The document provides information about Ashta Vinayak Darshan, a pilgrimage to eight Hindu temples dedicated to the deity Ganesha in Maharashtra, India. The pilgrimage follows a predetermined sequence, starting with the temple at Moregaon and ending again at Moregaon. Each temple has a distinct idol of Ganesha found in nature. Details are given on the location and legends associated with each of the eight temples - Moregaon, Siddhatek, Pali, Mahad, Theur, Lenyadri, Ozar, and Ranjangaon.
The document provides information about Ashta Vinayak Darshan, a pilgrimage to eight Hindu temples dedicated to the deity Ganesha in Maharashtra, India. The pilgrimage follows a predetermined sequence, starting with the temple at Moregaon and ending again at Moregaon. Each temple has a distinct idol of Ganesha found in nature. Details are given on the location and legends associated with each of the eight temples - Moregaon, Siddhatek, Pali, Mahad, Theur, Lenyadri, Ozar, and Ranjangaon.
The document provides information about Ashta Vinayak Darshan, a pilgrimage to eight Hindu temples dedicated to the deity Ganesha in Maharashtra, India. The pilgrimage follows a predetermined sequence, starting with the temple at Moregaon and ending again at Moregaon. Each temple has a distinct idol of Ganesha found in nature. Details are given on the location and legends associated with each of the eight temples - Moregaon, Siddhatek, Pali, Mahad, Theur, Lenyadri, Ozar, and Ranjangaon.
The document provides information about Ashta Vinayak Darshan, a pilgrimage to eight Hindu temples dedicated to the deity Ganesha in Maharashtra, India. The pilgrimage follows a predetermined sequence, starting with the temple at Moregaon and ending again at Moregaon. Each temple has a distinct idol of Ganesha found in nature. Details are given on the location and legends associated with each of the eight temples - Moregaon, Siddhatek, Pali, Mahad, Theur, Lenyadri, Ozar, and Ranjangaon.
Ashtavinayak () literally means "eight Ganeshas" in Sanskrit. Ganesh is the Hinduism/ Hindu deity of unity, prosperity & learning and removes obstacles.
Ashtavinayak yatra trip refers to a pilgrimage to the eight Hindu temple
in Maharashtra State of India that house eight distinct idols of Ganesha, in a preascertained sequence. According to Shastra, first you have to visit Moreshwar of Moregaon. Then visit Siddhatek, Pali, Mahad, Thevur, Lenyandri, Ozar, Ranjangaon, and then again Moregaon will end your Ashtavinayak Yatra. All these murtis are called Swayambhu effigies, or the self-existent. This is to indicate that no human created these idols, they were found completely formed by nature.
Ashta Vinayak Darshan Info
Ashta Vinayak Darshan Location Map
Ashta Vinayak Darshan Morgaon cha Shri Mayureshwar
This is the most important temple on this tour. The temple, built from blackstone during the Bahamani reign, has four gates (It is supposed to have been built by one of the knights named Mr. Gole, from the court of Bidar's Sultan). The temple is covered from all sides by four minarets and gives feeling of a mosque if seen from a distance. This was done to prevent attacks on the temple during Mughal periods. The temple has 50 feet tall wall around it. There is a Nandi (Shiva's bull mount) sitting in front of this temple entrance, which is unique, as Nandi is normally in front of only Shiva temples. However, the story says that this statue was being carried to some Shivamandir during which the vehicle carrying it broke down and the Nandi statue could not be removed from its current place. The murti of Lord Ganesha, riding a peacock, in the form of Mayureshwara is believed to have slain the demon Sindhu at this spot. The idol, with its trunk turned to the left, has a cobra (Nagaraja) poised over it protecting it. This form of Ganesha also has two other murtis of Siddhi (Capability) and Riddhi (Intelligence). However, this is not the original murti -which is said to have been consecrated twice by Brahma, once before and once after being destroyed by the asura Sindhurasur. The original murti, smaller in size and made of atoms of sand, iron, and diamonds, was supposedly enclosed in a copper sheet by the Pandavas and placed behind the one that is currently worshiped. The temple is situated at a distance of 55 km from Pune, next to the river Karha in the village of Moregaon. The village derives its name from the Marathi name of the bird Peacock - there used to be a lot of peacocks in this village in the ancient time, and the village is also set out in the shape of a peacock.
Ashta Vinayak Darshan Siddhatek cha Shri Siddhivinayak
God Vishnu is supposed to have vanquished the asuras Madhu and Kaitabh after propitiating Ganesha here. This is the only murti of these eight with the trunk positioned to the right. It is believed that the two saints Shri Morya Gosavi and Shri Narayan Maharaj of Kedgaon received their enlightenment here. The temple is North-facing and is on a small hillock. The main road towards the temple was believed to be built by Peshwa's general Haripant Phadake. The inner sanctum, 15 feet high and 10 feet wide is built by Punyashloka Ahilyabai Holkar. The right-sided-trunk Ganesha is supposed to be very strict for the devotees. To make one round (pradakshina) around the temple one has to make the round trip of the hillock. This temple is situated off the Pune-Solapur highway about 48 km from the town of Srigonda in Ahmadnagar district.[citation needed] The temple is situated next to Bhima river. On Pune-Solapur railway, Daund Railway station is 18 km from here.
Ashta Vinayak Darshan Pali cha Shri Ballaleshwar
Ganesha is believed to have saved this boy-devotee, Ballal, who was beaten by local villagers and his father (Kalyani-seth) for his singleminded devotion to him. The original wooden temple was reconstructed in to a stone temple by Nana Phadanavis in 1760. There are two small lakes constructed on two sides of the temple. One of them is reserved for the puja (worship) of the Deity. The temple is constructed in such a way that after the winter (dakshinayan : southward movement of the sun) solstice, the sun rays fall on the Ganesha murti at sunrise. The temple is built with stones which are stuck together very tight using melted lead. One speciality of this temple is that the prasad offered to this Ganapati at Pali is Besan Laadu instead of Modak that is normally offered to other Ganapati. The shape of the idol itself bears a striking semblance with the mountain which forms the backdrop of this temple. This is more prominently felt if one views the photograph of the mountain and then sees the idol. The temple is located in the town of Pali, off the Mumbai-Pune highway, about 11 km before Nagothane on the Mumbai-Goa highway. This is located 30 km to the South-West of Karjat Railway Station. Mumbai-Panvel-Khopoli-Pali is 124 km. Pune-LonavlaKhopoli-Pali is 111 km. Behind this temple is the temple of Shri Dhundi-Vinayak which is West facing. This is a very rare idol which is facing the West. The story says that this idol was the same one which was thrown by Ballal's father while Ballal was worshipping it.
Ashta Vinayak Darshan Mahad cha Shri Varadvinayak
The handsome Prince Rukmangad refused sage Vachaknavi's wife Mukunda's illicit call, and was cursed to suffer from leprosy. Mukunda was satisfied by Indra who deceived her as Rukmangad and she bore a child by name Grutsamad. When Grutsamad came to know about the real story he cursed his mother Mukunda to become the tree of Bori and she in turn cursed him to bore a demon son named Tripurasur, the one who was defeated by Shiva after praying the Ranjangaon Ganesha. Grutsamad after getting cursed went to the forest of Pushpak and worshipped Ganesha. Sage Grutsamad is famous for the mantra GaNanaN Tva. He founded the temple and called this Ganesha: Varada-Vinayak. Ganesha is said to reside here in the form of Varada Vinayaka, the giver of bounty and success. The idol was found in the adjoining lake (to Mr. Dhondu Paudkar in 1690AD), in an immersed position and hence its weathered look. In 1725AD the then Kalyan subhedar, Mr. Ramji Mahadev Biwalkar built the Varadavinayak temple and the village of Mahad. The idol faces the east, has its trunk to the left and has been in the constant company of an oil lamp - said to be burning continuously since 1892. The temple is located three kilometers off the Pune-Mumbai highway near Khopoli (80 km from Pune), and is thus closest to Mumbai city. Karjat Railway Station, Karjat on Mumbai-Pune railway is 24 km from this place and 6 km from Khopoli.
Ashta Vinayak Darshan Theur cha Shri Chintamani
Ganesha is believed to have got back the precious Chinatamani jewel from the greedy Guna for sage Kapila at this spot. However, after bringing back the jewel, sage Kapila put it in Vinayaka's (Ganesha's) neck. Thus the name Chintamani Vinayak. This happened under the Kadamb tree, therefore Theur is known as Kadambanagar in old times. The lake behind the temple is called Kadambteertha. The temple entrance is North facing. The outer wooden hall was built by Peshwas. The main temple is supposed to have been built by Dharanidhar Maharaj Dev from the family-lineage of Shri Moraya Gosavi. He must have built this around 100 years before Senior Shrimant Madhavrao Peshwa built the outer wooden hall. This idol also has a left trunk, with carbuncle and diamonds as its eyes. The idol faces the East side. Theur's Chintamani was the family deity of Shrimant Madhavrao I Peshwa.. He suffered from tuberculosis and died at a very young age (~27years). He is supposed to have died in this temple. The temple is located 22 km from Pune, off the Pune-Solapur highway, and is hence the nearest from Pune. The village of Theur sits at the confluence of three major regional riversMula, Mutha & Bhima.
Ashta Vinayak Darshan Lenyadri cha Shri Girijatmaj
It is believed that Parvati (Shiva's wife) performed penance to beget Ganesha at this point. Girija's (Parvati's) Atmaj (son) is Girijatmaj. This temple stands amidst a cave complex of 18 caves of Buddhist origin. This temple is the 8th cave. These are called Ganesh-leni as well. The temple is carved out of a single stone hill, which has 307 steps. The temple features a wide hall with no supporting pillars. The idol faces north with its trunk to the left, and has to be worshipped from the rear of the temple. The temple faces south. This idol seems to be little different from the rest of the Ashtavinayak idols in a sense that it appears to be not very well designed or carved like the other idols. This idol can be worshipped by anyone. There is no electric bulb in the temple. The temple is constructed such that during the day it is always lighted up by the sun-rays! The temple is situated 12 km from Narayangaon, which is about 94 km from Pune on the Pune-Nashik highway. Nearest railway station is Talegaon. From Junnar, Lenyadri is about 5 km.
Ashta Vinayak Darshan Ozar cha Shri Vighneshwar
The history encompassing this idol states that Vighnasur, a demon was created by the King of Gods, Indra to destroy the prayer organized by King Abhinandan. However, the demon went a step further and destroyed all vedic, religious acts and to answer the people's prayers for protection, Ganesh defeated him. The story goes on to say that on being conquered, the demon begged and pleaded Ganesha to show a mercy. Ganesha then granted in his plea, but on the condition that demon should not go to the place where Ganesha worshipping is going on. In return the demon asked a favor that his name should be taken before Ganesha's name, thus the name of Ganesha became Vighnahar or Vighneshwar (Vighna in Sanskrit means a sudden interruption in the ongoing work due to some unforeseen, unwarranted event or cause). This idol, facing the east, has its trunk towards the left and rubies in its eyes. There is a diamond on the forehead and some jewel in the navel. The temple top is Golden and is possibly built by Chimaji Appa after defeating the Portuguese rulers of Vasai and Sashti. The temple is probably built around 1785AD. This temple is located just off the Pune-Nashik Highway, in the town of Ozar. It is enclosed on all sides by high stone walls, and its pinnacle is made of gold. The temple is situated on the banks of river Kukadi.
Ashta Vinayak Darshan Ranjangaon cha Shri Mahaganapati
Shiva is believed to have worshipped Ganesha before fighting the demon Tripurasura here. The temple was built by Shiva where he worshipped Ganesha, and the town he set up was called Manipur which is now known as Ranjangaon. According to the history the temple was built in between 9th and 10th century. While going from the Pune - Nagar highway the route is Pune Koregaon - then via Shikrapur; Rajangaon is 21 km before Shirur. From Pune it is 50 km. The idol faces the east, is seated in a cross-legged position with a broad forehead, with its trunk pointing to the left. It is said that the original idol is hidden in the basement, having 10 trunks and 20 hands and is called Mahotkat, however, the temple authorities deny existence of any such idol. Constructed so that the rays of the sun fall directly on the idol (during the Southward movement of the sun). Shrimant Madhavrao Peshwa used to visit this temple very often and built the stone sanctum around the idol and in 1790 AD Mr. Anyaba Dev was authorised to worship the idol. The Temple: Mahaganapati is portrayed, seated on a lotus, flanked by his consorts Siddhi and Ridhi. The temple dates back to the period of Peshwa The temple was erected during the rule of the Peshwas. Peshwa Madhavrao had constructed the inner sanctum, to house the swayambhoo (naturally found) idol.