Kandakurthi (Telangana): The ancestral village of Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, the founder of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), is set to witness the inauguration of the ‘Sri Keshav Spoorti Mandir’, a memorial and inspiration centre being established to commemorate the life and legacy of Dr Hedgewar. This will be inaugurated on April 11 by RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat.
Sri Keshav Spoorti Mandir Structure and Key Features
The Sri Keshav Spoorti Mandir has been designed as a dedicated space to preserve and present the life, vision, and legacy of Dr Hedgewar.
The ground floor premises will house a statue of Dr Hedgewar, accompanied by a curated photo gallery depicting key phases of his life and his vision for national reconstruction.
The first floor will have a statue of Bharat Mata installed. The floor will include a video presentation hall showcasing Dr Hedgewar’s life and ideological journey. Another hall, named Sangrahalay, will display personal artefacts used by him, copies of his handwritten letters, and rare books associated with his life.
The statues of Bharat Mata and Dr Hedgewar have been sculpted by noted Mysuru-based artisan Arun Yogiraj, known for crafting the Ram Lalla murthi in Ayodhya.
The Mandir is being developed as a Shraddha Kendra—a centre of reverence and inspiration for RSS Swayamsevaks and visitors.
With the launch of the Sri Keshav Spoorti Mandir, Kandakurthi is poised to become a prominent centre of inspiration for RSS Swayamsevaks and admirers of Dr Hedgewar across India and abroad. The memorial is envisioned as a space fostering devotion, discipline, and commitment towards national service.
Dr Mohan Bhagwat is also scheduled to visit the Keshav Murthy and Rukmini Sameta Vitthaleshwara and Skanda temples of the village.
In view of the high-profile visit, attendance at the inauguration is restricted to selected invitees and senior Swayamsevaks with prior approval.
Activities of Keshav Seva Samithi
The Keshav Seva Samithi, which manages the Sri Keshav Smriti Mandir, has been actively involved in several social initiatives in the region, including running a Shishu Mandir school for the last 3 decades that offers value-based education at nominal fees, constructing ghats in the name of Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar, and organising Godavari Harathi along with various community service programmes.
In addition, further development is underway alongside the centre, including the establishment of a school and a skill development centre, training programmes for women to promote self-employment, skill development initiatives for youth, natural farming training for farmers, and the construction of accommodation facilities for visitors.
Kandakurthi: A Confluence of History, Faith, and Legacy
Kandakurthi, located at the confluence of the Godavari, Manjira, and Haridra rivers, holds both historical and spiritual significance.
Currently, the village falls under the Nizamabad district of Telangana and is located approximately 210 km from Hyderabad and around 380 km from Nagpur.
Traditionally known as Skandapuri, the village is associated with Bhagwan Subrahmanya (Skanda), who is believed to have manifested here. Over time, the name evolved into Kandakurthi.
It is also believed that Bhagwan Sri Ram visited the region during his exile in the Treta Yuga, and that Chhatrapati Shivaji visited the village several times.
The village houses the temple of Keshav Murthy, the family deity of Dr Hedgewar, and has recently seen the reconstruction of the ancient Skanda temple.
With the establishment of the Sri Keshav Spoorti Mandir, Kandakurthi is emerging as a significant centre of national and cultural inspiration.
In April 2025, the samithi led the Pran Pratista of Sri Vighneshwara Mandir, Sri Subramanya Swamy Mandir, Sri Rukmini Sameta Vitthaleshwara Mandir, and Sri Keshava Swami Mandir in the same village.
