Washim
Encyclopedia
Washim is a city and a municipal council
Municipal council
A municipal council is the local government of a municipality. Specifically the term can refer to the institutions of various countries that can be translated by this term...

 in Washim district
Washim district
Washim is a district in Maharashtra, India. The headquarters is at Washim. The area of the district is 5,150 km².-Demography and Geography:...

 in the India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

n state
States and territories of India
India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...

 of Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...

. Washim is the district headquarter of newly formed Washim district
Washim district
Washim is a district in Maharashtra, India. The headquarters is at Washim. The area of the district is 5,150 km².-Demography and Geography:...

.

Washim was known earlier as Vatsagulma and it was the seat of power of the Vakataka dynasty. Washim is also known as Basim, an Arabic name that means "the one that smiles". The name originated in Saudi Arabia in 436. When Basim R. Iqbal ruled the Jamar clan.

History

Washim is a place with antiquity and according to some scholars, it is the place where Vatsa rishi performed penance and where many Gods came to bless him as a result of which it came tone known as Vatsagulma. Its mention as Vatsagulma is traced in Padma Parana, In the Tretayuga, the second age, this country was a part of the Dandakaranya, or Dandaka jungle, and the rishi Vatsa had his ashram hermitage, here; his religious merit acquired by austerities, was such that consternation spread through the world; rivers ran dry and trees were withered, and even the gods were afraid. They came, therefore in a body to Bashim and took up a temporary residence at various places within a radius of 5 miles from the town. Shiva, alone, whose devotee Vatsa had proclaimed himself, went directly to the rishi whom he found absorbed in penance. At the sight of his virtue Shiva was so much overcome that he wept, and the tears filled a dry well at his feet and flowed forth as the river Karuna; then he promised to grant any boon Vatsa might ask for. The latter asked that Shiva should remain for ever at the rishi's abode to save his worshippers from affliction. Shiva granted this, and his linga, remained there in consequence. Then the other gods appeared in a single gathering (gulma) and promised to stay in their divine essence, ansharupa, at the various places at which they had halted; and so the neighbourhood is called 'Vatsa Gulmaehi Pacha Koshi,' the Five Kos of the Vatsa Gathering, and is considered a kshetra, sacred area. About the origin of the name Bashim or Washim the old Gazetteer has given the following information. A poor Brahman orphan was protected by a learned member of the caste, but after some time Stole a necklace belonging to his protector's wife. In the morning when she bewailed her loss he repented and sought to restore the necklace but could not find if. Meanwhile the woman laid on the unknown thief the curse that he should suffer from a loathsome disease and his body should be covered with insects, upon which the boy went to Pravaga Tirtha (Allahabad), did penance for the theft, and threw himself into the holy Ganga. On account of the religious merit, thus gained, lie was born again as a son of the king of Kanakadripura in the Karnataka, when he was given the name Vasuki in course of time he both married and succeeded to the throne but presently his wife Kanakalekha discovered that when he was asleep at night his body was infested with maggots. One day when shooting he washed his hands and face in a small and dirty pond, and that night so much of his flesh remained wholesome. He and his wife sought the pool again, here in Vatsaranga, but could not find it. They went to Vasishtha rishi and told nun about it, whereon he related the story of the king's previous life and of the religious importance of Vatsagulma Kshetra, and showed them the pool. This was the Padma Tirtha, and Vasuki first bathed and' was wholly cleansed and then took up his residence near the spot. The new town was called Vasuki-Nagara, but became corrupted into Washim, or Bashim. This derivation of the place name is fantastic, washim is derived from Vatsagulma, the capita! of a branch of the Vakatakas which is known as the Vatsagulma branch of the Vakatakas. The existence of this branch of the Vakatakas was unknown until the discovery of the Washim plates in 1939. The founder of this family was Sarvasena mentioned in the Washim plates as the son of Pravarasena I. Satvasena made Vatsagulma i.e. Washim, the capital of his kingdom. In course of time the place became a great centre of learning and culture. It was, however, known as a holy place long before it became the capital of Sarvasena who flourished in the period circa A. IV 330-355. He was followed by Vindhya-shakti II. The. Washim plates, which brought existence of this branch to notice for the first time, are dated in the 37th regnal year of Vindhyashakti II. They were issued from the royal capital Vatsagulma. Vindyasena or Vindhyashakti was succeeded by his son Pravarseua II. A Fragmentary inscription issued by Devasena who succeeded to the throne in circa A. D. 450 was issued from Vatsagulma which shows that the city continued to be the capital of the branch to the last. In the time of Harisena, the son of Devasena, it became the capital of a vast empire comprising a large part of the Deccan. Thus it can be said that it was a royal seat of the Vatsagulma branch of the Vakatakas from A. D. 330 to 500 when the son of Harishena whose name is not known succeeded to the throne in 500 A. D. A reference to Washim is found in Kavyamimansa by Rajashekhara, the celebrated poet and dramatist of the Yayavara family who flourished from 875 to 925 A. D. He has mentioned therein Vatsagulma as situated in Vidarbha. But even earlier references to Vatsagulma or Vatsa-gulma are found in Mahabharata and Kamasutra, which in their present form are assignable to a period before the age of the Vakatakas. The Karpuramunjari, a play written by Rajashekhara and staged at Kanauj under the patronage of the Gurjara-Pratiharas also mentions it as situated in the Daksina-patha (Dtccan). Vachchhoma (Vatsagulma) was the name of the Prakrit style current in Vidarbha. Vashima is derived from Vachchhoma the Prakrit name of Vatsagulma. The Sanskrit treatise Vatsagulmyamahatmya also gives traditional information about this town.

During the middle of the 18th century Washim was the famous centre of cloth production along with Balapur. It is clearly brought out by one of the articles of the treaty of Kanakpur entered into between Janoji Bhosle and the Peshva Madhavrav after the battle between the two in 1769. The article states that the Bhosles should send annually to the Peshva cloth manufactured at Washim and Balapur worth Rs. 5,000. A mint was also in existence at Washim. The town was looted by the Pendharis in 1809 along with some other places in Berar.

When in 1768-69, the Peshva attacked the Bhosle, his army had come from Aurangabad through the pass to Washim from which place it moved forward on its expedition. Afterwards it was decided that the Peshva Madhavrav and Janoji Bhosle should meet at Washim and accordingly the terms of the treaty were finalised there and the treaty was signed at Kanakpur. The temple of Balaji at Washim was constructed by Bhavani Kalu who was the Divan of Sabaji Bhosle.

It may, however, be noted that before the establishment of the Vakataka rule with Washim as their capital, the place was an important centre from the religious point of view and it even now contains many old temples and tirthas which are revered by the people.

Municipality: The municipal council was established at Washim in 1869 and is now governed under the Maharashtra Municipalities Act, 1965. It covers, according to the Census of 1961, an area of 42.16 square km. The municipal council is composed of 18 members with two seats each being reserved for the scheduled castes and women.

During the year 1961-62, the total receipts of the municipality amounted to Rs. 4,62,402 of which the receipts from the municipal taxes were Rs. 2,16,985, the per capita municipal tax being Rs 8.09. During the year 1965-66[During 1973-74, the income and expenditure amounted to Rs. 14,34,000 and Rs. 13,74,000, respectively.], the total income of the municipality was placed at Rs 6,41,768 composed of municipal rates and taxes, Rs. 3,21,998; revenue derived from municipal property did powers apart from taxation, Rs. 41,558; grants and contributions from the Government, Rs. 2,25,423 and income from other miscellaneous sources, Rs. 52.809. During the same year the total expenditure of the municipality came to Rs. 6.15,337 comprising general administration. Rs. 26.295: collection charges, Rs. 87,000; "public safety, Rs. 22,792; public health and convenience, Rs. 2.10,345, public works, Rs. 20,068; public instruction, Rs. 1,88,573 and miscellaneous expenditure, Rs. 60,264.

With a view to providing various facilities to the town's people the municipality conducts primary schools and a high school and maintains a dispensary. Underground drainage system is not yet introduced in the town. There are stone lined gutters and the sewage and night soil is carried away on hand carts. The meeting hall of the municipality is used by the town's people as a town hall. Protected piped water is supplied to a part of the town, but wells form the main source of water supply. The cremation grounds and burial places are managed by the respective communities.

Objects: The antiquity of the town has given rise to a number of objects and places of interest in the town. The chief among them are Padmatirtha, Balaji temple, Rama temple, Madhyameshvara temple, Godeshvara temple, two Jain temples and Narayana Maharaja temple. The Vatsagulmamahatmya mentions that the town contains 108 holy tanks and tirthas. A few of them can still be identified in the town.

Padmatirth.-Washim is known to have had 108 tirthas, holy places or sacred springs, associated with different gods and rishis. The Padmatirtha is one of the chief tirthas created by Vishnu. The reference to this tirtha has already occurred in the story connected with the origin of the name of the town, it is situated in the northern quarters of the town. The sides are built up in cut stones. Now the tirtha comprises two kundas one to the north and the other to the south. Recently one Shri Rama-narayan Toshnival has constructed a small but artistic temple dedicated to Mahadeva in the centre of the kund used formerly by those who entered the tirtha for swimming as their resting place it is a cement concrete construction. An east-west bridge has been put across the tirtha to facilitate the entrance to the temple. It is said that the colour of the shalunka placed in the temple changes thrice in a day i. e., once in the morning, then in the afternoon and last in the evening. According to the Settlement Report of 1871, the tank used to supply all the drinking water required by the town but it has since lost its purity and taste. The people use the tirtha for the immersion of bones and ashes of the dead whose last rites are performed on its bank. the tirtha is also used for swimming purposes.

Balaji Mandir.-The temple of Balaji is a considerably old temple in the town and was constructed by Bhavani Kalu who rose to be the divan of Sabaji Bhosle and Janoji Bhosle. He constructed the temple in 1779 A. D. when he was the Subhedar at the thana of Karanja. The shrine is much revered. The images in the temple of Vyankateshvar Balaji are said to have been buried during Aurangzeb's reign to save them from destruction. All trace of them was lost, but in about 1760 a horseman happened casually to turn up a little earth with his stick and perceived a finger of an image. Images of Brahma, Vishnu, Mahadeva, Parvali, Devi, Ganapati, and Naga were taken out. At that time bhavani Kalu, who had been patvari of the village Khadi Dhanini in Mangrul tahsil but had become the Divan (or according to some accounts, a general) of the Bhosle Rajas, was at Bashini. He set up the present temple, a fine building standing in a large paved quadrangle, with a well-built verandah for pilgrims to stay, a bhandara for Brahmans to take food, and various offices. The work look 12 years but was finished, according to an inscription on a pillar in front, in 1700 Shaka, A.D. 1776. The Dev Talay or Balaji Talav, a large square tank with stone built sides, strongly and handsomely finished, and with a Jalakridasthana, resting-place for swimmers, in the middle, was made at the same time. The chief image is of black stone and sparkles with ornaments; a fine view of the town is to be obtaineu from the top of the temple gateway, though the staircase is rather abrupt. A dome plated with gold has recently been constructed over the inner chamber of the temple. According to the old Gazetteer 'large jagirs and inams were given for the support of the temple, the present revenue being Rs. 11,000 from those sources and Rs. 3,000 from kangi offerings. A big fair is held in honour of Balaji. in Ashvina (September–October). About 12,000 to 15,000 people assemble at the time of the fair.

Deo Talav.-The Deo talav also known as Balaji talav a large square tank with stone built sides, strongly and handsomely finished and with a jalakridasthana, resting place for swimmers in the middle, was laid out at the time of the construction of Balaji mandir in 1770 A D. The temple is flanked on one side by the temple of Vyankateshvar Balaji and on the oilier by that of Ramchandra.

The tree, plantations by tile side of the tank have now thoroughly disappeared. During the Ganapati festival, the immersion of the idols takes place in this tank and as a result this tank is getting silted gradually. However, the tank still stands in good condition.

Daridrya Harana Tirtha.-The Daridrya-harana Tirtha is said to have been created by Shri Dattatreya. Well built as the tank seems t0 have been formely, the steps on only one side are noticeable now. By the side of the tank is a large banyan tree. One anecdote about the tirtha says that king Dashratha of Ayodhya, the father of Rama, killed Shravana by mistake by sitting over this tree.

Rama Mandir.-On the other side of the Deo talav is a temple dedicated to Ramchandra, a large enclosed building but not, by any means as fine as the temple of Baiaji. it contains images of Lakshmana, Sita, Maruti and Rariha Krishna besides that of Ramchandra. It is said to have been built by one Bhagvandas Maharaj Bairagi about 250 years ago. In front of the temple, has recently been constructed a two storeyed dharmashala. It is used by the bairagis who visit the temple. Marriage and such other religious functions also take place in this dharmashala. Ramanavami is celebrated at this temple with great pomp.

Madhyameshvar Mandir.-This temple was constructed about 5 to 7 years ago. After entering a big audience hall there is an inner chamber where is placed a shalunka of Shiva. At the time of the construction of the temple some images and inscriptions were excavated at the site. The temple is said to have been constructed at a place from where according to the belief of astronomers passes the equador and hence the temple is known as the Madhyameshvara temple.

Narayana Maharaja Temple.-A temple has recently been constructed over the satnadhi of Narayana Maharaja who stayed at Washim. The image of Narayana Maharaj has been placed over the satnadhi. One has to go a few steps below the ground level to reach this shrine. From there another staircase leads to the altar where is placed the image of Shri Dattatreya. The whole construction is of white marble. The temple owns some adjacent land. The audience hall is under construction. Every year a small fair attended by the local populace is held on Datta jayanti.

Gudeshvara Temple-To the west of the town is the temple of Godeshvar, much in a dilapidated condition. In the temple, are three images viz., those of Vishnu, his sister and Lakshmi. By the side of the temple is ample garden land making the whole panorama of the temple extremely beautiful.

Railway Transport

Washim is a railway station on Purna-Khandwa section of South Central Railway (SCR). It was in Hyderabad division of SCR and now is in Nanded division after bifurcation of Hyderabad division. Washim was connected to the broad gauge railway network in 2008 when tracks were extended from Purna to Akola.
7639/7640 Kacheguda Akola
Akola
Akola is a city in the state of Maharashtra located in the Vidarbha region of central India. It is located around 600 km east of Mumbai and 250 km west of Nagpur. Akola is the headquarters of Akola District located in Amravati Division.Akola district has an area of about 54.31 square...

 express can be accessed by the passengers arriving from Nagpur
Nagpur
Nāgpur is a city and winter capital of the state of Maharashtra, the largest city in central India and third largest city in Maharashtra after Mumbai and Pune...

 or Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...

 route while Hyderabad and Nanded
Nanded
Nanded is the second largest city in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra, India. It is also headquarters of Nanded district in the Marathwada Division of the state. It is an important holy place for the Sikh faith and is famous for the Hazur Sahib Gurudwara. It is the district headquarters once...

 can be accessed from the south.

Road Transport

Washim is connected by State Highways to all the important cities of Maharashtra. Important Roads include Washim-Mangrul Pir-Karanja-Ner-Yavatmal, Washim-Karanja-Amravati-Nagpur, Washim-Malegaon-Akola, Washim-Risod-Lonar-Sindhkhed Raja-Jalna-Aurangabad-Ahmadnagar-Pune-Mumbai, Washim-Pankanergaon
Pankanergaon
Pankanergaon is a village in the Sengaon tehsil of Hingoli district, in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It has a population of nearly 10,000 and is easily accessible as it is on the main route between Hingoli and Washim. Most of the population are involved in agriculture...

-Hingoli
Hingoli
Hingoli is a city and a municipal council in Hingoli district in the Indian state of Maharashtra.-History:Marathwada was initially under Nizam's regime. Hingoli was the taluka of parbhani district and part of Nizam's regime. It was actually Nizam's military base as it was border place with...

-Nanded
Nanded
Nanded is the second largest city in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra, India. It is also headquarters of Nanded district in the Marathwada Division of the state. It is an important holy place for the Sikh faith and is famous for the Hazur Sahib Gurudwara. It is the district headquarters once...

 and Washim-Pusad.

Washim is at a higher altitude than Akola
Akola
Akola is a city in the state of Maharashtra located in the Vidarbha region of central India. It is located around 600 km east of Mumbai and 250 km west of Nagpur. Akola is the headquarters of Akola District located in Amravati Division.Akola district has an area of about 54.31 square...

 and the temperature is cooler than Akola and some other districts.

Demographics

India census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...

, Washim had a population of 62,863. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Washim has an average literacy rate of 70%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 76%, and female literacy is 62%. In Washim, 15% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Education

Washim city offers various forms of education including an engineering college which is the first in the district, name of college is Sanmati Engineering College (engineering.sanmati.in), which is a Jain Minority College. Colleges in Washim are affiliated with Amravati University.
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