About Venue

Parbhani, one of the main cities of Marathwada region, is located centrally in the state of Maharashtra. It is well connected to major cities through rail and road. The nearby places of attraction include a variety of historical and spiritual destinations. Nearest is Nanded city which hosts the Hazur Sahib where Shri Guru Gobind Singhji left the earthly life. The Sachkhand Gurudwara is one most treasured pilgrim stations of Sikh brotherhood. Two major Jyotirlings viz. Aundha Nagnath towards Northeast and Parali Vaijnath towards South west from Parbhani are well within the reach. Aundha Nagnath (Nageshwaram) is the eighth of twelve Jyotirlingas in India. The present temple is said to have been built by the Seuna (Yadava) dynasty and dates back to 13 century while the first temple is believed to have been constructed by Yudhishthira eldest of the Pandavas during their 12 years exile.

Parli Vaijnath temple built on a hill using stones at a height of 75-80 feet was subsequently renovated by Shiva devotee Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar in the year 1706. The main entrance with a magnificent brass plated facing towards sun-rise is also called "Mahadwar" and it has a Minaret nearby called a Prachi or Gawaksha. Surrounded by four strong walls, the temple consists of corridors and a courtyard. Though it is a place of pilgrimage for Shiva devotees, it is also a meeting point for Hari Hara and hence Lord Krishna's festivals too are celebrated here with great festivity. Another Jyotirlinga located in the North about 150 miles from Parbhani is Ghrishneshwar (lord of Compassion) near Aurangabad city. It is an important pilgrimage site in the Shaiva tradition of Hinduism, which considers it as the last or twelfth Jyotirlinga. The temple, an illustration of south Indian architectural style is made up of red rocks having a five-tier shikara with carvings and sculptures of many Hindu gods and goddesses. It was re-constructed by Shri Malojirao Bhosale of Verul (grandfather of the great King Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj) in the 16 century and later again by Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar in the 18 century.

The World famous UNESCO Heritage sites i.e. Ajantha & Ellora Caves are 100 kilometers from Parbhani. Ajantha caves comprised paintings and rock-cut sculptures described as among the finest surviving examples of ancient Indian art, particularly expressive paintings that present emotions through gesture, pose and form. The Ajanta Caves constitute ancient monasteries and worship-halls of different Buddhist traditions carved into a 75-metre (246 ft) wall of rock. The caves also present paintings depicting the past lives and rebirths of the Buddha, pictorial tales from Aryasura's Jatakamala, and rock-cut sculptures of Buddhist deities.

One more religious site in the Parbhani district is Pathri town where Indian spiritual master Sri. Sai Baba Janmsthan temple is located. A temple on the site of Sri Sai Baba's House was raised during 1990. Sri. Sai Baba of Shirdi, also known as 'Shirdi ke Sai Baba', was an Indian spiritual master who is regarded by his devotees as a saint and a fakir. He is revered by both his Hindu and Muslim devotees during, as well as after his lifetime. According to accounts from his life, he preached the importance of realization of the self and criticized love towards perishable things. His teachings concentrate on a moral code of love, forgiveness, helping others, charity, contentment, inner peace and devotion to the God and guru.