Math Mahadev/Math Mandir Adhunik Colony, Seoni, Madhya Pradesh

The ancient monastery temple located in Seoni district headquarters has great importance not only from the point of view of faith but also historically. There are many beliefs prevalent about the construction of this temple.

Some people believe it to be from the Kalachuri period, while many people associate it with the Gond rulers, while some say that the Math temple was built by Adi Shankaracharya, then the number of followers of this opinion is also not less, who say that It is said that the temple is older than the time of Shankaracharya.

This monastery temple is quite ancient. Local people say that Shivalinga situated in this monastery was also worshiped by Adi Shankaracharya. Shankaracharya of all the four Peethas has visited and purified this holy land. Presently Jagadguru Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati has been continuously visiting this Peeth. There is difference of opinion regarding the history. There is no specific opinion prevalent regarding the history of the Math temple. In the book titled ‘Kal, Aaj Aur Kal’, the construction of the Math temple has been said to be of the Kalchuri period. Around 1180, the Chandelas on one side and the Pawars of Malwa on the other and the Gond rulers within the house created turmoil. The Kalachuri period in Mahakaushal lasted from 1000 to 1180. Kalachuri was a follower of Shaivism. He established huge monasteries in Jabalpur, Narsinghpur and Balaghat. Each of his articles started with Om Namah Shivay (Raibahadur Hiralal. Jabalpur Jyoti page 20-21).
From this it appears that this temple is the contribution of Kalachuris. After the decline of Kalachuri, Gond rulers established their rule in Gadha Mandla. Raja Sangram Singh ascended the throne in 1480. There were 52 forts during his rule. Among these forts, one of the forts of the district, Chawdi fort, is currently known as Chhapara. This king was a devotee of Bada Dev i.e. Shiva. He also established many monasteries. Wherever he built a monastery, ponds, Shivling and the Mahant of the monastery were definitely found there. The monastery temple of Seoni is also considered to be of Gond period for this. There is ample evidence that Marjhor, a village near the district headquarters, was a pardoned village for the expenses of the Math temple. The documents are still safe with Muqaddam Lakshminarayan Srivastava of Marjhor. According to them, the expenditure for the year 1791 is written in the name of Mandar Ke Dehe Raja Saheb Nagpur (Raghuji II).

The temple was bought for 295 rupees: Under the British rule (Munsifi Seoni was printed in Bailat Israel in 1825 AD), Marjhor and the monastery were confiscated by the Malgujars on 5 February 1857. The garden, pond and Kurvamay courtyard land had been bought by Jivni Chhapara, a well-to-do son of a well-to-do son of a well-to-do family, for Rs 295. On 3 October 1867, Nihans Gangagir was bought by Chela Laxman Gir for Rs 350. There was a dispute regarding this property in 1870. On 19 December 1873, the contract of village revenue from Mahant Harkesh Gir was sold to Lala Kalicharan Vald Banwari Lal.

After the death of Mahant Harkesh Gir, Mahant Rudra Gir, Mahant Gian Gir and minor disciple Daryab Gir sold the Shivala and the land to Lala Kalicharan for Rs 300 to repay their debts. After the death of Kalicharan and his son Ramjivan due to scarlet fever between 1915 and 1917, his wife Birja Bai sold it to Dadu Saheb, the landlord of Seoni. In the magazine published during the consecration of Guru Ratneshwar Dighori in the year 2002, it was mentioned that there is also a living samadhi in this monastery, who belonged to another Dadu Saheb’s family, by whom samadhi was taken by placing Shivling on his head. .

Dhuni was lit 30 years ago: There is also a description of Siddha Dhuni in the Math Temple complex, which was extinguished due to unknown reasons. It was re-lighted about 30 years ago by the late Municipal Chairman Swarn Moolchand Dubey. Moti Taal is the monastery pond: There is also a pond named Vabhua adjacent to this monastery, which was known as Moti Talab. Later, this monastery became known as the monastery pond since it was close to the temple.