Ganesha is the most revered deity in Maharashtra.
And the most popular being the Astavinayak, the pilgrimage of eight Ganeshas.
These are unique because it is believed the Ganesh deities here are
swayambhu (self generated) and not man made. Visiting the eight Ganesha
shrine is considered auspicious and can give you a life time of
blessings.....
Lord Ganesh is revered in Maharashtra and other
parts of India. Ashtavinayak, the eight pilgrim centres in the state of
Maharashtra is a must for Ganesh devotees as the of the shrines are considered
to be the incarnation of Lord Ganesh. These are Pali and Mahad in Raigad
district, Lenyadri, Ozar, Ranjangaon,Theur and Moregaon in Pune district, and
Siddhatek in Ahmednagar district.
According to tradition, one must first visit the
Moreshwar temple at Morgaon and then in sequence visit the temples at
Siddhatek, Pali, Mahad, Thevur, Lenyandri, Ozar, Ranjangaon and in last visit
the Moreshwar temple again. This will complete your Ashtavinayak Yatra.
While the Ashtavinayak yatra by road can be done in
two days, but many would recommend stretching it to three days to
really enjoy the beautiful country side, the food, the local cuisine along the
way. One could easily cover it by car, and tourist buses are available that
covers the Ashtavinayak. Hassle-free package tours are available through
numerous travel agents which cover all the 8 centres in 2 days. They take care
of the travelling and food. There are many luxury and semi-luxury buses
starting from Mumbai. Even mini-buses,
on rent private vehicals and taxis are available for groups and families.
Moreshwar is in Morgaon, (Pune District), is 68 km
from Pune on the Pune-Bangalore highway. You can travel by train and alight at
Nira or Kedgaon station on the Pune-Bangalore highway. (Regular buses ply from
the station). According to legend. Moreshwar Ganapati was riding a peacock, in
the form of Mayureshwara and was believed to have slain the demon Sindhu at
this spot.
Ballaleshwar is in Pali, (Kulaba District), 40
km from the Khopoli-Shil Phata road, off the Mumbai-Pune highway, about 11 km
before Nagothane on the Mumbai –Goa highway. The temple faces the east, the
idol with the trunk to the right.According to the legend, Ganesh is believed to
have saved his child-devotee, Ballala, who was beaten by villagers for his single-minded
devotion to the Lord. Moroba, the brother of Nana Phandnavis (the famed Peshva)
and Kaka Baburao, built the temple. A local citizen named Krishnaji Narayan
Ringe between 1824 and 1830 later renovated it later.
Varadavinayak is in Madh, (Kulaba District),
about three km off the Pune. Mumbai highway near Khopoli (80 km from Pune). The
idol has its trunk to the left. The Nandadeep here is always kept aflame continuously
and has been since 1892. The idol was found in the adjoining lake. It is
believed that Ganesha resides here in the form of Varada Vinayaka, the giver of
bounty and success. This temple was built between 1690 and 1720 by the Subhedar
of Kalyan,Ramaji Mahadev Biwalkar and presented to the village.
Chintamani is in Theur, (Pune District), 22 km from
Pune off the Pune-Solapur highway. The north facing temple has the idol
with the trunk to the left. Ganesha is believed to have got back the precious
Chinatamani jewel from the greedy Guna for sage Kapila here. It is believedMoraya
Gosavi attained his siddhis (spiritual powers) here. This temple was the
favourite temple of Shrimant Madhayarao Peshwe. He stayed here during his last
years and breathed his last near the temple. It is believed Ramabai, his wife
performed sati nearby.
Girijatmaka is in Lenyadri, (Pune District), is 12 km from Narayangaon, which is about 90 km from Pune on the Pune-Nashik
highway. The temple is on a hill, which has 283 steps. The hill is full
of caves. The idol faces north and prayers offered form the temple’s rear.
According to legend, Parvati performed penance to beget Ganesha here.
This temple is situated amidst a cave complex of Buddhist origin and not much
is known about its antiquity. Archeologists believe that the Ganesh idol came
up after the caves were built. The temple stands at a hilltop and is in a
deserted spot with little or no human habitation close by. Even the archaka
(Priest) lives some distance away.
Shri Vighnahar temple is in Ozhar, (Pune
District), on Pune-Nashik Highway, turn at Narayangaon towards Junnar to proceed
towards Ozhar. The idol has the trunk to the left. The temple faces east and
has several idols. The courtyard has a beautiful traditional deepamala. It is believed that
Chimaji Appa, the younger brother of Bajirao Peshwa had a golden kalasha
installed on the temple tower as thanksgiving for his victory over the
Portuguese at Vasai. But records show that the temple was built only on 1785.
It has since been reconstructed.
Mahaganpati temple is in Ranjangaon, (Pune
District), is 50 km from Pune on the Pune-Ahmednagar highway. One can even
reach by train, from Uruli railway station on the Pune-Solapur line. The temple
is situated 16 km from the station. It is believed that Lord Shiva worshipped
Ganesha before vanquishing the demon Tripuraasura here. Sardar Kibe of Indore
Sardar Pawar and Sardar Shinde built the mandap of the temple, Malharrao Holkar
and Yashwantrao Chandrachud maintained the temple precincts. Madhavrao Peshwe
built the sanctum. The samadhi of Shri Limbaraj Maharaj is also found here.
Siddhivinayaka _ Siddhatek temple is in Siddhatek,
(Ahmednagar District), off Pune-Solapur Highway, 48 km from Srigonda; 19 km
from Daund. One can reach it by train, from Boribyal station on the
Pune-Solapur line.The temple is approximately 11 km from this station, across
the river Bhima. Regular State Transport buses ply from the station. One could
also alight at Daund and take a bus. It is believed that Lord Vishnu vanquished
the demons Madhu and Kaitab after propitiating Ganesh here. Moraya Gosavi of
Chinchwad is believed to have performed penance here. Ahilyabai Holkar built
the sanctum of the temple. A dharmashala for pilgrims has been built here.
Most of the Asthavinayaka shrines have decent hotels, dharamshalas and state
run guest houses in in and about the surrounding areas. The surge of tourists
is more during Ganesh festival, summer holidays, Diwali holidays and winter. It
is advisable not to visit the shrines between December and January as winters
are extremely harsh here. Food available here is predominantly Maharashtrian,
however other kinds of food is also available, most of the dharamshalas serve
vegetarian diet.
Religious thinkers have ascribed meanings to each part of Ganesha’s
form
The curled trunk: The symbol Om, intellect and the faculty of
discrimination
The elephant’s head: Superior intellect
Snake around waist: Cosmic energy.
Broken tusk: Knowledge
Large ears: To separate the real (Brahman) from the unreal (Maya) in
life
Head: Previous wisdom through sravana and manana
Human body: Supreme wisdom
Large belly: One who digests all types of experiences.
Leg on the ground: Dealing with the world while ever-rooted in
single-pointed concentration upon the supreme reality.
The food: Material wealth, power and prosperity.
Mouse: Desire
Riding on his rat: A man of perfection trying to use his limited body,
mind and intellect
Ganesha’s four arms: Four inner equipments of the subtle body, namely
mind (manas), intellect (buddhi), ego (ahamkar) and conditioned consciousness
(chitta)
Axe in the hand: Destruction of all desires, attachments and their
consequent sorrows and agitations
Rope: To pull the seeker out of his wordly entanglements and bind one
to the everlasting and enduring bliss of one’s self
Modak : Joyous rewards of spiritual seeking
A lotus padma: The supreme goal of human evolution
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