Chairman’s Desk

Dear devotees! With the divine blessings of Param Sadguru Shukracharya Maharaj, I am delighted to present to you a compilation of ancient, historical, and religious information about Guru Shukracharya, his disciple Kachadeva, and daughter Devayani, who are believed to have graced the sacred land of Shukratirtha also known as Shri Khetra Bet, Kopargaon. In addition, I would like to describe the captivating features of various temples under the Devasthana trust, including shri Ganesh Temple, Shri Shukracharya Temple, Shri Kacheshwar Temple, Shri Tryambakeshwar Temple, Shri Hari Vishnu Temple, Shri Sanjivani Paar, and Shri Muralidhar Temple. Moving forward, I must acknowledge that writing about a Rishi like Shri Guru Shukracharya is an immense task, and I do not claim to be an authority on this subject. However, this book serves as a humble tribute to the Great Rishi, an effort to inform people and devoted followers about the significance and greatness of Guru Shukracharya's work. As previously mentioned, no number of books can truly encompass the essence of Guru Shukracharya. Nonetheless, in this book, I have made every attempt to shed light on why Guru Shukracharya chose Kopargaon as the site for the Siddhta and utilization of the Sanjivani Mantra. The Geographical reasons of this region plays a role, as does the uniqueness and importance of Kopargaon, as described by the eminent astronomer Guru Shukracharya himself. I have also addressed common conceptions and misconceptions about Guru Shukracharya among the people and delved into the inception of the Guru-shishya tradition. Furthermore, the stories of the Vivaha siddha homa and the blessings that negate the necessity of adhering to Muhurta (planetary positions/auspicious time). Additionally, there is a brief overview of Shukraniti, a scripture authored by Guru Shukracharya, which outlines the rules to be followed by humans in their daily lives. I would like to thank, a devotee of Guru Shukracharya from Mumbai Mr. Vinod Doshi, who requested and insisted on translating this book in English as it was originally written in Marathi. So that all the devotees would know about it. The co operation and hard work of my son Omkar Balasaheb Avhad for designing cover page, drawing sketches and helping for other religious information who worked tirelessly for the translation, will not be denied. this book would not have been possible without their help. Shukraniti, blessed by the presence/stay of Guru Shukracharya, has stood proudly for thousands of years, witnessing its sanctity. Therefore, I humbly invite all readers to visit this sacred place and receive the blessings of Guru Shukracharya. Thank you!