Shree Kshetra Bhalod – Ekmukhi Datta Mandir is in Rundh, a small village near Bhalod in Bharuch district, Gujarat. The temple is beautifully situated on the banks of the holy Narmada River. It is an important spiritual stop for devotees performing the Narmada Parikrama, a sacred pilgrimage around the river.
The main deity worshipped here is Lord Dattatreya, in a rare Ekmukhi (single-faced) form. Traditionally, Lord Dattatreya is depicted with three faces, representing Brahma (creation), Vishnu (preservation), and Shiva (destruction). However, this temple is special because it has a one-faced idol, symbolizing the oneness of the divine trinity. Devotees believe worshipping this form grants spiritual clarity, protection, and blessings from all three deities through a single face.
Shree Kshetra Bhalod – Ekmukhi Datta Mandir has a simple and peaceful architectural style, in line with traditional Gujarati village temples. The sanctum is modest, allowing close darshan (viewing) of the Ekmukhi Datta idol. The temple sits serenely by the Narmada, offering natural beauty and a tranquil environment for meditation and prayer. There is also a yagna shala (sacred fire area) where rituals are conducted during major festivals and group pilgrimages.
Shree Kshetra Bhalod – Ekmukhi Datta Mandir gained importance due to its association with great saints like Shree Vasudevanand Saraswati Tembe Swami Maharaj. He is said to have visited this place and stayed here for Chaturmas (the 4 holy months during the monsoon). His presence brought spiritual energy to the temple, and since then, devotees have continued visiting this sacred spot. The temple has grown in popularity as a center of Guru Datta worship along the Narmada River.
Long ago, the holy region of Bhalod, located on the banks of the sacred Narmada River, was a peaceful and spiritually charged place. Many sages and yogis performed penance (tapasya) here seeking divine knowledge and liberation. Over time, this became a favored place for sadhana due to the powerful vibrations of Maa Narmada and the peaceful natural surroundings.
As per the belief of devotees, the divine trinity – Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh (Shiva) – once discussed how people on Earth were becoming confused by their separate forms. They noticed that many people worshipped them as different gods, forgetting that the supreme truth is one.
To guide the world toward spiritual unity and realization, the divine trinity decided to manifest on Earth in a single, combined form—Lord Dattatreya. Usually, Lord Datta is depicted with three faces, representing the three divine powers. But at Shree Kshetra Bhalod, he appeared in a rare and special form—with only one face, called Ekmukhi Dattatreya.
It is said that Lord Dattatreya chose Bhalod because of its high spiritual energy and the divine flow of the Narmada River, which is believed to carry the blessings of Lord Shiva himself. By manifesting here, Datta gave blessings to yogis, saints, and ordinary people alike, offering them peace, spiritual wisdom, and inner healing.
Great saints like Shree Vasudevanand Saraswati Tembe Swami Maharaj, a divine incarnation of Lord Datta himself, later visited this place and performed Chaturmasya vrat (four-month stay during the monsoon). His presence further sanctified the place and made it a key Guru Kshetra.
Many pilgrims on the Uttarvahini Narmada Parikrama stop here for darshan and feel a divine presence of oneness and spiritual fulfillment.
At Shree Kshetra Bhalod – Ekmukhi Datta Mandir, key festivals include *Datta Jayanti, **Guru Purnima, and **Chaitra Navratri, celebrated with pujas, bhajans, and annadan. **Thursdays* are especially sacred, drawing devotees for regular prayers and aarti to seek Lord Datta’s blessings.
