THE UNFOLDING STORIES
OF
VITTHAL (GHUI) TEMPLE
MAHAL,NAGPUR
Published By:
Nagar Yuwak Shikshan Sanstha THE UNFOLDING STORIES
Atrey Layout, Pratap Nagar, Nagpur
www.mginagpur.com OF
© Applied, 2017 Heritage Documentation Cell, SDMCA, Nagpur
VITTHAL (GHUI) TEMPLE,
Chapters Authored by :
MAHAL, NAGPUR
Dr.Sheeba Valsson
Ar.Apoorva Dandge
Ar.Megha Panchariya By
Ar.Madhura Fadnavis
Dr.Sheeba Valsson
Ar.Apoorva Dandge
Ar.Megha Panchariya
Ar.Madhura Fadnavis
FOREWORD
Dr. Shekhar Bhole
Heritage Documentation Cell
Shri Datta Meghe College of Architecture,
Nagpur
MEGHE GROUP OF INSTITUTIONS Dr. Sheeba Valsson
Principal
Meghe Group of Institutions (MGI) has a long history of (Shri Datta Meghe College of Architecture) Ar. Apoorva Dandge
excellence in all genre of education. This Constitution of
institute was formed with single minded purpose of developing She is presently working as an Assistant Professor at Shri Datta
Meghe College of Architecture, Nagpur. She has completed her Masters
a network of educational institutes for providing quality
in Architectural Conservation from School of Planning and Architecture,
education in various disciplines of study in Vidarbha, a Bhopal and completed her Bachelors of Architecture from Shrimati
relatively developed region in our country. Institutes under the Manoramabai Mundle College of Architecture, Nagpur.
MGI have exceeded the scope of their vision and become the
yardstick for other institutions to match up to. This strength has
been developed from outstanding students, dedicated faculty,
supporting and genuine commitment to students and strong
desire to contribute to the nation.
The fundamentals of academic brilliance, cultural
activities, sporting excellence and spiritual evolution in Ar. Megha Panchariya
students are simultaneously progressing under the guidance of Dr. Sheeba Valsson is Principal at Shri
entrusted facilitators and excellent infrastructure. Datta Meghe College of Architecture, Nagpur. She is presently working as an Assistant Professor at Shri Datta
She did her B.Arch as well as M.Tech (Urban Meghe College of Architecture, Nagpur. She has completed her Masters
MGI has drawn on the essence of tradition and Development ) from Department of in Architecture Education from Shrimati Manoramabai Mundle College of
Architecture, Nagpur and completed her Bachelors of Architecture from
sophistication of modernization to yield professionals that will Architecture and Planning, Maulana Azad Bapurao Deshmukh College of Architecture, Sewagram, Wardha.
make India proud. National Institute of Technology (MANIT)
Bhopal ( Formerly known as MACT Bhopal)
SDMCA She was Awarded PhD by Maulana Azad
National Institute of Technology (MANIT)
Shri Datta Meghe College of Architecture has commenced its
Bhopal in February 2012, under the faculty of
academic journey from 2015-16. The future streak of Institution
Architecture and Planning. The Topic of
lies in making a premier class college wherein each one would
research was “Assessment of Microclimate
feel proud of being associated with SDMCA. The competitive Ar. Madhura Fadnavis
Variation in Context to Urban Development”.
scenario of today`s world demands a disciplined value based
educational system and apart from subject knowledge they She is presently working as an Assistant Professor at Shri Datta
She was Conferred with “Best Teacher Meghe College Of Architecture, Nagpur. She has completed her Masters
must be responsible professional and citizens. The Teacher
Award- 2011” in the field of Architectural in Architecture Education from Shrimati Manoramabai Mundle College of
Student interaction is the core and most prolific relationship,
Technology, by Maharashtra Association of Architecture, Nagpur and completed her Bachelors of Architecture from
which would be nurtured throughout the academic span of a
Schools of Architecture- MASA. Her Teaching Priyadarshani College of Architecture, Nagpur.
student. Apart from curriculum it is necessary to be well
career spans more than 20 years and it majorly
acquainted with the current technological advancements and
focuses on innovations in the field of
to acquaint with the latest development, the college and its
Teaching Design and Climate Responsive
faculty will strive hard to make every effort to have a logical
Architecture..
accomplishment.
CREDITS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We acknowledge with deep gratitude the guidance, caring support and encouragement received from
- Authors -
Chairman NYSS Hon'ble Shri Dattaji Meghe, Shri Sagar Meghe, Secretary, NYSS, Shri Sameer Meghe,
Dr. Sheeba Valsson
Treasurer, NYSS and Dr. Shekhar Bhole, CEO, MGI. Their continuous support helped us to present the
Ar. Apoorva Dandge
whole study in the form of a book.
Ar. Megha Panchariya
Ar. Madhura Fadnavis In addition we would like to acknowledge the contribution of Mr.Shrikant Ghui, the owner and
caretaker of the Vitthal Rukmini (Ghui Temple ). A positive dialogue with him helped in shaping the book. We
- Cover page Design - are very much grateful to him for sharing his living experience and his knowledge about the history and
Mr. Vinod Raut existence of the temple. We are equally thankful to Ar. Pradyumna Sahasrabhojanee for guiding us about the
heritage documentation strategies and making us understand the importance of documenting our own city
- Sketches & Photographs - heritage structures.
Mr. Vinod Raut We are thankful to Dr. Bhalchandra R. Andhare for sharing his book “Senadhurander Madhuji
Bhosale” which helped us in understanding history of the Nagpur .
- Documentation Team -
This book is based on research conducted by the students and faculty of SDMCA. Students of SDMCA
Abhishek Gurve
have shown their keen interest in documentation and sketching of this temple.
Zia Aftab
We wish to thank Ar. Ashwini Deo and Ar. Parikshit Mudholkar for their contribution in designing this
Vishal Tripathi
book and also SDMCA staff for their co-operation. We would also thank our colleagues, friends and family for
Aman Soni
their support in this journey of research, documentation and publication.
Pratiksha Wadekar
Kritika Budhwani
Tejaswini Barde
Prachi Gandhi
Kalyani Rathod
Vedant Shripad
FOREWORD
The growth of the mankind was possible due to their intellect and through the
pursuits to know more and more about the nature around them. Man started to use
the natural habitat and later on learnt how to build one himself. The agricultural
revolutions led to accumulation of people at sites along the rivers or other water
bodies. As the wealth grew, the man found newer ways of creating shelter and
other structures to improve the quality of life. Man perfected the technology to
build all season households as well other engineering structures which will sustain
the growth of pockets of persons with common intentions. The theology emerged
as a natural extension of better quality life. Man started building structures with engineering knowledge
maintaining harmony with nature. These structures stood the test of times and vagaries of natural
elements for various centuries. In recent times, these structures have to defend themselves against
manmade problems like pollution and vibrations due to human activities in their close proximity.
The heritage structures, therefore, tell the stories of how well the engineering was adopted by the then
engineers. Unfortunately, they generally do not have documented details about their structure and layout.
This leads to problems in their maintenance and also in their studies. Further, natural and anthropogenic
agents cause damage of these structures thus jeopardizing their very existence. Proper documentation of
these structures provides a way for archiving their data for future so as to use the same in their
maintenance, reconstruction, dissemination for tourism and academic purposes.
SDMCA, the youngest institution under Meghe Group has started earnestly in the right direction by
creating a document for Ghui Temple of Nagpur. The documentation is a great story which will guide future
generation about the structural and architectural marvel created by our forefathers.
The team of faculty and students of SDMCA need to be congratulated for their untiring efforts to collate the
information from various sources and presenting it in such beautiful form.
Dr. Shekhar Bhole
Chief Executive Officer,
Meghe Group of Institutions, Nagpur
Photo Credit- Aman Soni
CONTENTS
Preface
Foreword
Chapter 1 - Brief History of Nagpur
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Historical Background
1.3 Timeline
1.4 Heritage of Nagpur
Chapters 2 - Temples of Nagpur
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Brief history of Temples of Nagpur
2.3 Materials and Construction
2.4 Nagpur city Temples
2.4.1 Rukmini Temple Complex, Mahal, Nagpur
2.4.2 Shiva Temple Near Shukravari Lake, Nagpur
2.4.3. Kalyaneshwar Temple, Telankhedi, Nagpur
Chapter 3 - Vitthal Ghui Temple
3.1 Heritage documentation cell.
3.2 Methodology
3.3 Introduction
3.4 Location
3.5 Heritage Walk of Mahal
3.6 History of Vitthal Temple
3.7 Iconography
3.8 Rituals and Festivals
3.9 Architectural Documentation
3.10 Architectural Elements
3.11 Construction Technology and Materials
Conclusion
Bibliography
Sketch By Mr. Vinod Raut
Glossary
PREFACE
This book is a cumulative expression of the studies undertaken by SDMCA staff and students on
understanding heritage structures and temples of Nagpur city. Nagpur city is very rich in Heritage
structures and this study was a first step towards understanding heritage structures and the methods and
techniques of documenting the structures.
The book consists of chapters on Brief History of Nagpur City, which includes historical background,
timeline and Heritage structures of Nagpur City. The second Chapter – Temples of Nagpur City includes
brief description of various temples of Nagpur City which are a part of heritage of Nagpur City. The third
Chapter on Vitthal Ghui Temple includes details of the temple, its history, the rituals,festivals , Architectural
elements and construction technology. All these are well explained through measured drawings ,
Photographs and sketches. The illustrations have been carefully prepared by the documentation team with
a view to elucidating the text, rather than for pictorial effect.
This book is useful not only for the students of Architecture, Academicians and Architects but this
would also be of interest to the more curious lay readers and visitors. Highly illustrated by sketches and
photographs, this book enables the reader to experience architecture and the built environment by
understanding more about the form, construction, meaning and history of the temple.
This book became possible because of the support and experiences shared by Mr. Shikant Ghui,
the owner and caretaker of the Vitthal Ghui Temple. His Knowledge of the history of the temple is
formidable. The Book ‘Senadhurandher Madhuji Bhosale’ of Dr. B.R. Andhare gave a great insight on
history of Nagpur city and the inputs by Ar. Pradyumna Sahasrabhojanee on heritage structures and
documentation were of great help in the journey of preparing this document. And, the journeys do not end
here. This has given us great experiences and ideas and we hope to pursue this work and come out with
more publications.
Dr. Sheeba Valsson
Carving Detail - Vitthal (Ghui) Temple
Principal,SDMCA
Photo Credit - Kritika Budhwani
Figure: 38-Ramtek Temple Complex, Nagpur
Photo Credit- Megha Panchariya
Figure:62-Mandapa of Vitthal(Ghui) Temple
Photo Credit - Megha Panchariya
Figure:85 - Mandapa of Vitthal (Ghui) Temple, Mahal,Nagpur
Photo Credit - Aman Soni
Figure:119-Vitthal(Ghui) Temple, Mahal
Photo Credit- Vinod Raut
