WAHANAS

Small Wooden Palakhi:The procession of Shree Laxminarayan Palakhi is taken twice a year near Tali only on the Vanabhojan Days in the month of Kartika. As per the old custom the Palakhi was carried only by Priests, Mahajans & Kullavis. However, in the present times, the morning Palakhi is carried by Priests, Mahajans and Kullavis and the night Palakhi, the Sukhasana, is carried by the Khambis.

Two Wooden Palakhis:These Palakhis were being used to take out procession of Shree Ramnath, Shree Shanteri & Shree Kamaxi on Mondays, Panchamis & Amavasyas except in Navaratra, however, in the present days, these Palakhis are not in use.

Silver Palakhi:This Palakhi has replaced the Wooden Palakhi that was in use during olden times. This Palakhi is donated by Late Shri. Vassudevrao Vitthalrao Bichu from Belgaum. It is artfully carved. The artists were brought to Ramnath and the Palakhi was prepared in the Precincts of the Devasthan. A Golden Gonda which is to be hung in the Palakhi and a big Wooden Crate to keep this Palakhi safely, was also donated by Late Shri. Vassudevrao Vitthalrao Bichu along with the Palakhi.

Silver Sukhasana:This Sukhasana is used to carry out procession of the Deities only when there are more than one Palakhis. This Sukhasana was donated by Late Shri. Vijay Vassant Massurekar from Mumbai.

Golden Palakhi:The long cherished dream of Mahajans & Kullavis to have a Golden Palakhi for the Devasthan is being fulfilled. This Palakhi is used to take out Procession of Deities only on last Shravan Monday, Dusshera and during Mahashivaratri Festival. The fund used to prepare this Golden Palakhi is out of Devasthan’s Fund and donations by Mahajans & Kullavis.

Chaar Devachem Wahan:This is Devasthan’s unique Palakhi. The Palakhi is designed in such a way that a procession of Four Deities can be taken out in the same single Palakhi. It has topmost seat for Shree Laxminarayan, a central seat for Shree Ramnath with a seat for Shree Kamaxi to the right of Shree Ramnath and a seat for Shree Shanteri to the left. The Right and Left seats can be folded sidewards so that the Palakhi can be taken out through the Devasthan’s door out in the Sabhamantap & beyond. This Palakhi is taken on all Dashamis except Chaturmas period. On Shree Laxminarayan & Shree Ramnath Shikhar Kalash Punarpratishthapana Day this Palakhi is placed on a beautifully decorated Mantap in the Nauka Vihar, The Sangod, on Vadhya Panchami in the month of Magh.

Lalakhi:There are two Lalakhis in the Devasthan, one with melamine varnish and other with color oil paint. These Lalakhis are used to take out procession of Deities only when needed.

Vijayratha:: This ratha is a replica of ratha of Mahabharata wherein the Sarathi is Lord Krishna. The Deity seated in this Ratha is Shree Kamaxi after Simollanghana on the Dusshera day and on Falgun Shuddha Dwitiya during Mahashivaratri Festival. This Vijayratha was donated by Late Shri. Keshav (Subray) Datta Kare of Mumbai.

Ashva Wahana :On Falgun Shuddha Pratipada, during Mahashivaratri festival, after the Nauka Vihar celebration, Shree Ramnath seats in this Wahan and the procession is carried out in the precincts of the Devasthan. This Ashva Wahan was donated by Smt. Hirabai M. S. Talaulikar of Panaji-Goa.

Garuda Wahana :On the 2nd Monday of Shravana, the procession of Shree Ramnath is carried out in this Wahana. This Wahana was donated by Late Shri. Ramchandra V. Pai from Merces-Goa.

Elephant Ambari :: On the day of Simollanghana, during Dusshera festival, the procession of Shree Shanteri is carried out on this Wahana. On Magh Vadhya Triyodashi, during Mahashivaratri Festival, the procession of Shree Kamaxi is carried out in this Wahana. This Ambari Wahana was donated by Late Shri. Padrigudde Mukund Narcinva Shenoy from Mumbai.

Khandyavarcha Ratha :This ratha has a special significance. During the unfortunate bad days when Deities were being shifted from Loutolim, Shree Ramnath Deity was rested overnight in the Adpaikar’s House, at Adpai, at the bank of River Zuari. The Adpaikars helped the safe transition of the Deity to Ramnathi which was the safe place as per the Divine indication. This event is celebrated by Adpaikars along with Mahajans and Kullavis during Mahashivaratri Festival. The Adpaikars stay overnight in the precincts of the Devasthan in the Agrashala on the previous day of the celebration. On Vadhya Chaturdashi / Amavasya in the month of Magh, at 5.00 a.m an Idol Brass Nagha is seated in this Ratha and the procession is taken out from Devasthan to Mahadwar near Talli. The Ratha procession then comes back to Devasthan’s Sabhamantap ceremoniously with all Adpaikars, Mahajans and Kullavis dancing at the tune of Dholl & Tashas. Again at 5.00 p.m. Shree Ramnath seats in this Ratha and the procession is started from the Sabhamantap with the same pomp & gaiety and then taken out in the precincts of the Devasthan. The devotees throw Laadus, Khajem, coins etc on the ratha. The Ratha is beautifully decorated with Flags, Abdagirs and Maruti Idol on the top. The devotees, in large numbers, carry this Ratha in their forearms and dance rhythmically to the tune of the dholl & tashas, in the sabhamantap and all along the path in the precincts of the Devasthan, the hands change but not the enthusiasm. Shree Kamaxi accompanies the procession of Shree Ramnath in this Ratha in Silver Palakhi at 5.00 a.m. and in the Golden Palakhi at 5.00 p.m. When the procession is brought back in the Sabhamantap, Narall Ovalni to Shree Ramnath is performed. Narall Ovalni to Shree Kamaxi is performed on Amavasya Day by large numbers of Mahajans & Kullavis after the completion of Drama.

Shree Lakshmi Narayan Palakhi: This is a small Palakhi. Except for the period of Chaturmasa there is a procession of the Palakhi of Shree Lakshmi Narayan. The custom is that this Palakhi is carried only by the priests/mahajan kullavis.

Shree Ramnath: There are two wooden Pallakhis for Shree Ramnath. The procession of Shree Ramnath Palakhi takes place on every Monday, except in Navratra.

Silver Palakhi is donated by late Shri Vasudevarao V. Bichu of Belgaum. It is artfully carved. The artists were brought to Ramnathi and the Palakhi was prepared there only. There is a beautiful silver ASANA for Shree Ramnath and other deities. He has also donated a big golden Gonda(weighing 1710 grams) to be hung in this Palakhi. It was donated in 1951-52. He also gave a big teakwood box for safe keeping the Palakhi.

Golden Palkhi: There is a golden Palkhi for Shree Ramnath. Our dreams have been realised due to generous donations of Ramnath devotees. During Mahashivarathri Shree Ramnath sits in this golden palkhi.

Wahana For Four Dieties: There is an exquisite vehicle of Devasthan. At the top of this there is a small decorated ‘niche’ for Shree Lakshmi Narayan. Below this, there is a bigger space for the Idol of Shree Ramnath. On either sides of Shree Ramnath there are two bigger ‘niches’ (Devare) for the idols of Goddesses Shree Shanteri and Shree Kamaksha. They are attached to the main Asana by strong hinges so that they could be folded while bringing the “Wahana” out of the main entrance of temple. On the anniversary day of Shikar Kalasha Pratishta, this Wahana is placed in beautiful decorated Mandap erected on two boats floating in Talli Naukavikar.

Makhar: This is used only during Navratri Festival. As the old one was very old, and broken, the one which is now being used, was got made by late Shri Ganpat Chari of Sadashivagad in 1982. The old one had painted square glass pieces. In their place, he now used thick plastic square on which are painted Shankh, Chakra, Gada, Padma and different bunches of flowers. Formerly for the first nine days Shree Kamaksha used to be sitted in this. On the 10th day Shree Ramnath and on the 11th day Shree Shanteri.

Lalakhi: The Devasthan has two Lalakhis, one with varnish paint and the other with coloured oil paints.

Vijayaratha: This Vijayarath was four galloping horses and Shreekrishna “as Sarathi” is donated by late Shri Subraya Kare of Bombay. After Simollanghan Shree Kamaksha is made to sit in it. So also on Falguna Shudha Dwitiya Shree Kamaksha is seated on it.

Ashwavahan: This is donated by Shrimati Hirabai M. S. Talauliker of Panjim. Shree Ramnath is seated in it after becomes back from Naukavihar on Falguna Shudha Pratipada.

Garudawahan: This is donated by Late Shri Ramachandra V. Pai of Merces. On 2nd Monday of Shravan, Shree Ramnath is seated in it.

Silver Sukhasan: This was donated by Late Shri Vijay Massurekar of Mumbai. It is widely used on different occasions for different idols.

Elephant – Ambari: This is donated by late Shri Padrigudde Mukund Shenai, an officer of Netherland Bank, Bombay. After Simollanghan, Shree Shanteri is seated in it and on the Mahashivratri day, Shree Kamaksha is seated.

Khandyavarcha Rath:Though there are different God Vehicles in our Devasthan, this particular Rath has a special significance in our Devasthan. On the top part of this, there are many holes in which hundreds of decorated flags are fitted. This Rath is held on hands and shoulders by about 20 or more persons and they dance with it at the tune on Dhol and Tasha.

At about 5 a.m. on the day next to Mahashivratri Shree Ramnath is taken in a Palakhi near Tali. There, he is seated in the Ratha. A special brass Naga is placed there and then the Ratha is brought near the temple, dancing. After some time the Ratha is brought in the Mandap and the Idol is taken inside. Again at 5 p.m. the procession starts. When Shree Ramnath is in Rath, Shree Kamaksha is by the side of him in a Palakhi. People throw Ladu, Coins, Khajem etc. on Ratha.The honour of dancing with Ratha is of Adpaikars. While coming to Ramnathi from Lotli our deities were halted at Adpai on the other side of Zuari till a suitable place was found. At that time these Adpaikars had helped our ancestors. For the sake of dancing with Ratha early in the morning they come and stay in the Devastham premises, previous night.