E-Paper
Veni Madhav temple ?A dream project of Baija Bai
SCINDIAS HAVE a strong connection with Allahabad. Epitomising the link of this royal family with the city is Sri Veni Madhav temple which is located at old GT Road in Bai-ka-Bagh .
SCINDIAS HAVE a strong connection with Allahabad. Epitomising the link of this royal family with the city is Sri Veni Madhav temple which is located at old GT Road in Bai-ka-Bagh.
Huge black gates lead the way to this temple which is 171 years old. It was built by Baija Bai Saheb, wife of Srimant Daulat Rao Scindia in the year 1835 according to the historians. Beautiful carvings in stone have made this temple still more attractive. Tranquil atmosphere and lush greenery surrounds this structure of historical significance.
Stone steps lead to the sanctum sanctorum where there are the idols of Sri Veni, Madhav and Garun. There is also the marble statue of Baija Bai placed near the idols. The inscription at the left side of the entrance mentions that the management of the temple is with Scindia Devasthan Trust, Gwalior. Just above the entrance are two photographs of late Madhav Rao Scindia. There is also a fountain in front of the sanctum sanctorum which is not in the working condition at present and it has been hidden by a huge block of stone.
A walk through the gallery surrounding the sanctum sanctorum leads to the back portion which has been covered with thick iron grills. Lying there in heaps are tarnished utensils and huge wooden trunks and according to the residents, those utensils were used to cook food during 'bhandaras' held during the time of Baija Bai's stay here. Rooms are mostly locked and they still carry the iron locks which belong to that period.
The 'shikhar' of the temple has been intricately carved and its highest point has been decorated with brass structure which shines in sunlight. The symbol of the Scindia dynasty (the figure of Sun in splendour surrounded by two cobras) has also been carved on the 'shikhar'.
The historical facts related to Baija Bai were rather very interesting. She was the wife of Daulat Rao Scindia who had the credit of shifting the state capital from Ujjain to Gwalior. He was the successor of Mahadji Scindia and he died in the year 1827 without leaving any successor. According to Dr DP Dubey of Ancient History Department, Allahabad University, Daulat Rao's nearest kinsman Jankoji Rao Scindia was then the ruler of the Gwalior state.
"Baija Bai was an ambitious lady and she wanted to have her influence on Jankoji Rao. This led to occasional tiffs between them and finally Jankoji approached the Residency for help in 1832 AD. The interference of Lord William Bentinck pacified the situation for sometime but the quarrel surfaced again and Jankoji again asked for help from the Residency in 1834. This time however the Residency took action against Baija Bai and she was expelled from Gwalior," said Dr Dubey.
Baija Bai was always escorted by a British official wherever she went. In 1835 she went to Fatehgarh and then she came to Allahabad where she stayed for 4 to 5 years. She camped in the area which is known as Bai-ka-Bagh at present and this mohalla was named after Baija Bai.
Here she got built Sri Veni Madhav temple. "She also camped in Varanasi where she built the Bai Ghat. Meanwhile in 1843, Jankoji died and his nearest kinsman Jayaji Rao was enthroned. There was patch up between Baija Bai and Jayaji Rao. Then she went to Ujjain and she took her last breath at Nasik. Fanny Parks, the wife of a British Commander, forged a very good friendship with Baija Bai and in one of her books Parks mentions Baija Bai as a courteous and religious woman," added Dr Dubey.
