Pen, India

Pen (Marathi pronunciation: [peːɳ]) is a town and taluka in Raigad district of Indian state of Maharashtra. It is well known for world class Ganesh idols. It is the geographical and cultural center of Raigad district. Pen is also known for Salt cultivation by Aagri and Koli community.

The name of Pen is derived from the term "पेणे" or "Pene", which means "a place to rest". Although no one is certain about the origin of Pen.

Due to its location, Pen developed as a port city (the present-day Antora port was commonly referred as "Pen Port"), with trade links as far as Egypt. It had a prosperous marketplace where the exchange of goods to and from Deccan took place.

The Kolaba District Gazettee gives Pen's history as follows

In historical times Pen was under rule of the Silaharas of Shri Sthanak (Thana) from 9th to the 12th Century and subsequently it passed under the control of the Yadavas. When Shayastakhan was sent against Sivaji, a detachment of the Moghal army had been kept at Pen but it was subsequently routed by him. Parvatibai, the wife of Sadasivrav Bhau, the hero of Panipat. In 1819 the easy communication with Bombay and with the Deccan by the Bor pass made Pen an important centre. Its chief prosperity lay in its salt beds. There was a considerable export of rice to Bombay. A number of carved stones about the town appear to belong to an unusually large temple of about the thirteenth or fourteenth century.

During the period of Shilahar kings, many temples of goddesses were built, including Jagdumba of Vashi. In the period of Chalukyas, grand temples of Shiva, like Rameshwar (रामेश्वर), Pataneshwar (पाटणेश्वर), Goteshwar (गोटेश्वर) and Vyaghreshwar (व्याघ्रेश्वर) were constructed

Vyagreshwar Temple Was built by Shri Senapati Prataprao Gujar. Ordered by Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Pen Swary and later worshipped by Langi's of Pen as it is their clan deity.

Very Old Temple of Lord Shiva located in the Jungle of Wagreshwar in Mahal Mirya Donger