While exploring Belgaon, we came across the experience that some of the forts in the historical documents have been destroyed over time and not a single inscription indicating their identity remains. This Marathi province, which is in the Swarajya, was annexed to the state of Karnataka during the linguistic process. Today, these forts in Belgaon district were once in Swarajya, so I still consider these forts in Maharashtra. While roaming around the Belgaon district, we made a list of about 40 forts in Belgaon as per the records in the historical documents. One of the forts on this list is Murgod. No fort was found even after exploring the area around the entire Murgod village and asking 20-22 locals, but all of them asked to visit the monastery of Mahaswami Chidambaram Dixit. ... Murgod fort was not found but it was decided to visit the monastery of Shri Mahaswami Chidambaram Dixit here. Murgod village in Saundatti taluka of Belgaon district is at a distance of 50 km from Belgaon city and outside the village is the monastery of Mahaswami Chidambaram Dixit. The entire courtyard of the monastery is enclosed by the wall. Chidambaram Mahaswamy's father Martand Dixit performed penance at this place. Adjacent to this is the Audumbar tree, from which the story is told that Chidambaram Mahaswami rained gold coins. To the south of the Audumbar tree is the Lakshmi temple and to the north is the temple of Chidambaram Swami. The sanctum sanctorum, prayer hall, and entrance of the temple are constructed in three parts and there is a beautiful Nandi in the prayer hall. In the northern part of this temple, there is Shriram temple and Martandeshwar temple established by Chidambaraswamy and in this temple, there is Lord Hanuman’s idol established by Swami. Under the sacred fig tree in front of the temple is the Datta Paduka, established in 1685 by Chidambaraswamy's father Shri Martand Dixit. In the Bakhar of Sri Swami Samarth of Akkalkot, it is mentioned that he served ghee in the Yajna ceremony at Murgod. Accommodation and Prasad were provided in the monastery. Murgod fort is mentioned in history as follows: Murgod Thane, which was under the control of Nawab of Savnur, was besieged by Madhavrao Peshwa's army on 5th November 1764 and Madhavrao Peshwa informed Raghunathrao that Murgod Thane was conquered. The letter, which is in the Peshwa Daftar, also gives a chronology of the battle. It is mentioned that for some time after this, there was a coin mint of Marathas here. Today, Murgod village has expanded a lot although the fort has been lost. If anyone finds the fort or knows the location of it, please let us know.
© Suresh Nimbalkar