History of Renuka ji Temple and Lake

History of Renuka ji Temple,Davi and Lake     

 

Renuka Temple, located at the base of the Renuka Lake.  Renuka temple, dedicated to the immortal Renuka and it is a famous temple in India. Renukaji is the wife of the Sage Jamadagini and the Mother of Parshurama, one of the ten "Avatars" of Lord Vishnu. 

The original temple of Renukaji, is said to have been built overnight by a contingent of Gurkhas in the early 19th century. There are a number of legends and stories associated with this temple.

One is that Rishi Jamdagni disappointed with his wife. So Rishi Jamdagni asked his son Parshuram to kill her. Parshuram carried out the Rishi's orders but requested him to grant life to his mother. 

Another legend, Sahasarjuna wanted to kidnap Renuka. Renuka save herself, she jumped into this lake and the gods saved her.Since then, this lake became an embodiment of Renuka and is named after her.

At a hill rock known as Tape Ka Tiba near Renuka lake, Maharish Jamdagni and his wife Bhagwati Renuka Ji had meditated for long time. Lord Vishnu fulfilled divine promise and took birth as their son, with the blessings of lord Shiva. From Lord Shiva, sixth incarnation of lord Vishnu and son of Renuka Ji pleased lord Shiva with the performation of Tap got a new name Parshuram after getting divine weapon Parshu. He has been referred every where in the Shashtras with the popular name Parshuram and not his childhood name Ram [as per Brahmand Puran], which he got from his parents.

He always supported the cause of good governance where worries of every citizen are addressed judiciously by the rulers. To get people rid of atrocities of cruel rulers Lord Parshuram eliminated 21 times, cruel and atrocious rulers from the earth. To get the Kamdhenu cow from Maharishi, he also killed King Sahastrabahu and his Army as King had attacked Tape ka Tiba Ashram in his absence.

By Lord Indra, after Maharishi pleaded that the Kamdhenu Cow was given him in trust and he can not breach the trust by passing it to someone else. Maharishi Jamdagni killed by Shastrabahu. Lord Parshurams mother Bhagwati Renuka Ji jumped in the Ram Sarovar and took Jal Samadhi. Purans narrates that Ram Sarovar immediately took the shape of a lady and since then it is known as Renuka Ji Lake.

After eliminating Sahashtrabahu in fierce battle he gave a new life to his father with his divine powers and came on the bank of the Lake and prayed his mother to come out of the Lake. Mother responded to his prayers and lord vowed in her feet. She said that she will permanently live in the Lake, but on the request of Lord Parshuram she promised that she will come out of the Lake on the occasion of Devprabodhini Ekadashi every year to meet her son. Bhagwati also promised that people gracing this pious occasion of mothers affection and sons devotion, would be showered with divine blessings.

One day advance, on Dashmi the palanquin of Lord Parshuram is brought to Renuka Ji from the ancient temple in Jamu Koti village in traditional procession known a ‘Shobha Yatra’, attended by lakhs of devotees.