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The original temple of Vajreshwari was at Gunj - five miles (8 km) north of Vadavli. It was moved to Vadvali after its destruction by the Portuguese.
In 1739, Chimaji Appa - the younger brother and military commander of Peshwa Baji Rao I - had set camp in the Vadvali region on his way to capture the Portuguese held Bassein Fort of Vasai. The fort was unconquerable even after a three-year war. So Chimaji appa prayed to goddess Vajreshwari that if he could conquer the fort and defeat the Portuguese, he would build a temple to the goddess. According to legend, goddess Vajreshwari appeared in the dream of Chimaji Appa and told him the way to conquer the fort. On the 16 May, the fort fell and defeat of Portuguese in Vasai was complete. To celebrate his victory and to fulfill the vow taken in front of goddess Vajreshwari, Chimnaji appa ordered the new Subhedar (governor) Shankar Kasav Phadke to build the Vajreshwari temple. The temple' architecture is based on Bassein Fort.
The Nagarkhana in main entrance gate was built by the Gaikwads, Maratha dynasty of Baroda. The stone steps leading to the temple and the Dipamala (A tower of lights) in front of the temple were built by Nanasaheb Chandavadakar, a moneylender from Nashik.
Read more about this topic: Vajreshwari Temple
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