Mallari (also known as Marthanda Bhairava or Khandoba) is one of the aspects of Lord Siva, assumed by Him for the protection of His devotee's and for over-coming evil powers obstructing the devotees. Once upon a time a powerful asura, Malls by name, along with his brother Mani caused extensive-havoc to rishis. These two were so powerful that even the gads under the leader-ship of Indra, were helpless against the asuras. The afflicted rishis, after representing to Indra and Vishnu, go to Kailasa and pray to Siva. He assumes the form of a warrior on a horse - Marthanda Bhairava - and after a fight slays both Mani and Malls. Hence He gets the epithet Mallari'. At the earnest behest of the rishis, He consents to appear on the earth in that form and save those who are sincerely devoted to Him, and worship Him. His consort is Mhalasa. Mallari is the kula-daivarn of a large number of Maharashtrian families and His worship dates from ancient times. His temple at Jejuri (in Maharashtra) is famous. The detailed account of Lord Siva's advent as Mallari, the fight with the Asuras, the importance and significance of His temple and connected thirthas, are contained in the Kshetrakhanda of Brahmandapurana in Sanskrit. Sri Madhavaswami, who belonged to Sri Samartha Sampradaya and lived in Tiruvazhundur in Thanjavur District, has composed Sri Mallari Mahatmya in Marathi Ovis, based on the above mentioned purana. The work dates back to 1697 A. D. and a copy in manuscript form, was in the Library. Sri T. B. Nagarajan (of Sri Samartha Sampradaya) has edited the text with notes, for printing. I am grateful to him. This is a work which would be of great use to worshippers of Mallari for study and parayanam. My thanks are also due to those incharge of the Library for the excellent get up and printing, done in a very short time.
The present publication. Sri Mallari Mahatmya, in Marathi ovis, is the work of Sri Madhava Swami, the savant-poet. He has many other works to his credit, His Virata Parva and Slokabaddha Ramayana have been published in this series. He has also written complete Ramayana and Mahabharata, besides some other works. Venkaji founded the Mahratta empire in Thanjavur in 1670. Soon thereafter three disciples of Sri Samartha Ramadas [1608 - 1681, Guru of Sivaji the great] were sent to Thanjavur to administer to the spiritual and religious needs of the king's subjects. These were, Sri Bhima Rao Goswami, Sri Anantha Mowni and Sri Raghavadas Swami. The first established a Mutt in Thanjavur; the second in Mannargudy; and the third in Konur on the outskirts of Thanjavur. The Mutts were also centres of learning and scholarship. Meruswami, the disciple of Anantha Mowni is the author of Ramasohala and other works, and was also a composer of music, etc. Madhava Swami, the author of the present work was the disciple of Sri Raghavadas Swami; and had his Mutt at Tiruvazhundur. Madhava Swami's maternal grandfather was the great saint Sri Ekanath Maharaj, who was also a towering scholar-poet. His works are too well known to be mentioned here No doubt Madhava Swami was blessed with this heritage. Almost all his works were composed in Tiruvazhundur and the tradition is that he expounded his great works in the corridors of the big temple at Tribhuvanam. The colophon to the present work gives the date of its composition as 1697. His ovi-Ramayana was composed in 1493, and Bharata in 1703.
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