Washim was known earlier as Vatsagulma and it was the seat
of power of the Vakataka dynasty. Washim is also known as
Basim, an Arabic name that means "the one that smiles". The name
originated in Saudi Arabia in 436. When Basim R. Iqbal ruled the Jamar clan. HarishenaVakataka
was one of the main patrons of the Ajanta Caves World Heritage
Site. The house of Vakataka was Buddhist and support all Buddhist
Washim is a
place with antiquity and according to some scholars, it is the place where Vatsa rishi performed penance and where many Gods
came to bless him as a result of which it came to be known as Vatsagulma. Its mention as Vatsagulma is
traced in Padma. In the Treta Yuga,
the second age, this country was a part of the Dandakaranya,
or Dandaka jungle, and the rishi Vatsa had his ashram hermitage, here; his religious merit
acquired by austerities, was such that consternation spread through the world;
rivers ran dry and trees were withered, and even the gods were afraid. They
came, therefore in a body to Bashim and
took up a temporary residence at various places within a radius of 5 miles from
the town.Shiva,
alone, whose devotee Vatsa had proclaimed himself, went directly to the rishi
whom he found absorbed in penance. At the sight of his virtue Shiva was so much
overcome that he wept, and the tears filled a dry well at his feet and flowed
forth as the river Karuna; then he promised to grant any boon
Vatsa might ask for. The latter asked that Shiva should remain for ever at the
rishi's abode to save his worshippers from affliction. Shiva granted this, and
his linga remained there in consequence. Then
the other gods appeared in a single gathering (gulma) and promised to stay in their
divine essence, ansharupa, at the various places at which
they had halted; and so the neighbourhood is called 'Vatsa Gulmaehi Pacha
Koshi', the Five Kos of the Vatsa Gathering, and is considered a kshetra, sacred area.
About the origin of the name Bashim or Washim the old Gazetteer has given the
following information. A poor Brahmin orphan was protected by a learned
member of the caste, but after some time stole a necklace belonging to his
protector's wife. In the morning when she bewailed her loss he repented and
sought to restore the necklace but could not find it. Meanwhile the woman laid
on the unknown thief the curse that he should suffer from a loathsome disease
and his body should be covered with insects, upon which the boy went to Pravaga
Tirtha (Allahabad),
did penance for the theft, and threw himself into the holy Ganges. On account of the
religious merit, thus gained, lie was born again as a son of the king of Kanakadripura in Karnataka, when he was
given the name Vasuki in course of time he both married and succeeded to the
throne but presently his wife Kanakalekha discovered that when he was asleep at
night his body was infested with maggots. One day when shooting he washed his
hands and face in a small and dirty pond, and that night so much of his flesh
remained wholesome. He and his wife sought the pool again, here in Vatsaranga,
but could not find it. They went to Vasishtha rishi and told nun about it,
whereon he related the story of the king's previous life and of the religious
importance of Vatsagulma Kshetra, and showed them the pool. This was the Padma
Tirtha, and Vasuki first bathed and' was wholly cleansed and then took up his
residence near the spot. The new town was called Vasuki-Nagara, but became
corrupted into Washim, or Bashim. This derivation of the place name is
fantastic, washim is derived from Vatsagulma, the capita! of a branch of the
Vakatakas which is known as the Vatsagulma branch of the Vakatakas. The
existence of this branch of the Vakatakas was unknown until the discovery of
the Washim plates in 1939. The founder of this family was Sarvasena mentioned
in the Washim plates as the son of Pravarasena I.
Satvasena made Vatsagulma i.e. Washim, the capital of his kingdom. In course of
time the place became a great centre of learning and culture. It was, however,
known as a holy place long before it became the capital of Sarvasena who
flourished in the period circa A. IV 330-355. He was followed by Vindhyashakti II.
The Washim plates, which brought existence of this branch to notice for the
first time, are dated in the 37th regnal year of Vindhyashakti II. They were
issued from the royal capital Vatsagulma. Vindyasena or Vindhyashakti was succeeded
by his son Pravarsena II.
A Fragmentary inscription issued by Devasena who succeeded to the throne in
circa A. D. 450 was issued from Vatsagulma which shows that the city continued
to be the capital of the branch to the last. In the time of Harisena, the son
of Devasena, it became the capital of a vast empire comprising a large part of
the Deccan. Thus it can be said that it was a royal seat of the Vatsagulma
branch of the Vakatakas from A. D. 330 to 500 when the son of Harishena whose
name is not known succeeded to the throne in 500 AD. A reference to Washim is
found in Kavyamimansa by Rajashekhara, the celebrated poet and dramatist of the
Yayavara family who flourished from 875 to 925 AD. He has mentioned therein
Vatsagulma as situated in Vidarbha. But even earlier references to Vatsagulma
or Vatsa-gulma are found in Mahabharata and Kamasutra, which in their present
form are assignable to a period before the age of the Vakatakas. The
Karpuramunjari, a play written by Rajashekhara and staged at Kanauj under the
patronage of the Gurjara-Pratiharas also mentions it as situated in the
Daksina-patha (Dtccan). Vachchhoma (Vatsagulma) was the name of the Prakrit
style current in Vidarbha. Vashima is derived from Vachchhoma the Prakrit name
of Vatsagulma. The Sanskrit treatise Vatsagulmyamahatmya also gives traditional
information about this town. During the middle of the 18th century Washim was
the famous centre of cloth production along with Balapur. It is clearly brought out by one
of the articles of the treaty of Kanakpur entered
into between Janoji Bhonsle and the Peshwa Madhavrao I after the battle between the two in
1769. The article states that the Bhosles should send annually to the Peshva
cloth manufactured at Washim and Balapur worth Rs. 5,000. A mint was also in
existence at Washim. The town was looted by the Pendharis in 1809 along with
some other places in Berar.
.
The municipal council was established at Washim in 1869 and
is now governed under the Maharashtra Municipalities Act, 1965. It covers,
according to the Census of 1961, an area of 42.16 square km. The municipal
council is composed of 18 members with two seats each being reserved for the
scheduled castes and women.During the year 1961-62, the total receipts of the
municipality amounted to Rs. 4,62,402 of which the receipts from the municipal
taxes were Rs. 2,16,985, the per capita municipal tax being Rs 8.09. During the
year 1965-66[During 1973-74, the income and expenditure amounted to Rs.
14,34,000 and Rs. 13,74,000, respectively.], the total income of the
municipality was placed at Rs 6,41,768 composed of municipal rates and taxes,
Rs. 3,21,998; revenue derived from municipal property did powers apart from
taxation, Rs. 41,558; grants and contributions from the Government, Rs.
2,25,423 and income from other miscellaneous sources, Rs. 52.809. During the
same year the total expenditure of the municipality came to Rs. 6.15,337
comprising general administration. Rs. 26.295: collection charges, Rs. 87,000;
"public safety, Rs. 22,792; public health and convenience, Rs. 2.10,345,
public works, Rs. 20,068; public instruction, Rs. 1,88,573 and miscellaneous
expenditure, Rs. 60,264. A regime Of President Mr. Ashok Heda proved successful
for the city in terms of development and progress. Ghar kul yojana ; a
prior plan to provide the poor with houses at low rates.
With a view to providing various facilities to the town's
people the municipality conducts primary schools and a high school and
maintains a dispensary. Underground drainage system is not yet introduced in
the town. There are stone lined gutters and the sewage and night soil is
carried away on hand carts. The meeting hall of the municipality is used by the
town's people as a town hall. Protected piped water is supplied to a part of
the town, but wells form the main source of water supply. The cremation grounds
and burial places are managed by the respective communities.
Balaji Mandir
The temple of Balaji is a considerably old temple in the town
and was constructed by Bhavani Kalu who rose to be the divan of Sabaji Bhosle
and Janoji Bhosle. He constructed the temple in 1779 AD when he was the
Subhedar at the thana of Karanja. The shrine is much revered. The images in the
temple of Vyankateshvar Balaji are said to have been buried during Aurangzeb's
reign to save them from destruction. All trace of them was lost, but in about
1760 a horseman happened casually to turn up a little earth with his stick and
perceived a finger of an image. Images of Brahma, Vishnu, Mahadeva, Parvali,
Devi, Ganapati, and Naga were taken out. At that time bhavani Kalu, who had
been patvari of the village Khadi Dhanini in Mangrul tahsil but had become the
Divan (or according to some accounts, a general) of the Bhosle Rajas, was at
Bashini. He set up the present temple, a fine building standing in a large
paved quadrangle, with a well-built verandah for pilgrims to stay, a bhandara
for Brahmans to take food, and various offices. The work look 12 years but was
finished, according to an inscription on a pillar in front, in 1700 Shaka, AD
1776. The Dev Talay or Balaji Talav, a large square tank with stone built
sides, strongly and handsomely finished, and with a Jalakridasthana,
resting-place for swimmers, in the middle, was made at the same time. The chief
image is of black stone and sparkles with ornaments; a fine view of the town is
to be obtaineu from the top of the temple gateway, though the staircase is
rather abrupt. A dome plated with gold has recently been constructed over the
inner chamber of the temple. According to the old Gazetteer 'large jagirs and
inams were given for the support of the temple, the present revenue being Rs.
11,000 from those sources and Rs. 3,000 from kangi offerings. A big fair is
held in honour of Balaji. in Ashvina (September–October). About 12,000 to
15,000 people assemble at the time of the fair.
Deo Talav
The tree plantations by tile side of the tank have now
thoroughly disappeared. During the Ganapati festival, the immersion of the
idols takes place in this tank and as a result this tank is getting silted
gradually. However, the tank still stands in good condition.
Daridrya Harana Tirtha
The Daridrya-harana Tirtha is said to have been created by
Shri Dattatreya. Well built as the tank seems to have been formerly, the steps
on only one side are noticeable now. By the side of the tank is a large banyan
tree. One anecdote about the tirtha says that king Dashratha of Ayodhya, the
father of Rama, killed Shravana by mistake by sitting over this tree.
Rama Mandir
On the other side of the Deo talav is a temple dedicated to
Ramchandra, a large enclosed building but not, by any means as fine as the
temple of Baiaji. it contains images of Lakshmana, Sita, Maruti and Rariha
Krishna besides that of Ramchandra. It is said to have been built by one
Bhagvandas Maharaj Bairagi about 250 years ago. In front of the temple, has
recently been constructed a two-storeyed dharmashala. It is used by the
bairagis who visit the temple. Marriage and such other religious functions also
take place in this dharmashala. Ramanavami is celebrated at this temple with
great pomp.
Washim is a railway station on Purna-Khandwa section of South
Central Railway (SCR). It was in Hyderabad division of SCR
and now is in Nanded division after bifurcation of Hyderabad division. Washim
was connected to the broad gauge railway network in 2008 when tracks were
extended from Purna to Akola. 7639/7640 Kachiguda Akola express can be accessed by the passengers arriving from Nagpur or Mumbai route while Hyderabad and Nanded can be accessed from the south.
Sanmati Engineering College was the first
engineering college in the district, whereas Adv. R. R. Rathi Law College
covers legal subjects. Mount Carmel english high school is run by amravati
catholic diocese of gyanmata school and provides excellent knowledge and
education in academics and other co curricular activities.Shri Bakliwal
Vidyalaya is the oldest school in Washim.Most of the students in Washim learn
in this school. Sometimes teacher teach on projector.
Sanmati
Engineering College
SEC has an excellent infrastructure, well-equipped Laboratories and Workshops, state-of-the-art Computer and IT Center, Central Library, spacious Auditorium, hygienic Canteen, and separate hostels and gyms for boys and girls. All the branches of Engineering and Technology have their own Technical association which organize Technical meetings, symposia, etc. in their respective discipline. National level technical symposia are conducted every year. The valuable inputs gained help the students to hone their technical, managerial and organizational skills.
The Institute has teaching faculty who are well qualified and experienced from reputed institutes and industry experience. Many of them have done eminent research and publication work in their domain of specialization. - See more at: http://sanmati.in/colleges/sanmati-engineering-college#sthash.d3ToGPnw.dpuf
Above data is collected and shared from various sources
available on websites and in general article sections like newspaper, magazines
etc .data might not be 100% correct. Request all the users to re verify if
again. Web world group India
Data taken on dated
18/03/2014
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