The Story of Maharashtra Begins with Divine Footsteps

 The Story of Maharashtra Begins with Divine Footsteps...

The story of Maharashtra begins with divine footsteps. It is mentioned in the Ramayana, during Lord Rama’s exile. The Dandakaranya forest mentioned then extended from Vidarbha to Nashik-Panchavati. The Mahabharata too has references to this land. The tale of Damayanti unfolded in Vidarbha. Arjuna is believed to have meditated in caves along the Konkan coast. Rukmini’s abduction and the ensuing war by Lord Krishna happened in Vidarbha. The Pandavas lived in exile in Chikhaldara. The fall of Keechak was a tale of truth triumphing over tyranny — a saga of Maharashtra’s land.

Gautam Buddha’s message of peace also resonated in this land. The teachings were not just heard, but carved into stone by monks in the serene hills of Ajanta. The divine energy of this land attracted seekers, saints, and philosophers. Shankaracharya, who travelled across India, established the Karveer Peeth here. Goddess Mahalakshmi resides here. Maharashtra thus bridges North and South India