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PLACES
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AMALI
Amali with 921 inhabitants in 1961, is largely an agricultural village in Sakri taluka. known for the shrine dedicated to Vishnu or Kanhaiyalal Maharaj. The story goes that once Raja Makardhvaja of Mulher had been to Dakor, a place near port Okha. to pay his respects to that famous deity. The idol to be seen today in the temple at Amale appeared in his dream and requested the Raja to carry it along with him to Mulher. On Raja's agreeing, the Lord put the condition that the palanquin carrying him should not be put down anywhere on the way. Bhois were engaged to carry the palanquin and the Raja proceeded ahead to get the temple built and make other necessary arrangements. In order to shorten the distance the palanquin bearers cut across the jungles and near Amale when they came across a river they halted to have a dip in it. On being reminded by one of them that if kept down the palanquin would stick to the place, they kept it on a pipal tree. But after coming out of the river they were stupefied to find that the palanquin would not move. No amount of prayers moved the Lord and hence the Bhois had to abandon it. After the lapse of a certain period of time the Lord now approached a poor man from the village by name Pavba Bhagat and requested him to build a small temple for him. Pavba expressed his inability because of his poverty, but the Lord gave him to understand that once made a beginning he would find the necessary wealth underneath the building stones. Pavba
accordingly undertook the task and everything happened as he was told in the dream.
The idol was then ceremoniously installed by the villagers-Such is the story told about the construction of the temple which took place some 400 years ago. Kanhaiyalal temple, encompassed by a compound wall, is approached by a flight of approximately thirty well designed steps. Within the compound, besides the main temple, there are eight more small ones built to house different other deities. There are also two dilapidated dharmashalas. The 1.858 sq. metres (20 ft. square) sabhamandap of brick and cement appears to have been constructed at a later date. Black stone has been employed in the construction of the main temple. It is 0.929 square metres (10 ft. square) and contains an idol of Sheshashai (Vishnu) in a reclining pose. It is crowned by a Shikhar. the inside of which has been painted with some beautiful pictures. The walls are also similarly decorated. Engraved images of some deities and animals decorate the vestibule jambs. Two dvarpalas flank its entrance. The deity is held in high reverence and is said to fulfil the navas or cherished desires of its devotees, fn honour of the god a fair attended by over three thousand persons is held on Kartik Shuddha Ekadashi.
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