Dr Shantaram Mahajan's book Pune Sheratil Mandire, provides an insight to the various places of worship in the city

Binding the inviolable and vibrant essence of a city that has always been a famous sacrosanct ground of diverse beliefs and religions, Dr Shantaram Mahajan, in his latest book, Pune Sheratil Mandire has compiled information on over 300 temples of the various communities in Pune.

At 77, Mahajan, who is typically at an age where most of his time is devoted to God, says, that this book that documents some sacred information for the coming generations has been his way to worship the almighty.

After starting research way back in 1988, he released the first handbook on 230 temples in 2003. "I'm a member of the senior citizens’ club and every month we go on trips where we visit different temples in the city. I noticed that in the past decade, as Pune has expanded hugely, the number of temples have increased remarkably."

A librarian himself and the former head of department of library science at Pune University, Mahajan says the book Pune Sheheratil Mandire gives vivid information on the significant places of worship in and around Pune, and the book will not only be useful for tourists but also the residents. "It is a guide for those who love seeing different beautiful monuments. Apart from the historic and spiritual significance, the book also gives a brief of its architectural information," says the passionate researcher who has also authored other books like Pune City Tourist Guide and Pune City Bibliography.

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