Saturday, January 18, 2025

The Must-Visit 8 Ganesh Temples in Maharashtra for an Enriching Spiritual Experience

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Maharashtra’s ancient spiritual corners provide the perfect escape for people. The eight Ganesh temples, famously known as ‘Ashtavinayak Yatra’, stand supreme among various spiritual and religious places.

The ‘Ashtavinayak’ journey involves visiting and circling around the 8 abodes of Lord Ganesha, exploring unique tales, and experiencing spiritual serenity. Those eight temples are Moreshwar Temple, Siddhivinayak Temple, Ballaleshwar Temple, VaradVinayak Temple, Chintamani Temple, Girijatmaj Temple, Vighnahar Temple, and Mahaganapati Temple.

If you want to visit these Ashtavinayak Darshan from Mumbai, Ashtavinayak Yatra has brought this blog. It’s for those looking to get lost in the Yatras spiritual vibrations of divine rhythms. Those people who want to leave the stressful life aside for 2 to 7 days and have an enriching spiritual experience.

Ganesh Temples in Maharashtra- Ashtavinayak Temples

The Moreshwar Temple

Rested peacefully in Moregoan (Mayureshwar), the Moreshwar temple is the first stop among the special 8. It’s believed that Lord Ganesha took the form of Mayureshwar—the peacock rider—here.

This temple has a calm aura. The place gets enhanced by a beautiful six-foot-tall idol.

The temple is 55 kilometers from Pune and can be conveniently reached by road. The temple stands grand at a height of 50 feet and possesses an awe-inspiring beauty. It has four entry points; the primary entry is from the North.

You get to see two large Deepmalas in the courtyard. The temple’s deity receives worship thrice daily, with ceremonies held at 7 AM, 12 Noon, and 8 PM. On special festival days, such as Ganesh Jayanti and Ganesh Chaturthi, the temple witnesses devotees from around the globe.

Siddhivinayak Temple, Siddhatek

Your next destination in Ashtavinayak Darshan yatra is Siddhivinayak Temple. The temple lies along the mesmerizing banks of river Bhima at Siddhatek. This temple is revered as the homage to ‘Siddhi.’ Siddhi is called one of the spiritual forms of Lord Ganesha.

The Ganpati idol has a right-faced trunk and is crafted from a single black stone. ‘Shree Siddhivinayak’ is popularly recognized for granting devotees’ wishes who whisper them to the giant silver mouse outside the inner sanctum. This mouse represents Lord Ganesha’s loyal carrier.

Varadvinayak Temple, Mahad

The third spot for your spiritual journey is the Varadvinayak Temple at Mahad. As the name suggests, Varadvinayak stands for a ‘boon giver’.

Powerful among Ganesh temples in Maharashtra, there is intricate woodwork around the temple, and the idol is made with precious stones. You get to see the splendid form of ancient art.

Like other temples, Varadvinayak’s central idol, “murti,” is “Swyambhu” or self-originated. This idol was discovered in 1690 in a nearby lake. In 1725, Subhedar Ramji Mahadev Biwalkar constructed a temple where that idol was established.

The statue faces east and is accompanied by four elephant sculptures in the temple’s four directions. Notably, a “Nandadeep” or oil lamp has been consistently shining in the temple since 1892.

Devotees who visit this temple to offer reverence to Lord Ganesha are granted access to the inner sanctum, the Garbhagriha. The temple is easily accessible from all major cities in Maharashtra. You can also book Tour at Ashtavinayak Yatra  for this Ashtavinayak temple.  

Ballaleshwar Temple, Pali

Travel next to the lap of Pali to worship divine Ganesha at Ballaleshwar Temple. This temple is named after a child devotee, Ballal. The temple beautifully captures the essence of devotion between a devotee and his divine.

The Ballaleshwar temple is a small hamlet about 28 kilometers from Roha in Maharashtra’s Raigad district. The place is located between Sarasgad Fort and the Amba River.

This historical temple faces the East, and each day, sunrise illuminates the statue of Ganesha during religious rituals. The temple has a big bell. The temple hosts two significant religious events, once during the Bhadrapada month and once during the Magha month.

Chintamani Temple, Theur

Your spiritual path leads you to Chintamani Temple situated in a small town called Theur. The name refers to the precious ‘Chintamani’ gem, believed to have been returned by Ganesha to sage Kapila. 

When you visit here, take our suggestion. The booths located near the temple offer some of the finest pedhas as an offering. Devout the Pedas to the god and have it as a Prasad.

The temple premises radiate tranquility and cleanliness. The Ashtavinayak temples were particularly adored by the followers of Lord Ganesha. While going there, also book a trip to the riverside where Ramabai’s monument is located.

Girijatmaj Temple, Lenyadri

Carved out of a beautiful hillside, the Girijatmaj Temple ambiance in Lenyadri will make your heart feel lighter and your mind calmer. Girijatmaj is the only temple in Ashtavinayak Yatrathat is located on a mountain among Buddhist caves. The worship here honors Lord Ganesh in his Girijatmaj form, an incarnation of him as a baby. Girija signifies Goddess Parvati, and ‘Atamaj’ refers to ‘Son’.

You need to climb 307-315 steps to reach the temple. Of the 18 caves of Buddhist significance in the mountain, the eighth is home to the Girijatmaj Ganpati Temple.

People call these caves Ganesh-leni. The temple has a spacious hall that measures 53 feet in length and 51 feet in width and has a ceiling height of 7 feet.

Vighnahar Temple, Ozar

Ozar is located near the Kukadi River, adjacent to the Yedagaon dam that spans it. Renowned for its Ganesha temple, it’s one of the main destinations in Maharashtra’s Ashtavinayaka yatra

It is around 85 km from Pune. Ozar is easily accessible via the Nashik-Pune (NH 60) highway and lies just 9 km north of Narayangaon.  The temple is a hub for festivities during Ganesha celebratory events like Ganesh Jayanti and Ganesh Chaturthi.

Mahaganapati Temple, Ranjangaon

The yatra for Ganesh temples in Maharashtra ends with this grand Mahaganapati Temple. The Ganpati temple in Ranjangaon, also known as Mahaganpati of Ranjangaon, stands in Shirur Taluka, approximately 51.5 km from Pune.

This temple is home to the idol of Mahaganpati, considered one of Lord Ganesha’s most powerful depictions. Small shops selling various items crowd the area during events or on Ganesh Jayati days.

The Ganpati idol at this temple was established and gifted by the “Khollam” family, a local goldsmith family based in Ranjangaon. The temple was constructed between the ninth and tenth centuries and appears to have been built in the Peshwa era.

By now, you must have understood that the profound Ashtavinayak yatrain Maharashtra is much more than exploring eight Ganesh temples. You explore those places and come rejuvenated for the rest of your life.

So, embark on this spiritual journey with Ashtavinayak Yatra From Mumbai. We provide safe, reliable, and affordable tour services from Mumbai to various places in Maharashtra.

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