The Gazetteers Department

Bid district has over 1,000 temples spread over its length and breath. Of these, some are famous all over the State. The Vaijnath temple of Parali attracts pious devotees from all over the district and also from the south. A fair attended by a large population and lasting for about a week is held in the month of Magh. Other famous temples in the district are the Yogesvari temple at Ambejogai and the Kankalesvar temple at Bid. These temples have been famous even from very ancient times.

Several are the gods and goddesses worshipped by the Hindus of the district. Siv in his various forms is the most commonly worshipped deity in the district. Other gods worshipped are Visnu, Krsna, Ganapati, Ram and Maruti. Local people attend temples daily or at least on holy days.

Siv or Mahadev attains various names such as, Kankalesvar, Somesvar, Moresvar, Khandoba, Bahiroba, etc. He is represented by his phallic emblem, the linga or stone pyramid. Siv is worshipped by the high and low castes as well. Some people observe a fast in his honour on Monday.

Maruti represents the monkey whose great services to Ram are depicted in Ramayan. He is represented by an image of monkey wrought in stone and coloured with vermilion. In stray cases, a bare stone painted red is worshipped as God. On Satur days, some people observe fast in His honour and visit His temple to offer sweet oil and a garland of rui (calatropis gigautea) flowers

Ganes is represented by an elephant-headed human figure in a sitting posture and with a large belly (lambodar). He is considered as the god of good luck, learning and the remover of difficulties (vighnahar). A child's first lesson of alphabets consist of "Sri Ganesaya Namah" (I bow to the illustrious Ganes). The Ganapati temple at (Navagan Rajuri (where there are nine Ganapati images as the name signifies) and Limbaganes in Bid tahsil are famous.

Siv took the form of Khandoba to punish the daityas Malla and Ari. Khandoba is, therefore, also known as Malhari (i.e. enemy of the mallas). His wife is Mhalasa and Khandoba is also known as Mhalasakant (i.e. Mhalasa's husband). Khandoba and Mhalasa form the family deities of some people. They are much revered by Kunbis and Dhangars. Some beggars sing songs in Khandoba's praise and beg alms in his name.

Visnu, Krsna and Ram are represented as religious personalities in the Puranas.

Besides, there are a number of temples dedicated to Goddesses such as Kalika devi, Limba devi, Renuka devi, Jogesvari, Jagadamba and Bhavani (which is a form of Parvati). Of these the Jogesvari temple at Ambejogai and the temple of Mata devi at Talvada in Gevrai tahsil are famouns and a huge fair is held each year near the temple.

There are also a number of maths (about 300) including some of the Lingayats, Mahanubhavs, etc. There are seven samadhis in the district of which the Mukundraj's Samadhi to the southwest of Ambejogai is famous.

Muslims

The fact that a number of Muslims are converts from Hinduism explains a number of them worshipping Hindu gods. The close contact between Hindus and Muslims for generations further makes it clear why a number of Muslims worship Hindu saints, their monuments and attend fairs in honour of Hindu deities, A number of Hindus also worship pirs and attend urus. About 800 dargahs and masjids are scattered over different parts of the district. Of the mosques and masjids in Bid district, the following are famous, historically and architecturally. The Khanqah mosque at Bid having a star.shaped plan is used for Muslim worship and thus gets its name. The Jame Masjid and Rajuri Masjid at Bid, the Dargahs of Sahensah Wali and Pir Bala Sah at Bid and the tomb of Muhammad Bin Tughlaq's Tooth at Ranjani dated centuries back are much venerated and well. attended.

Christians

The Christian population of the district, being small, the number of churches in the district comes hardly to forty.