Ashtavinayaka's

Shree Mayureshwar / Moreshwar: Situated at Moregaon, 64 Kms. From Pune was built in the 14th century by Morya Gosavi, and according to the legend Ganpati took birth as Mayureshwar riding a peacock to kill Sindhu, son of Chakrapani who had become powerful by worshipping Surya and was attacking Gods and had imprisoned them in the city of Gandaki. Moregaon is the place where the head of Sindhu fell.


Shree Chintamani: Situated at Theur, 25 Kms. From Pune. Morya Gosavi attained Siddhi here and his son built the temple to commemorate the event. According to the legend King Abhijit and his wife Gunavati had a son called Gana, on his visit to saga Kapila he coveted the Chintamani (wish fulfilling stone) which Kapila used to fulfill his wishes. Kapila refused to part with the stone but Gana took it forcibly, Durga advised Kapila to worship Ganapati. With the powers of the worship Kapila fought and killed Gana, Abhijit returned the jewel to Kapila but he did not it. Ganpati stayed on the spot under the Kadamba tree and called himself Chintamani.

Shree Mahaganpati: Situated at Ranjangaon, 54 km from Pune, He is known as Mahaganapati or Ganapati the Great. The original idol was very big but was hidden to prevent its destruction and the present-day idol was installed instead. As per the legend, Tripurasura was born from the nostrils of Gritsamada when he sneezed. Tripurasura worshipped Ganapati and conquered the three worlds. Ganapati had give him the boon that only Lord Shiva could destroy him. The gods went to Lord Shiva who fought Tripurasura but could not defeat him; then Narada told Shiva that he should have worshiped Ganapati before he fought Tripurasura. After that Lord Shiva made an appropriate prayer to Ganapati and succeeded in killing the Asura. In gratitude, Shiva established Ganapati there as Mahaganpati.

Shree Siddhivinayak:

This idol is situated at Siddhatek, on the banks of the Bhima, near Ahmednagar. As per legend, Lord Brahma once created a world with Ganapati's blessings, and while this was going, on Vishnu woke up and two fierce demons Madhu and Kaitaba escaped from His ears. Vishnu fought with them for 5,000 years without winning. Then Lord Shiva pointed out that Lord Vishnu had started out without worshipping Ganapati. So, Lord Vishnu invoked Ganapati at Sidhatek hill and destroyed the demons successfully and consecrated the spot.

Shree Vighneshwar:

Situated at Ozar, 102 km from Pune, the temple was built in 1833. The temple is famous for its Deepmalas and its golden dome. As per legend, King Abhinandana performed many sacrifices to become Indra. Indra, on hearing this, sent Kala (Time as destroyer) in the form of Vighnasura to obstruct the sacrifices. At this, the world also halted and suffered, all Vedic rites also halted so the Gods prayed to Ganapati. Ganapati defeated Vighnasura, making him one of the Ganas, Vighnasura requested Ganapati to use his name as prefix and stay at Ozar, to which Ganapati agreed.

Shree Girijatmaka: Situated on a hill on the banks of the Kukdi river at Lenyadri, the temple can be reached after climbing 283 steps. Legend says Parvati wanted a son, so she did penance for 12 years. Ganapati was born to her. The idol faces south and is sacred because Ganapati's thread ceremony was performed here.

Shree Ballaleshwar Situated at Pali, 38 km from Khopoli, the temple is named after devotee Ballal as Ballaleshwar to whom Ganapati reveled Himself at this sacred spot. The wooden temple is so constructed that on the two Equinoxes, the rays of the sun fall directly on the deity.

Shree Varad Vinayak: Situated at Mahad, 20 km From Khandala, the deity is known as Shree Varad Vinayak, the best ower of blessings.