Audumbar kshetra
is known for the shrine of Lord Dattatreya. It is said to have been
built in honour of NarasimhaSaraswati Swamy who was a great saint and who is believed
as the second incarnation of Dattatreya. His greatness has been extolled in Sri
Guru Charitra written by Gangadhar
Saraswathi. All the devotees of Lord Dattatreya treat Sri Datta Kshetra
Audumber with similar respect as that of other places of Lord Dattatreya like
Ganagapur and Narsoba Wadi.
This is a glory of place where people are blessed
by knowledge and are freed from their troubles. This place is overgrown with
audumbar trees.
The outer mantapa is of very recent construction.
The shrine is situated at a lovely spot on the banks of the Krishna. Devotees
can have darshan of Nijaroopa darshan of swamy padukas in the
mandir in morning hours. Rudrabhisheka will be performed to padukas at
about 7 to 8 a.m. and the padukas will be covered with alankara after
abhisheka.
Story
As per vision from Lord Dattatreya to Sage
Bramhanand of Girnar, he discovered and renowned this divine holy place
Audumber where Datta Avatar Nrusinha Saraswati performed Chaturmas Anushtana
(Four holy months). The identity of Nrusimha Saraswathi having been known,
thousands of people began to flock to the place for darsan. At the end of Chaturmasa,
when the sage prepared to leave, the people requested him to stay.
Accomodation
The building Bhakta Nivas near the Temple provides
accommodation to piligrims.
As the Audumbar place is very small village, many
devotees are staying at Sangli city which is one hour journey to Audumbar
kshetra.
AC and Non AC deluxe lodges and many hotels are
also available at Sangli to have best stay.
A splendid ghat has been constructed on the river by the temple-side so that they can take a dip in the holy waters of the river Krishna.
For the convenience of the piligrims to visit the other bank of the river a small boat is also available which is called avadhoota nauka.
Maa Bhuvaneswari devi Temple is situated on the
other bank of Krishna river where a poor Brahmin boy was blessed. The story
goes as follows:
History
Narasimha was born to a poor Brahman couple, Madhava and Amba, in about 1304. Even After his thread ceremony he could not recite any of his lessons and so faced a lot of insult from his elders and teachers. So he left his home and came to Audumbar on the bank of the Krishna and prayed Maa Bhuvaneswari for three days and nights without taking any food. But the goddess remained unmoved by his severe penance upon which he cut off his tongue and laid it at her feet. Taking pity the goddess advised him to go to Audumbar and pray Narsimha Saraswathy swamy. The boy taking the command and went to Sri guru and falling at his feet. He received the blessings of the Swamy and became a scholar.