Ganesh Utsav has started from today. On the first day of Ganesh installation, visit Ashtavinayak of Maharashtra on the Dainik Bhaskar App. These 8 idols of Ganapati are swayambhu (i.e. self-manifested). Ashtaganpati is described in the Puranas. However, they got their real identity during the time of Peshwas.
One of the many names of Ganapati is 'Vinayaka', hence we call this group of temples Ashtavinayak. All these temples are present around Pune, but if you want to visit them then you have to travel about 1000 kms.
1000 km journey to see Ashta Ganapati
These eight very ancient temples are also called the eight Shaktipeeths of Lord Ganesha. Ashtavinayak's journey is done according to the order of meeting these holy idols. To reach all these temples from Pune, we have to travel 1000 km. It is described in the scriptures that this journey of Ashta Ganapati should start from the Morgaon Ganapati temple and end here. The importance of this journey is also like 12 Jyotirlingas.
The sequence of Ashtavinayak temples is something like this
Mayureshwar Temple: This temple of Ganpatiji is located in the Morgaon area, 80 km from Pune. The Mayureshwar Ganapati temple has minarets and tall stone walls at the four corners. The four gates present here are the symbols of the four eras – Satyuga, Tretayuga, Dwaparayuga, and Kaliyuga. The idol of Nandi, the vehicle of Shiva, is installed at the entrance of this temple, its face is towards the idol of Lord Ganesha. Regarding the idol of Nandi, it is believed that in ancient times Shiva and Nandi stayed in this temple area for rest, but later Nandi refused to leave from here. Since then Nandi is here. Both Nandi and the mouse (rat) live as protectors of the temple. In the temple, Ganesha is seated in a sitting posture and his trunk is towards the left hand, he has four arms and three eyes.
Siddhivinayak Temple: The second Ganesh in Ashtavinayak is Siddhivinayak. This temple is located at a distance of about 48 km from Pune. Near this temple is the Bhima river. This temple is one of the oldest temples in Pune, as it is about 200 years old. It is believed that this is where Lord Vishnu had attained siddhis. Siddhivinayak Temple is built on top of a mountain. The main gate of which is towards the north. One has to travel up the hill to circumambulate the temple. The idol of Ganesha here is 3 feet high and 2.5 feet wide. The trunk of Lord Ganesha is in the right hand.
Ballaleshwar Temple: The third temple in Ashtavinayak is Sri Ballaleshwar Temple. The temple is located 11 kms from Pali to Toyon on the Mumbai-Pune Highway and before Nagothane on the Goa Highway. This temple is named after Ballal, a devotee of Ganesha. It is believed that in ancient times a devotee named Ballal was thrown into the forest by his family members along with the idol of Ganesha. In critical condition, Ballal was chanting the mantras of Ganesha. Pleased with this devotion, Ganesha appeared to him. Then Ballal requested Ganesha to now reside at this place. Ganapati accepted the request. Since then Ganeshji has been enshrined here by the name Ballaleshwar.
Varadvinayak Temple: Shri Varadvinayak is the fourth Ganesh ji in Ashta Vinayak. This temple is located in the Kolhapur area of the Raigad district of Maharashtra. There is a beautiful hill village Mahad. Shri Varadvinayak Temple is located in this village. According to the prevailing belief here, Varadvinayak fulfills all the wishes of the devotees. There is a lamp named Nanddeep in this temple which has been lit for many years. Although this temple has mythological importance and a story of sage Vishwamitra is also associated with this temple, in modern times the construction of this temple is believed to be in 1725. At that time it was built by Subedar Ramji Bilwalkar.
Chintamani Ganapati: Chintamani Ganapati is in fifth place in Ashtavinayak. This temple is located in the Haveli area, 30 km from the Pune district. Near the temple is the confluence of two rivers, Mula and Mutha. There is a belief about this temple that if the mind of a devotee is very disturbed and sufferings are being received in life, then all his problems will be removed after coming to this temple. It is believed that Lord Brahma did penance at this place to control his disturbed mind.
Sachin Agalwe, the head priest of Chintamani Ganapati, said that all kinds of worries, physical, financial, and mental, end with the mere darshan of Chintamani Ganapati. This temple is considered to be the place of Mother. Here Ganpati takes care of her children like a mother. Chintamani has a diamond in her navel and she has the effect of Sheshnag on her forehead. Worship and darshan are held here thrice a day.
Shri Girjatmaj Ganapati Temple: Shri Girjatmaj is in sixth place in Ashtavinayak. This temple is situated at a distance of 90 kms from Pune on the Pune-Nashik Highway. The distance of this temple from Narayangaon in the area is 12 kilometers. Girjatmaj means Girija i.e. Ganesha, son of Mother Parvati. This temple is built on the site of Buddhist caves on a mountain. There are 18 Buddhist caves on the Lenyadri mountain and the 8th cave has the Girjatmaja Vinayak temple. These caves are also called Ganesh caves. This entire temple itself has been built by cutting a big stone.
Solar Eclipse 2023: When is the solar eclipse in India, know the time and date; how to avoid negative energy
Surya Grahan 2023: The first solar eclipse of the year 2023 is going to happen on 20 April. This year, on Vaishakh Amavasya, three types of solar eclipse will be seen in a single day, which scientists
Abu Azmi: Big action against Abu Azmi, suspended from the assembly in the matter of comment related to Aurangzeb
Major action has been taken against Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi in Maharashtra. He has been suspended from the current session of the Assembly in the matter of comment related to Aurangzeb. Earlier,
PCB took a U-turn regarding the "enemy country" statement, and said this big thing regarding the grand welcome of the PAK team
Zaka Ashraf takes a U-turn on Dushman Mulk's comment: After the Pakistan team reached India, there was an uproar on social media among the cricket fans of both countries over a statement by Pakistan
Waqf Law: SC will hear the case against Waqf law on this day, Central government has also made this demand
The Supreme Court will hear on April 16 the petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Waqf Amendment Act, 2025. The matter is listed before a bench headed by Chief Justice Sanjiv
IND vs SA: Suryakumar's fourth century in T20, equals Rohit-Maxwell; India's D. Greatest victory over Africa
After man-of-the-match captain Suryakumar Yadav's century, with the help of Chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav's brilliant spin, India defeated South Africa by 106 runs in the third and final T20 match and
China Taiwan Tension: Military exercise is done again around Taiwan, Chinese army claims
The Chinese military said on Monday that its troops had conducted military exercises with patrols in the sea and airspace around Taiwan.
Badaun Case: The biggest question... Why were Ayush and Ahaan killed? No one can understand the reason for the murder
Baba Colony of Badaun city... On the terrace of the double-storey house of a rich family, two innocent brothers Ayush (13) and Ahaan (06) were murdered so brutally that even those who looked at the
Pakistan: Pakistan did not even spare the US relief fund, there was a lot of looting, and Biden officials furious
Such an act of corruption has come to the fore by Pakistan, after hearing that America has become furious. America had sent relief funds to save from the severe floods in Pakistan, but Pakistani
Coronavirus Update: Corona cases are continuously decreasing across the country, active cases have come down to around 5500
There is now a continuous decline in corona cases in the country. In the last few days, there has also been an increase in the number of people who beat Corona. According to the data released by the
Bharat Jodo Yatra: 'Celebs got money for Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra', Pooja Bhatt gave this befitting reply
Pooja Bhatt: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' has become a topic of discussion these days. Many famous stars of the Bollywood industry have also presented their participated in this
