Ashtavinayak Diaries – 1

Earlier this year, my wife and I decided to do the Ashtavinayak circuit, very popular among Maharashtrians but not known to many outside the state. It involves a visit to pray at 8 Ganapati temples in Maharashtra, with most of them around Pune. What is special about these temples? It is believed that all these Ganapatis are ‘swayambhus’, that is the idols are created by nature and not man-made. It is believed that if one undertakes the Ashtavinayak darshan in the Shastokta sequence, his wishes are fulfilled. The order of visit of the temples are as below:

1.  Morgaon Mayureshwar
2. Siddhatek Siddheshwar ( Siddhivinayak)
3. Pali Ballaleshwar
4. Mahad Varadavinayak
5. Theur Chintamani
6. Lenyadri Girijatmaj
7. Ozar Vigneshwar ( Vignaharta)
8. Ranjangaon Mahaganapati

However,following the Shasokta sequence would involve a lot of crisscrossing and would take a toll on time & effort, many people follow a different sequence over a three-day period, which is more amenable from the logistics standpoint. We were no exception.

Starting from Mumbai in a group, our first halt after a five hour bus ride (which included a ghat section plus a breather for breakfast) was at the small village of Ozar. The temple spire stood out as we gazed at it from the car park on the banks of the River Kukadi. Water sports are available in the river, close to the temple.

 The temple itself is not very large but a sense of tranquility prevails within as one looks at the idol with emerald-studded eyes and a diamond on its forehead. He is called Vigneshwar or Vignaharta or Vignahar. The temple is said to have been built in 1833 and later renovated/improvised under the rue of the Peshwas.

Legend has it that King Abhinandana carried out a huge sacrifice in a bid to assume Indra’s position. A perturbed Indra sent Kaala ( Time) in the form of a demon called Vignasura to obstruct the sacrifice. Vignasura not only stopped this sacrifice but also began disturbing all other saints. It is said that no religious rites could be performed and the world was coming to a halt. All the gods prayed to Ganapati who got into a fierce battle with Vignasura. Realising that he cannot defeat Ganapati, Vignasura surrendered and requested Ganapati to take his name– hence the name Vignaharta or remover of obstacles and stay in the place where the battle took place, which was Ozar. Vignasura became one of the ganas.

As there was not too much of a crowd, we performed a peaceful aarti. Noticed that the temple was brightly painted and as we stepped out into the courtyard, the ‘deepmalas’ or the lamp-post caught our attention. How bright it would look when all the lamps had been lit in the evening, we wondered. As we walked around the courtyard , we could see the Lenyadri Ganapati temple as also the Shivneri Fort on the not-too distant mountains.

Ganapati Bappa Morya!