Adyakavi Mukundaraj Samadhi
Mukundaraja (lifetime: 12th century AD) was an early Marathi poet. Before the birth of Dnyaneshwar, Mukundaraja had taken samadhi for 75 years. Mukundaraja has made an explanatory commentary on Shankaracharya’s Vedanta through his book Vivekasindhu. Sh.sh. He wrote this original text in Marathi written around 1110 AD at his native place Ambejogai in Beed district. There are a total of eighteen Ovibandha chapters in this book.
The mausoleum of Mukundaraja, the first poet of Marathi, is located in the Kada on the banks of Jayanti River in the northwestern part of Ambajogai town. The mausoleum is in a natural cave in a stick in a deep valley. The cave is 8×10 feet. A mausoleum is built in the middle of the cave. There is a natural spring on the right side of the tomb. Its water flows during monsoon. A spacious assembly hall has been prepared below the mausoleum. The sabha mandap is protected by a crenellated wall along the valley. In the west, three overs and two rooms have been constructed. There is the abode of the Samadhi priest. On the side of these shrines, there is a stone with paduka sign in the temple, which is considered to be the mark of Sri Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj’s visit. The place is shaded by trees like Ajan tree and Vad pimpal. There are about one hundred and twenty five steps to reach the Samadhi.
Mukundaraja wrote an early Marathi treatise called Vevekasindhu to present the philosophy of Vedanta in Marathi language. In this book, Ambajogai is described as Manohar Ambangari
Ghanvan and Varduvan are being created by the forest department in the picturesque area of the Samadhi temple. With special attention, the forest department has set up view points for the tourists in this area. The number of peacocks here is significant. In this area, near the steps of the temple office, there are some tombs of Satpurusha. An extensive vastu of the Mukundaraja Bhajani Mandal is located here.
It includes the Vitthal Rukmini Temple, the halls in the temple as well as the large hall in the front patangan. There is a two storied Dharamshala building on three sides. The Mukundaraja Samadhi area is rich in biodiversity. Many types of rare plants are found here. More than 200 different species of birds have been recorded in the area by bird lovers. A booklet called Bhowtal has also been published about it.
