History
Baramati is one of the well known historical places in Maharashtra. It is situated on the banks of the river Karha. The town has a historical significance because of Shri. Babuji Naik. The town is also famous in Maharashtra because of the popular poet Moropant, the great legendary poet laureate.
The town has a long history of about 400 years. The town has two old temples which are built around 750 AD. One of them is of Shri Kashivishweshwar- based on the west bank of the river, the other is of Shri Siddheshwar, located on the east bank of the river. Sidheshwar Temple is a master piece of architecture. The temple is located near Babuji Naik's Mansion. In this temple we find the gigantic idol of Nandi. It is simply the superb piece of sculpture. We find the references of both these temples in the great epic "Shiv Lilamrut" by another famous poet Shridhar Swami.
Once upon a time, it is said that, Baramati was ruled by the Yadavas of Devagiri. But later on, after the fall of the Yadav rule, it was immersed in the reign of Bahmani Sultanate. Fortunately we find very authentic and credible historical references of Baramati's History in the books of Dr. Shejwalkar & James Grant Duff- the well known historians.
According to James Grant Duff, Nijam Shah of Ahemednagar, gifted Baramati to Malojiraje Bhosale, in 1603 AD. Thus Baramati was ruled by Bhosale and later on it was included the great reign of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. That time it was administered by Dadoji Konddeo. After the decline of the Maratha Empire Baramati was ruled by the Mughals of Delhi in the 17th century.
Then after Aurangzeb's death, it was won by the Marathas. Around 1745AD Shahu Maharaj handed over the charge of Baramati to Babuji Naik. He was the great administrator as well as the patron of arts and religion. It is he who gave the royal support and patronage to Kavivarya Moropant- the pioneer of "Arya". Moropant was born in the village Saundal.
