the Bimb rulers themselves constructed new temples. The grandeur of Thane’s temples, however, was destroyed under Portuguese rule. After establishing their power in Thane in the 16th century, the Portuguese, as part of their own religion spreading policy, demolished almost all the ancient temples in the city. The remains of these temples were used as foundations for their buildings, and the idols were either broken or thrown into lakes. In this destruction, all the temples along Masunda Lake were wiped out.
The hash Portuguese rule became unbearable, and the Naiks of Anjur sought help from Peshwa Bajirao I. In 1737, Chimaji Appa, with the support of the Anjurkar Naiks, attacked Thane and captured it, forcing the Portuguese to flee.
While restoring order in Thane, a grand Shiva-ling was found submerged in Masunda Lake. This was the Shri Kopineshwar Shiva-ling of the Bimb dynasty. The Portuguese had demolished the temple but were unable to break the Shiva-ling, so they had submerged it in the lake. In 1760, Ramaji Mahadev Bivalkar, the Subhedar under the Peshwas, rebuilt the temple of Shri Kopineshwar. Once again, Thane’s presiding deity was reinstated with honor in the temple.
The present-day Kopineshwar temple is the same one built in that era. The temple constructed by Subhedar Bivalkar was made entirely of stone. The main Shiva-ling in the temple of Shri Kopineshwar is 4 feet 3 inches in height and has a circumference of 12 feet. Even today, it is regarded as the grandest Shiva-ling in Maharashtra. A magnificent Nandi, appropriate to the Shiva-ling, is placed in front of it.
Within the courtyard of the Kopineshwar temple, there are also shrines dedicated to Shitaladevi, Shri Dattaguru, Kalika Mata, Hanuman, and Shri Ram. In this courtyard, one can still see a mark from the Peshwa period. Bubaji Naik, one of the Naik brothers from Anjur, was appointed as the Kotwal (chief of security) of Thane city. When he passed away in 1746, his wife went sati, and her memorial (Vrindavan) can still be seen in the temple courtyard.
Outside the Shri Datt temple here, there are two lamp towers (Deepmalas). According to the inscription on them, they were erected in 1895. Between these lamp towers stands a small yet unique shrine—the temple of Kamadhenu. Inside this temple, idols of Kamadhenu, Kalpa vriksha, and Sage Vasishtha are installed.
The first renovation of the modern Kopineshwar temple took place in 1897. For this purpose, the people of Thane collected a fund of eight thousand rupees through public contributions. The history of this temple records visits by many renowned and respected personalities to this revered shrine.
In the pre-independence era, in 1917, a large gathering of cow protection activists (Gobhakts) was held in the courtyard of this temple, and it is noted that Mahatma Gandhi himself was present on the occasion.
The very first public yoga class in Thane city also began in the courtyard of Kopineshwar temple. Yogacharya K. B. Sahasrabuddhe started this yoga class here in 1973. Even today, the lectures and kirtans held at the temple during the Chaturmas season remain a major attraction for the citizens of Thane. From Shri Ram Janmotsav to Shri Datt Jayanti, various religious festivals are celebrated here with great enthusiasm and grandeur.
On certain Mondays in the month of Shravan, Shri Kopineshwar is decorated with ice, and at that time, people of all ages from across Thane gather to witness it. In 1977, the Kopineshwar Temple Trust started a large library called Jnanakendra, containing informative books on spirituality, religion, and philosophy, benefiting not only the people of Thane but also researchers from outside the city.
Today, the name of Shri Kopineshwar temple is also linked with the grand New Year’s Welcome Procession held annually in Thane, which always begins from the temple itself. For over a thousand years, this ancient Shiva temple has stood tall, adding a divine sanctity to the cultural traditions of Thane city.
Makarand Joshi
Translation from original article in Marathi
References –
Shristhanakache Shilahara – Dr. Rupali Mokashi
Ase Ghadale Thane – Dr. Daud Dalvi
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