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The name Virar comes from Eka-viraa. Just as Tunga Parvat becomes “Tunga-ar”, similarly “Vira” becomes “Vira-ar”.There is a huge temple of Eka-vira Devi on the banks of Vaitarna River at the foot hills Tunga Parvat, (this is now totally broken by the continuous raids of Mohamedeans and Portuguese in last 400 years), where people used to conclude their “Shurpaaraka Yatra”, as described in the Puranas and local legends. Virar is the name of a railway station on the Mumbai suburban railway on the Western Railway (India) railway line. Virar is a city and a municipal council in Thane district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Virar is the name of a suburb in Northern Mumbai, and also of an eponymous suburban railway station. Virar is the last station on the Western Suburban local train route of Mumbai. It is around one and a half hours away by train from Churchgate the first station on the Western Railway Line. An outpost of Mumbai, Virar was connected with the mainland with electric train way back in 1925.
Geography
Virar is located at [1]. It has an average elevation of 11 metres (36 feet). Prime Community Vasai has basically 6 communities: 1)Bhandari 2)Koli 3)Samvedi 4)palshe 5)Aagri 6)Vadval In all the above 5 communities half the population was converted to Christianity around 1570 A.D. by the then treacherous Portuguese regime. The story of Virar and JivdaniThe name Viraar comes from Eka-viraa. Just as Tunga Parvat becomes “Tunga-ar”, similarly “Vira” becomes “Vira-ar”.There is a huge temple of Eka-vira Devi on the banks of Vaitarna River at the foot hills Tunga Parvat, (this is now totally broken by the continuous raids of Mohamedeans and Portuguese in last 400 years), where people used to conclude their “Shurpaaraka Yatra”, as described in the Puranas and local legends. There is a huge tank here dedicated to Eka veera Devi called “Viraar Tirtha”, i.e. “Eka- Viraa Tirtha”.Even today, on the west banks of Viraar Tirtha, one finds a carved stone about three feet long and nine inches broad. Below that is a group of female figures of the Yoginis of Ekaveera Devi. Nearby one can find a stone with a roughly cut cow and calf (Savatsa Dhenu), a symbol of Govardhana Math which symbolizes eternity or Moksha. Moving ahead near the foot of a knoll of rock are two cow’s feet (Go-Paad) roughly cut in rock. The legendary story of Jeevdaani Devi is as follows: During their forest journey, Pandavas came to Shurparaka. They visited the holy temple of Vimaleshwar consecrated by Lord Parashuram and on their journey to Prabhas halted on the banks of Vaitarni river. There they worshipped the Bhagavati Ekaveera on the banks of Viraar Tirtha and seeing the serenity and lofty nature decided to carve caves in the nearby mountains. They did so on the hills nearby and installed and worshipped the Yoga Linga of Ekaveera devi in one of the caves. They called her Bhagavati Jeevadhani (That is Goddess, who is the real wealth of life). Doing so Pandavas also made a set of small caves now known as “Pandav Dongri” about a mile from Shrigaon for the hermits. Many yogis used to stay in Pandav Dongri and have darshan of Jeevdhani Devi. After the onset of Kali Yuga, and after the advent of the Buddhist faith, the number of Vaidik Yogis lessened and slowly people forget the hillock and the devi. During times of Jagadguru Shankaracharya’s advent, a Mahar or Mirashi named Viraadas used to stay in Viraar who used to graze the village cattle. He came to Nirmal Mandir for the darshan of Jagadguru Shankaracharya Padmanabha Swami and requested His Holiness to bless him so that he could have darshan of his beloved Kuladevata. Jagadguru was pleased with the devotion of Mahar and advised him to serve Go-Mata on the foothills of Jivadhani, and at appropriate time he would have darshan of his Goddess and attain Go-Loka. He literally for the rest of life followed the advice of Jagadguru Shankaracharya and herded the village cattle. While grazing the village cattle, he used to see a cow grazing along with, whose owner never paid him for herding her. By his virtue, he determined to find the owner of the cow. He followed the cow on the top of Jeevdhan Hill. A beautiful woman with divine features appeared. The Mahar remembered the words of Jagadguru Shankaracharya and understood that she is none other than his Kuladevi Jeevdhani, he was overjoyed and asked “Oh Mother ! I have grazed your cow, will you not pay me for her herding ?”. The Devi just smiled in delight and was on the point of putting some money in the Mahar’s hand, when he said “Do not touch me, I am Mahar. Give me something which cannot be spoilt by touch, words, smell, figure, and ether.” Knowing this Devi asked “Lo my child , whence from you learned this unique knowledge of Varnashram Dharma and Moksha Dharma?”. To this Mahar replied, “From none other than by the Grace of Jagadguru Shankaracharya”. Bhagavati was pleased by this and said “By your virtue (Punya), see this cow which is none other than Kaamadhenu has taken your forefathers to higher abodes by her tail , crossing the Vaitarini”. Thus saying the Mahar saw the cow lept from the hill top putting her two feet prints on hill foor and other two across Vaitarini River in heavens. Now Devi told, “I confer upon you the thing which you demanded that is Moksha.” Saying so the Mahar attained Moksha (The real Jeeva Dhana, the real wealth of Life) and the Devi was about to disappear in the cave, when a barren woman saw all this divine incident screamed “Devi Devi , Amba Amba, will you leave this barren daughter of yours without our jeevan dhan a child in my laps?”. Devi was pleased by her prayers and said “ Great indeed are you who saw all three of us. I henceforth bless you with a child.” The lady was not satisfied by this, she said “Oh Mother of the three worlds, do not just bless me , but let all barren daughters of you who pray you be conferred with the child”. Devi was pleased at this and said “See henceforth, due to the advent of Kali Yuga , in order to maintain purity of rituals, I will stay into a hole in the niche of the cave. The barren women who offer me the beetlenuts in this hole, as is offered in my original place in Mahurgad, will be rewarded with a progeny”. Thus saying the Devi disappeared. This lady spread out the incident and thus once again the Jeevdhan hill started to be visited by the pilgrims. THE NOW INSTALLED MURTY IS VERY RECENT ONE, BUT THE ORIGINAL DIVINE PLACE OF DEVI IS THE HOLE IN THE NICHE OF THE CAVE, WHICH IS THE MAIN PLACE OF WORSHIP. DemographicsAs of 2001 India census[2], Virar had a population of 118,945. Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%. Virar has an average literacy rate of 78%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 81%, and female literacy is 74%. In Virar, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age. Over a period of time Virar has become a cosmopolitan suburb with approx 70% population being Marathi speaking and the balance mix of other communities. The suburb is fully developed with all the banking facilities and residential infra-structure to accommodate the growing population. 70% of the population is below 30 years and basically the result of migration from Mumbai mainland to this part of the greater city due to ever increasing cost of land. The growth of Virar is yet to be seen in full as the quadrupling of the railway line between Borivali and Virar has just taken place in 2007. The railways are still pleading the lack of sufficient number of rakes to take full advantage of the quadrupling. Another proposal which is hanging fire in the extension of the link road from Dahisar to Virar by using the old currently unused railway bridge over the Vasai Creek. Virar is endowed with an excellent beach which is around 6 km away - Arnala. Many worshippers offer their prayers to their beloved deity "Jivdani Mata", by visiting the Jivdani temple, situated atop a hill (having around 1375 steps). This hill also offers a very picturesque view of Virar and its vicinity. There are various farmhouses, shacks and picnic hotels on the beach to make day stay comfortable. Govinda the Bollywood star and current Member of Parliament is also from Virar. Educational institutesJohn XXIII High School, Agashi, Virar (West) Dr. N.P.Shah English Medium School, Vidya Vihar English English High School, National English High School, M.G.M English High School, Utkarsh Vidyalaya, AVS Vidya Mandir Virar [1] St Xaviers High School, Muljibhai Mehta (CBSE) School, K.G.High School, Agashi (Marathi Medium School) External linksReferences
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