AshtaVinayak
Ganesh — the elephant-deity riding a mouse — has become one of the commonest mnemonics for anything associated with Hinduism. This not only suggests the importance of Ganesh, but also shows how popular and pervasive this deity is in the minds of the masses.
The Lord of Success
The son of Shiva and Parvati, Ganesh has an elephantine countenance with a curved trunk and big ears, and a huge pot-bellied body of a human being. He is the Lord of success and destroyer of evils and obstacles. He is also worshipped as the god of education, knowledge, wisdom and wealth. In fact, Ganesh is one of the five prime Hindu deities (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and Durga being the other four) whose idolatry is glorified as the panchayatana puja.
Significance of the Ganesh Form
Ganesh's head symbolizes the Atman or the soul, which is the ultimate supreme reality of human existence, and his human body signifies Maya or the earthly existence of human beings. The elephant head denotes wisdom and its trunk represents Om, the sound symbol of cosmic reality. In his upper right hand Ganesh holds a goad, which helps him propel mankind forward on the eternal path and remove obstacles from the way. The noose in Ganesh's left hand is a gentle implement to capture all difficulties.
The broken tusk that Ganesh holds like a pen in his lower right hand is a symbol of sacrifice, which he broke for writing the Mahabharata . The rosary in his other hand suggests that the pursuit of knowledge should be continuous. The laddoo (sweet) he holds in his trunk indicates that one must discover the sweetness of the Atman. His fan-like ears convey that he is all ears to our petition. The snake that runs round his waist represents energy in all forms. And he is humble enough to ride the lowest of creatures, a mouse.
How Ganesh Got His Head
The story of the birth of this zoomorphic deity, as depicted in the Shiva Purana, goes like this: Once goddess Parvati, while bathing, created a boy out of the dirt of her body and assigned him the task of guarding the entrance to her bathroom. When Shiva, her husband returned, he was surprised to find a stranger denying him access, and struck off the boy's head in rage. Parvati broke down in utter grief and to soothe her, Shiva sent out his squad (gana) to fetch the head of any sleeping being who was facing the north. The company found a sleeping elephant and brought back its severed head, which was then attached to the body of the boy. Shiva restored its life and made him the leader (pati) of his troops. Hence his name Ganapati. Shiva also bestowed a boon that people would worship him and invoke his name before undertaking any venture.
However, there's another less popular story of his origin, found in the Brahma Vaivarta Purana: Shiva asked Parvati to observe the punyaka vrata for a year to appease Vishnu in order to have a son. When a son was born to her, all the gods and goddesses assembled to rejoice on its birth. Lord Shani, the son of Surya (Sun-God), was also present but he refused to look at the infant. Perturbed at this behaviour, Parvati asked him the reason, and Shani replied that his looking at baby would harm the newborn. However, on Parvati's insistence when Shani eyed the baby, the child's head was severed instantly. All the gods started to bemoan, whereupon Vishnu hurried to the bank of river Pushpabhadra and brought back the head of a young elephant, and joined it to the baby's body, thus reviving it.
Ganesh, the Destroyer of Pride
Ganesh is also the destroyer of vanity, selfishness and pride. He is the personification of material universe in all its various magnificent manifestations. “All Hindus worship Ganesh regardless of their sectarian belief”, says D N Singh in A Study of Hinduism. “He is both the beginning of the religion and the meeting ground for all Hindus”.
Ganesh Chaturthi
The devotees of Ganesh are known as Ganapatyas, and the festival to celebrate and glorify him is called Ganesh Chaturthi.
Every village in Maharashtra will inadvertently have at least a couple of Lord Ganapati (also names as Vinayak, Ganesh) temples. The devotees experience thousands of forms of the Lord through these temples. Eight of these temples in Maharashtra have a special importance. Vinayak is one among several of Lord Ganesh’s names. These eight temples are together recognised as Ashta Vinayak (Ashta= eight). These eight temples are famous not only in Maharashtra but all over the nation. Lord Ganapati is believed by devotees to be a deity of knowledge and is also creator of happiness, destructor of sorrows, and is a protector of ones wellbeing.
The Lord of Success
The son of Shiva and Parvati, Ganesh has an elephantine countenance with a curved trunk and big ears, and a huge pot-bellied body of a human being. He is the Lord of success and destroyer of evils and obstacles. He is also worshipped as the god of education, knowledge, wisdom and wealth. In fact, Ganesh is one of the five prime Hindu deities (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and Durga being the other four) whose idolatry is glorified as the panchayatana puja.
Significance of the Ganesh Form
Ganesh's head symbolizes the Atman or the soul, which is the ultimate supreme reality of human existence, and his human body signifies Maya or the earthly existence of human beings. The elephant head denotes wisdom and its trunk represents Om, the sound symbol of cosmic reality. In his upper right hand Ganesh holds a goad, which helps him propel mankind forward on the eternal path and remove obstacles from the way. The noose in Ganesh's left hand is a gentle implement to capture all difficulties.
The broken tusk that Ganesh holds like a pen in his lower right hand is a symbol of sacrifice, which he broke for writing the Mahabharata . The rosary in his other hand suggests that the pursuit of knowledge should be continuous. The laddoo (sweet) he holds in his trunk indicates that one must discover the sweetness of the Atman. His fan-like ears convey that he is all ears to our petition. The snake that runs round his waist represents energy in all forms. And he is humble enough to ride the lowest of creatures, a mouse.
How Ganesh Got His Head
The story of the birth of this zoomorphic deity, as depicted in the Shiva Purana, goes like this: Once goddess Parvati, while bathing, created a boy out of the dirt of her body and assigned him the task of guarding the entrance to her bathroom. When Shiva, her husband returned, he was surprised to find a stranger denying him access, and struck off the boy's head in rage. Parvati broke down in utter grief and to soothe her, Shiva sent out his squad (gana) to fetch the head of any sleeping being who was facing the north. The company found a sleeping elephant and brought back its severed head, which was then attached to the body of the boy. Shiva restored its life and made him the leader (pati) of his troops. Hence his name Ganapati. Shiva also bestowed a boon that people would worship him and invoke his name before undertaking any venture.
However, there's another less popular story of his origin, found in the Brahma Vaivarta Purana: Shiva asked Parvati to observe the punyaka vrata for a year to appease Vishnu in order to have a son. When a son was born to her, all the gods and goddesses assembled to rejoice on its birth. Lord Shani, the son of Surya (Sun-God), was also present but he refused to look at the infant. Perturbed at this behaviour, Parvati asked him the reason, and Shani replied that his looking at baby would harm the newborn. However, on Parvati's insistence when Shani eyed the baby, the child's head was severed instantly. All the gods started to bemoan, whereupon Vishnu hurried to the bank of river Pushpabhadra and brought back the head of a young elephant, and joined it to the baby's body, thus reviving it.
Ganesh, the Destroyer of Pride
Ganesh is also the destroyer of vanity, selfishness and pride. He is the personification of material universe in all its various magnificent manifestations. “All Hindus worship Ganesh regardless of their sectarian belief”, says D N Singh in A Study of Hinduism. “He is both the beginning of the religion and the meeting ground for all Hindus”.
Ganesh Chaturthi
The devotees of Ganesh are known as Ganapatyas, and the festival to celebrate and glorify him is called Ganesh Chaturthi.
Every village in Maharashtra will inadvertently have at least a couple of Lord Ganapati (also names as Vinayak, Ganesh) temples. The devotees experience thousands of forms of the Lord through these temples. Eight of these temples in Maharashtra have a special importance. Vinayak is one among several of Lord Ganesh’s names. These eight temples are together recognised as Ashta Vinayak (Ashta= eight). These eight temples are famous not only in Maharashtra but all over the nation. Lord Ganapati is believed by devotees to be a deity of knowledge and is also creator of happiness, destructor of sorrows, and is a protector of ones wellbeing.
Many idols have been sculpted of Lord Ganapati, but wherever ancient idols carved into stones or Swayambhu idols have been found, these sites have acquired special importance, and have together been recognised as Ashta Vinayak. Innumerable devotees undertake a pilgrimage to visit all these eight places. All the eight temples are located quite close to each other. It takes approximately 1.5 to 2 days to complete the entire pilgrimage covering all eight temples. Pune district has five of these (Morgaon, Theur, Ranjangaon, Ozar, Lenyadri), Raigad district has two (Mahad, Pali), and Ahmednagar district has one (Siddhatek). Detailed information of the same follows:
1. Morgaon’s Mayureshwar:
1. Morgaon’s Mayureshwar:
Shri Mayureshwar, the Ganapati of Morgaon is considered the first of the Ashta Vinayak. There are eleven steps leading up to the temple. Morya Gosavi, the great devotee of Lord Ganesh, had taken up the oath to ritualistically venerate the Lord daily.
Shri Moreshwar Ganesh is a Swayambhu and premier idol. The 17th century saint poet SamarthRamdas Swami wrote the popular hymn that is said in every household while praying to Ganapati, and It is said that he was inspired to write it while sitting in this temple.
The façade is resplendent with intricate carvings. There are stone structures dating to ancient times surrounding the temple.
The temple is located on the banks of River Karha, in Baramati taluka, Pune district, about seventy Km from Pune city and thirty-five km from Baramati city. Jejuri’s deity Khandoba, Maharashtra’s family tutelary deity, is just seventeen km from Morgaon. There is public transport available in all three places to reach Morgaon.
2. Theur’s Chintamani :
2. Theur’s Chintamani :
Shri Chintamani of Theur is the second Ganapati among the Ashta Vinayakas. The place of worship of Shri Ganesh is under a Kadamba tree. This deity is named Chintamani because he is believed by devotees to rid them of their anxiety (Chinta=anxiety). Unlike most Ganapati idols, this idol has it’s trunk on the left.
The Peshwa lineage being great devotees of Ganapati, family members of the Peshwa lineage from Pune are constant visitors of Theur. Madhavrao initiated the expanse of Theur’s temple. Madhavrao Peshwa expired at Theur. His tomb as well that of his wife Ramabai, who chose to extinguish her life when her husband died, are at Theur. There is an artistic exhibit produced by Nirgudkar Foundation inside the temple premises, that elucidates the inspirational lifetime work of Madhavrao Peshwa.
This temple is situated off the Pune-Solapur Highway in village Theur, Haveli taluka, district Pune, about 30 Km from Pune city. There are buses plying to Theur from Pune. Close to Theur at Uruli Kanchan is the naturopathy centre established by Mahatma Gandhi.
3. Siddhatek’s Siddhi Vinayak :
3. Siddhatek’s Siddhi Vinayak :
Shri Siddhi Vinayak of Siddhatek is the third Ganapati among the Ashta Vinayak. The idol here isSwayambhu.
The inner sanctum and community hall of the temple is spacious. PunyaShlok Ahilya Holkar laid the foundation of the temple and had it built. The dome of the temple is of bronze and has images of moon, sun and Garud (a mythological creature who is an eagle).
The temple is situated on the banks of River Bhim, in Karjat Taluka, district Ahmednagar, 99 km from Daund and 142 km from Rashin.
4. Ranjangaon’s MahaGanapati :
This is the fourth Ganapati among the Ashta Vinayak. The Ganapati here is called MahaGanapati and the idol is Swayambhu.
There is a myth attached to this place which is: Lord Shiva, Ganapati’s father, had granted the demon TripurAsur some powers. Misusing his powers, TripurAsur started troubling people from the earth and heaven. Finally, Lord Shiv had to take the help of Ganapati and kill the demon. That is why this Ganapati is called TripurariVadhe MahaGanapati (Great Ganapati who killed Tripurari).
This form is considered the most powerful among all the Ashta Vinayak. The idol here has it’s trunk towards the right, has ten hands, the countenance is pleasing and the idol rests on a lotus pedestal.
This temple was renovated during the period of Madhavrao Peshwa. Sardar Kibe of Indurkar has also contributed to the renovation of the temple. The origins of this place dates back to the 10th century.
This temple is situated on Pune-Ahmednagar highway in Shirur taluka.
5. Ozar’s Shri Vighneshwar :
Shri Vighneshwar of Ozar if the fifth Ganapati among the Ashta Vinayak. This idol is tall and broad. This idol is the wealthiest among the Ashta Vinayak since it is laden with jewels. Being the destructor of obstacles, this form of Ganapati is called Vighneshwar (Vighna = obstacles). This is one of the Swayambhu idols, and is considered to be a Jagrut deity.
Chimaji Appa, the brother of senior Bajirao Peshwa, has renovated the temple.
The temple is centrally located inside a compound wall. There are excellent boarding facilities inside the temple premises.
The temple is centrally located inside a compound wall. There are excellent boarding facilities inside the temple premises.
The temple is on the banks of the Kukadi River near Junnar in Pune district, 85 km from Pune city and 14 km from Lenyadri. Nearby is the largest meter wave radio telescope in Asia at Kodad, the earth satellite station at Arvi, and Shivneri, King Shivaji’s birthplace.
6. Lenyadri’s Shri Girijatmaj :
Shri Girijatmak of Lenyadri is the sixth of the Ashta Vinayak. It is a Swayambhu idol which is carved into a rock. There are many carvings found in the stones around the temple. There are stone pillars in the temple which have beautiful carvings on it.
The temple is located on a hill among the Junnar caves, and there are approximately 400 steps leading up to it. It was restored during the Peshwa regime.
This temple is situated near the Kukadi River in Pune District about five km from Junnar taluka. It is just 7 km from Junnar and 97 km from Pune city.
7. Mahad’s Shri Varad Vinayak :
Shri VaradaVinayak of Mahad is the seventh Ganapati in the Ashta Vinayak. This idol too is Swyambhu and the temple is actually recognised as a Math.
The temple is very simply designed with a tiled roof, a dome and a golden summit (Kalas) which has a carving of a cobra (also a deity revered by Hindus).
There is a famous story related to the temple: a devotee dreamt of an idol fallen in the pond behind the temple. Accordingly the devotee searched the pond and discovered the idol. This idol was then installed in the temple and is now the main idol. The idol has a right sided trunk. There is a stone arched recess in which the idol is installed on a throne.
The famed Varad Vinayak temple was built in 1725 during the Peshwa regime at Mahad near Khalapur in Raigad district.
This temple is located on the Pune – Mumbai National Highway between Khopoli and Khalapur.
8. Pali’s Shri Ballaleshwar:
Shir Balleshwar of Pali is the eight Ganapati in the Ashta Vinayak. This too is a Swayambhu idol. The temple faces east and the idol has a left-sided trunk. It’s forehead is large and the eyes are diamonds studded.
The temple is built of stone. There is a large bell here which was donated by Chimaji Appa.
This temple is situated in beautiful natural surroundings at Pali, Sudhagad taluka, district Raigad. The grand Sudhagad fort and Amba River are close by. There are hot water springs located close to Pali at Unher and an ancient fort at Sarasgarh.
Pali is 38 km from Khopoli and 111 km from Pune city. The road to Pali breaks off on the Khopoli – Pen road, whereas on the Panvel – Goa highway there is a road that breaks off to Pali at Vakan.
All these places have religious fairs on the fourth day of the lunar month of Bhadrapad of the Hindu almanac. The Atharva Sheersha and other Ganesh hymns are recited in all these places. Today devotees from all castes and communities can visit the temples and view the temple, temple steeple and the deity. The Ganesh festival is celebrated from the fourth day to the fourteenth day of Bhadrapad in all these places. Each place has excellent lodging and boarding facilities. Some travel agencies arrange a pilgrimage visit to all these places, and also help devotees in carrying out the pilgrimage and arranging the viewing of the deity. One has to travel through Pune, Ahmednagar and Raigad districts for visiting these places. The Ganesh idols are in various forms, some are situated near rivers, some are cut in rocks. So the devotees can also enjoy tourism.
The importance of Ashta Vinayak is recognised by the entire nation.
Like the Ashta Vinayak, Vidharbha too has eight important Ganapati temples, which are calledAshta Vinayak of Vidharbha. They are located at following places:
- Nagpur – district Nagpur
- Adasa – district Nagpur
- Ramtek - district Nagpur
- Mendha – district Nagpur
- Pauni – district Nagpur
- Kelzar – district Vardha
- Kalamb – district Yavatmal
- Chandrapur - district Chandrapur
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