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.
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