Surleshwar temple near ancient holy teerth of Nirmal gaon (Vasai).

Many Purana's and ancient text associate the region of Shurparaka with Parshurama - the sixth avatar of Lord Vishnu. It is said that it was Parshuram who commanded Lord Varuna to recede the sea which created the land of Kerala and Konkan. He gifted Konkan to the Brahmin's. North Konkan region was once called Shurparaka which included the present day Sopara Vasai Virar areas. The name Shurparaka evolve from Sanskrit word "Surpa" referring to the shape of the region which resembled a winnowing basket.

Legend also has it that the region was ruled by two demons Narkasur and Vimlasur, Both were killed by Parshuram and the place where his arrows fell gave rise to twin lakes called Nirmal sarovar and Vimala sarovar. He also established Vimaleshwar Mahadev temple and 64 Yogini in and around Vasai region as well as 108 teertha kunds or pushkarnis. This is quoted in holy edits of Skanda Purana and Padma Purana. Depending upon ones view point the myths and legends can be enlightening or exasperating. 

But the area around the twin lakes in Nirmal gaon has lot of legends, It was region which was once ruled by Mauryas, Rashtrakutas, Chalukyas, Sultans of Gujarat before Portuguese. Marathas led by Chimaji Appa besieged the area from Portuguese during which time lot of temples were either renovated or built in and around Vasai. 

Having stumbled upon details of many legends and heritage associated with Nalasopara - Vasai belt, where mythology, legend and history have intersected here to create stories, I decided to explore the place story by story in bits and pieces. My first stop took me to the Buddhist stupa and temples nearby. My next stop was at Shankaracharya Samadhi temple also known as Vimleshwar Mandir. The details of the visit is in the link (_). My discussion with the head trustee at the temple lead me to visit the above temple located at the other end of Nirmal Sarovar.

Surleshwar Mahadev is a small temple dedicated to Lord Shiva as well as to goddess Surleshwari Mata and is famous in the nearby areas for the antyakarma rituals done here for the death of beloved family member during certain specific days in a year. Surleshwari Mata is a small temple adjoining the Shiva temple, The goddess is suppose to be navasa palanara mandir where wishes of the patrons get fulfilled. The temple is located on banks of Nirmal sarovar.

The twin lakes of Nirmal and Vimala sarovar is divided by a main road which leads to Giriz area of Vasai. A furlong away from the main entrance steps which leads to Shankaracharya Temple, their lies a detour road passing by a crematorium. At a distance of 5-7 minutes from here lies a small temple of Surleshwar Mahadev. It's not a grandeur temple as compared to the other twin temple in the area.

First thing one notices before the temple lies two memorials and few broken sculptures. One memorial on a small raised platform is the padukas while the other memorial is the samadhi of shishya of Shankaracharya whose samadhi lies in the larger Shankaracharya temple. Just next to it lies two broken sculptures, one of them is of a devi with a braid which is clearly seen, not in very good state, the ornamentation is quiet intricate and yet intact. The sculpture is either broken or has sunken in the ground.

The other sculpture is clearly broken, it has two faces with one of them is bearded. 3rd face seems to have been damaged. The two visible faces have huge earrings. The bearded face looks similar to the magnificence idol of Brahma which lies in the compound of Chakreshwar Mahadev Temple located at a few kms from this place.

Just outside the temple lies a deepsthamb and stone stele of "Gai-Vasru", The cow and calf stone indicates cow being the land grant by the ruler and calf represents the receiver of the grant. The milk of the cow is the benefit to the receiver of the grant.

Before one enters the main Shiva temple, lies the temple dedicated to goddess Suleshwari Mata. It is said that it is navasa palanari mata, so people come here with a wish and when the wish is fulfilled a small wooden idol is offered as a thanks giving. There were few wooden dolls were lying next to the goddess idol.

The main Shiva temple has few distinct features that one finds in the temples of Konkan region. The entrance to the sanctum sanctorum has two idols on either side, one is of Ganesha in stark red which seems to be quite common colour of Ganesha in this region. One small Ganesha temple which I passed while coming here also had same coloured Ganesha idol in same pose. The other idol on other side of the entrance is of Goddess Shantadurga which is rare to find in Mumbai but worshipped largely in Konkan region and Goa.

The sanctum has the Shiva Linga and a small idol of Goddess Parvati. The sanctum is at a lower level by two steps. The sanctum is guarded by a white Marble Nandi which seems to be fairly newly built.

There is another small idol of red Ganesha at the entrance to the sanctum. The temple in general is not very attractive structure but what would interest the heritage enthusiast are the stone sculptures and the one stone stele of gai - vasru.


How to reach: Take a direct bus to Giriz from Nalasopara stn and get down at Shankaracharya temple. Take a road passing in front of crematorium, Temple is located on other side of Nirmal lake. Takes 5 minutes to reach from the Shankaracharya temple.

You may also take Kalimb beach bus and get down at the Nirmal naka. There is another road that leads to the temple from the bus naka at walkable distance.