In India’s social fabric, most families owe allegiance to the presiding deity of the particular village from where the family or ancestors originated. In present times when many people have shifted to urban areas, it is difficult to keep this bond alive on a day-to-day basis, so they visit the local temple.
Many make a point to visit their native place at least once a year, most likely the day when the deity’s annual utsav is held. Utsav is akin to a fair or a congregation celebrating the continuity of life due to the blessings of the deity generally held close to the temple. In our family the presiding deity is Vinzai Devi, located in the village of Tamhini close to Pune. Vinzai Devi, basically Durga Devi, originates in the Vindhiyachal Mountains of Uttar Pradesh. Her utsav falls in the Indian calendar month of Chaitra (April) on poornima (Full Moon day), and the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti (birthday). Traditionally, the utsav a two-day function.
Vinzai devi is Durga devi. Thus the slain animal which she has at her feet is a buffalo, the buffalo form has been taken by the devil ‘Mahisasur’. The battle is described in the Devi Mahatmaya. The Devi’s mantra is “Aum Aiem Hirim Kleem Chamundaye Vichaye,: This mantra is also the mantra for Durga Devi.
This mantra is made up of four fundamental building block (bij or seed) mantra as:-
Aum:
Supreme word/ sound; Scientifically it is called Brownian motion, discovered in 1827 by the English botanist Robert Brown. The first mathematical theory of Brownian motion was developed by Einstein in 1905. For this work was also awarded the Nobel prize.
Aiem:
This is the Saraswati mantra and is used to remove ignorance with knowledge.
Hirim:
This is the Bhuvaneshwari mantra and is used to develop Concentration of the mind.
Kleem:
This is the Kali mantra and is used to remove anger and greed.
Chamunda :
Is one of the names of Durga Devi.
There is a temple dedicated to Vinzai Devi in the village Tamhini near Mulshi in Pune District. The temple complex consists of three buildings. The main temple has five pinnacles as its dome. The center dome is the tallest with the other four by its side. This east-facing building has a large hall and houses Vinzai Devi, MahaSaraswati Devi, MahaLakshmi Devi, Waghzai Devi, Shirkai Devi, and Kamlaja Devi. Opposite to this building are two smaller buildings. One, facing west, houses Lord Khandoba, Kalika Mata, and Lord Bhairav (as pictured below, in that order). The smaller building next to it, facing north, houses Lord Hanuman.
The temple, surrounded by hills on all sides is located in a valley close to the south west end of the beautiful Mulshi Lake. There is a small brook which flows near the temple during the rainy season (June to September). The Village of Tamhini is located north of the temple. The temple also has a small office and some rooms for people to stay. A temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and Lord Ganesh is planned. If and when this happens, this place would be recognized as a Shakti sthal.