Shahapur and its cross cultural exchanges

Several influences of the neighbouring regions have shaped the landscapes of Belgaum throughout history; mainly due to its geography and also due to trade that once flourished here. Thus crafting interesting narratives and an evolved built heritage. Vitthal Dev Mandir in Shahapur is one such structure with layered histories.

Tracing its origin, the legend has it that an ardent devotee of Lord Vitthal in a series of event led to dedicating a humble temple to Vithoba and Rukmini along with a group of shrines as described in the Vitthal Aarti. These stories taking shape in form of the built form as we see today can be dated back to the Adil Shahi’s rule around 16th century. Ibrahim Adil Shah II was a patron of various faiths, especially Hinduism, and thus commissioned several temples during his reign. Assuming this ~could~ be one of them.

The construction technique/style of the inner sanctum (earlier shrine) and the temple boundary wall with stone arched doorways points to that period. In the 19th century, Vitthal Dev temple became a locus around which the Patwardhan Sarkar grew. The temple today, in its full glory, can be attributed to Patwardhan Sarkar, who were descendants of the Peshwas. Thus, the additions done are in a typical Peshwa style of architecture. Prominent features being the overlooking balconies, wooden railing and ceiling, ornate wooden columns and carved brackets. The external façade graciously stands as a signature Peshwa architectural sample with multifoil arches.

Interesting details appear in the flooring of glazed ceramic embossed tiles, an exchange from Goan temples. The most notable of them all appears just outside the Garbagriha that looks like an italian/venetian painting on a ceramic tile.

The cultural exchange since the Adil Shahis with the Portuguese, later with the Peshwa and the British ruling over the region have enriched several cultural narratives. A native Goan family, the Puraniks, visited Belgaum often to recite and spread the message from the Puranas around the same time the shrine came into being. Eventually they migrated to Belgaum when the Portuguese rule gripped Goa. During the Peshwa rule, the Sarkar appointed them as caretakers of the temple and thus they came to be called “Deulkar”.

The family resides within the temple premises and looks after the temple’s daily functioning to this day. We see several such details adorning our neighbourhood structures. While we are still looking for links and associations, we could only marvel at what stories reside in the historic nooks of the city.