Ashtavinayaka ganapati temples travel guide in the present article, in an effort to provide a brief overview of the eight self-proclaimed places of Lord Ganesha in Pune, Raigad, and Ahmednagar, Ashtavinayak, devotees will get a general idea about the structure of the temple, Bappa’s idol, and some of the most associated myths.( गौरीपुत्र ) Gauriputra Ganesha, that is, our Bappa, is the loving God of Maharashtra. Most of the names point out to the first deity, Bappa, the Lord of 14 Vidyas and 64 Arts.
Eight miracles, one blessed journey
SCG Team
Best of all are there eight holy and numerous forms of Lord Ganesha in Morgaon, Siddhatek, Pali, Mahad, Theur, Lenyadri Ozar, and Ranjangaon of Raigad, Pune, and Ahmednagar districts of Maharashtra state in India. All these temples have their historical and mythological background. It is incredible how the form of idols in each temple differs, and the history and architecture as well as carving in the temple are amazing.
Shri Mayureshwar Ganapati Temple, Morgaon
श्री मयुरेश्वर गणपती मंदिर,मोरगाव
Mayureshwar of Morgaon Located at Morgaon in Pune district, this temple of Bappa is the first place in Ashtavinayaka pilgrimage.This village is situated in Baramati taluka of Pune district. And it is 55 km away from Pune city. Earlier, peacocks used to live in this village in large numbers, so it got the name Morgaon.
Mayureshwar (Moreshwar): – Moreshwar or Mayureshwar is the (स्वयंभू मूर्ती ) Swayambhu murti of Lord Ganesha facing east with the trunk turned to the left.This greedy and attractive idol of Bappa is studded with diamonds in the eyes and navel and also has a beautiful canopy of snake feathers on the idol.
Riddhi and Siddhi are standing on either side of the idol here as well as ahead. A mouse and a peacock are standing. The (अष्टविनायक यात्रा )
Ashtavinayak Yatra begins with a visit to Moreshwara, and it is said that if the Yatra ends here, then the Yatra is truly successful.
Temple: This north-facing temple on the banks of the Kanha river in Morgaon was completed by Subhedar Gole during the protectorate period. It is surrounded by a wall. The present temple was built by Adilshahi. This temple was built like (वरकरणी मुस्लिम मशीदी) Varkarni Muslim Masjid to prevent the Mughal army from attacking the temples. In front of this temple there is a huge statue of Nandi and a large stone rat. This is the only temple in Ashtavinayaka with Nandi in front of Ganapati.
Sindhu, son of King Chakrapani and Queen Ugra of Gandaki city, was given the boon of immortality by the sun god. He attacked the gods with arrogance and a demonic attitude. So when the Gods prayed to Ganesha the Vignahartha to destroy Sindhusura, the Moreshwar avatar of Lord Ganesha mounted on a peacock killed Sindhusura and freed the Gods and the earth from his torment.
Siddhivinayak Temple, Siddhatek
सिद्धिविनायक मंदिर,सिद्धटेक
This temple of Siddhivinayak, situated on the hill of Siddhavinayak, is the second Ganpati in the Ashtavinayaka Yatra. This village is situated on the banks of the river Bhima in Karjat taluka of Ahmadnagar. Among the north-facing Ashtavinayakas, the only idol is the one whose trunk is on the right. Right trunked Ganapati is very powerful, and his body is also strong. This idol of Bappa is three feet tall and has one leg on which Riddhi and Siddhi are seated.
It is believed among the devotees that after completing 21 rounds of this temple for twenty-one days, the obstacles in one’s important work will be removed and that work will be completed.
Temple: The existing temple was restored by Ahilyabai Holkar. The main body of Siddhivinayak has a brass sculpture of the sun, moon, and eagle.
When Lord Vishnu was in meditative sleep, Madhu and Kaitbha demons were obstructing Lord Brahma’s work of creation. So Lord Vishnu had to break his meditative sleep and fight with them to stop Madhu and Kaitbha, but Lord Vishnu could not defeat them, and so he stopped the war.
Lord Shankar asked Lord Vishnu to worship Ganapati to defeat ( मधु आणि कैटभ )Madhu and Kaitbha. Then at Siddhatek, Lord Vishnu created an idol of Ganapati and worshiped him, and here Lord Ganapati was pleased and granted many achievements to Lord Vishnu, and then Lord Vishnu defeated Madhu and Kaitbha.
Shree Ballaleshwar Devasthan
श्री बल्लाळेश्वर देवस्थान
Pali in Sudhagad taluka in Raigad is in third place in the Ashtavinayaka Yatra. Ballaleshwar, i.e., Ballalavinayak, is the only Ganesha who is known by the name of a devotee.
This idol of Lord Ganesha facing east is narrow and has a large forehead. Also, the trunk is turned to the left, and the eyes and navel of the idol are studded with diamonds. On the back side of this idol is a silver mahirap, and Riddhi-Siddhi’s work is done on it.
Temple:- Presently located at Pali, this temple was renovated by Nana Fadnavis. And converted the wooden temple there into a stone temple. At this place, during the Dakshinayana period of the sun, i.e., during the winter, the rays of the sun fall on the idol of Ballaleshwar.
During the ( त्रेता युगा )Treta Yuga, a vani named Kalyan lived in this village along with his wife. In due course, he had a son named ( बल्लाळ ) Ballal. Ballal was an ardent Ganesha devotee from childhood. He and his friends had immense faith in Ganesha. All these people used to forget their thirst and hunger by being absorbed in Ganesha devotion.
They used to worship a Dhonda in the forest as Lord Ganesha. So one day the villagers went to Kalyan Vana complaining that Ballal was spoiling their children. And Kalyan, enraged by this, angrily went into the forest to find Ballal. When he went there, he destroyed the worship there and also threw away the dhonda worshiped as Lord Ganesha.
The rest of the children there ran away, but Ballal was busy chanting. But the enraged Kalyan, without any thought, beat Ballal until he bled and tied Ballal to a tree there and left. Then Ballal made up his mind to continue chanting Ganesha till his death.
Seeing Ballal’s unwavering devotion, Ganapati took the form of a Brahmin and approached him. As soon as Ganesha touched him, all the wounds on Ballal’s body disappeared, and his body became the same again. Ballala then wished that Ganapati should stay here and fulfill the wishes of the devotees. Ganapati then promised Ballal that “A part of me will live here forever and fulfill the wishes of the devotees, and my place here will be known as Ballalavinayak.” So Ganapati got buried in a nearby rock.
Shree Varad vinayak
श्री वरद विनायक
The temple of Varadvinayak at Mahad in Raigad district is in fourth place on the (अष्टविनायक यात्रा ) Ashtavinayak Yatra. This Bappa is known as the one who fulfills all the wishes and desires of the devotees and fulfills the vows.
In the year 1690 AD, Dhondu Paudhkar, a Ganesha devotee, came to know in a dream that this idol was in a pond located behind the temple.
He then found this idol in the pond and installed it. The trunk of this idol is on the left side, and an unbroken lamp is kept burning near the idol. This lamp was built in AD. Since 1892, Akhand has been kept intact. So Ganapati got buried in a nearby rock.
Temple: A.D. Subhedar Ramji Bhiwalkar built this temple in 1725. This temple is Koularu, and the dome of the temple has a golden crown. Also, a replica of an elephant has been created in all four directions of this temple.
King Bhima and his wife got a son named Rukmand by the grace of Lord Ganesha. Once King Rukmand went hunting in the forest and went to rest in the hermitage of Sage Vachknavi. Then Mukunda, the wife of (वाचक्नवी ) Rishi Vachaknavi, fell in love with the king. But the king did not accept her love and left there. When Indradev came to know about this, he took the form of Rukmanda and went to Mukunda, and from Indradev, Mukunda got a son named Gritsamda.
After Gritsamda learned the truth about his birth, he cursed his mother and went into the forest to atone for himself. There he performed severe penance, praying to Lord Ganesha. Ganesha was pleased with this and gave him a boon, and Gritsamda requested Ganesha to stay there and remove the troubles of the devotees.
Shree Chintamani Vinayaka Temple Theur
श्री चिंतामणी विनायक थेऊर
The fifth temple which is called as Bappa’s temple is located at Theur, which is in the Pune district of Maharastra. The form of Lord Ganesha which relieves the devotees of all their troubles is known as Chintamani.
Anxiety:The idol of Bappa in this temple of Theur is facing east and this idol is of left trunk. However, the eyes of this Lord Ganesha are also decorated with jewel. This place has a great importance since the great saint (मोरया गोसावी) Morya Gosavi achieved siddhi through the process of penance here.
Temple: It was constructed during the reign of Peshwa but the present structure of the temple is later construction. It is a wooden house and there is a large bell which is made up of brass in the temple.
Once upon a time there lived an (असुरा आणि गंगासुरा)asura named Ganasura who had stolen Chintamani jewel belonging to the sage Kapila. Goddess Durga decided to regain that gem hence prayed to Sage Kapila to pray for Ganapati’s intervention. Because of this, Ganapati had to defeat Ganasura and get the gem before returning it to Sage Kapila. Though it is said that many people offered the blessings but it was Sage Kapila who put the Chintamani gem around Ganapati’s neck. After this Ganpati here got the name Chintamani.
Shree Lenyadri Ganpati
श्री लेण्याद्री गणपती
The temple of (गिरीजात्मा) Girijatmja, situated in the lap of Lenyadri near Shivneri, is the sixth seat of Ganesha in Ashtavinayaka. Goddess Parvati did penance here to get a son, that’s why Ganapati came to be known here as Parvati’s, i.e., Girije’s son, Girijatmaj.
Girija’s son: The trunk of this north facing idol of Bappa is turned to the left. Diamonds are also studded on the forehead and navel. Also on the right side of this idol is the idol of Mahadev, and on the left side is the idol of Maruti.
Temple: Among the Ashtavinayakas, this is the only temple on a mountain. There are a total of eighteen caves on Lenyadri mountain in Junnar taluka, the eighth cave has the idol of Girijatmja, and the pillars of the temple have carvings of tigers, lions, and elephants.
Goddess Parvati did severe penance at this place for Ganesha to be born as her son, and then on the day of (भाद्रपद शुद्ध चतुर्थी) Bhadrapada Shuddha Chaturthi, Goddess made an idol of Ganesha from her own excrement, and from that idol Sri Ganesha was created.
Shree Vighnahar Ganapati Mandir, Ozar
श्री विघ्न्हार गणपती, ओझर
Ozar in Junnar taluka is the seat of the seventh Ganesha in Ashtavinayaka. Ganapati took the avatar of Vigneshwara to destroy (विघ्नसुरा) Vighnasura.
Vigneshwar: The trunk of this Ganesha facing east is on the left, and the eyes are studded with rubies and forehead diamonds. On both sides, there are idols of Riddhi and Siddhi. Shri Ganesha took this avatar to destroy Vighnasura, created by Lord Indra. Also, this Ganpati in Ashtavinayaka is considered to be the richest.
Temple: This existing temple was built by Chimaji Appa in AD. Built in the year 1785, this temple has a secure fortification on all four sides, and there are four gatekeepers standing at the main door of the temple. The culmination and pinnacle of the temple is golden, and there is a big hall in front of the temple.
Devendra summoned Vighnasura to disturb King Abhinandan’s Yajna for attaining ( इंद्रस्थान )Indrasthan. So Vighnasura started disrupting the Yagna there. It also started destroying the earth, so the distressed sages prayed to Shri Ganesha as per the orders of Lord Brahma and Lord Shankar. Then Shri Ganesha fought with Vighnatasura and defeated him.
Since Vighnasura, who had surrendered, expressed his wish that his name should be taken with that of Shri Ganesha, this Ganesha came to be known as Vighnahara.
Shree Mahaganapati Ranjangaon
श्री महागणपती रांजणगाव
There is a temple of Mahaganpati in Ranjangaon village of Shirur taluka in Pune district. This is the eighth place of Lord Ganesha in the Ashtavinayaka Yatra. It is also the most powerful Lord Ganesha among the Ashtavinayakas.
Mahaganpati:-
This greedy idol of left trunk Bappa is seated on a lotus. Also, Riddhi and Siddhi are standing on both sides. Lord Shankar worshiped Ganapati at this place to kill ( त्रिपुरासुरा ) Tripurasura. Also, Maha Ganpati is famous among the devotees as the vowing Ganpati, and there is a belief that the original idol of this Ganpati is in the basement there and is called Mahautkat ( महाउत्कट ).
Temple: The gabhara of this east facing temple was built by Madhavrao Peshwa. During the time between ( उत्तरायण आणि दक्षिणायन ) Uttarayana and Dakshinayana, the sun’s rays fall on Mahaganapati. Sardar, the grand auditorium of Ranjangaon temple was built by Kibe.
Tripurasura was a devoted devotee of Asura Ganapati. He had pleased Ganapati and obtained a boon from him that none but Lord Shankara could destroy him. He then started to trouble the gods as well as the Brahmins on earth. ( नारद मुनी ) Narada Muni asked the distressed and frightened gods to worship Lord Ganesha and ask for help. So, to help the gods, Ganapati disguised himself as a Brahmin and went to Tripurasura and told him that he was skilled in sixty-four arts, and if Tripurasura brought him the idol of Chintamani from Kailasa, he lured him to make three planes. Tripurasura, who was therefore frantic
Kailasa was invaded, and the war between Tripurasura and Lord Shankar began. It was possible to defeat Tripurasura in battle Lord Shankar prayed to Lord Ganesha at Ranjangaon, after which Lord Shankar killed Tripurasura as instructed by Lord Ganesha.
Ashtavinayaka Ganapati Temples Travel Guide : Explore the distance
| From | To | Distance | Journey Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pune | Morgoan Mayureshwar | 65Km | 2 hours |
| Morgoan Mayureshwar | Siddhatek Siddhi Vinayak | 72 Km | 2 hours 15 mins |
| Siddhatek Siddhi Vinayak | Pali Ballaleshwar | 180Km | 4 hours 30 mins |
| Pali Ballaleshwar | Mahad Vard Vinayak | 40Km | 1 hour |
| Mahad Vard Vinayak | Theur Chintamani | 115Km | 3 hours |
| Theur Chintamani | Lenyadri Girijamata | 110km | 3 hours 30min |
| Lenyadri Girijamata | Ozar Vigneshwar | 16km | 40 min |
| Ozar Vigneshwar | Ranjangoan Mahaganpati | 70Km | 2 hour 15min |
Conclusion
Thus, the Ashtavinayak Yatra has a special significance among the devotees. This yatra commences from Moreshwar in Morgaon and returns back to Morgaon and thus gets completion for this yatra. Here the importance of each place, its legend, and the information about the temple.
