An ancient text, Rupamandan, lays down the general rules for building a Ganesh temple with positions for his wives-Siddhi and Buddhi, his mother Kubera, Saraswati and four gatekeepers. But the most sacred Ganesh temples are supposed to be the Swayambhu (self-generated) sites.
Ganesha is supposed to have manifested himself at these sites in natural forms, usually in rocks.The form is then daubed with saffron colour and a legend, rather than a temple, grows around it. The Ashtavinayakas (eight Vinayakas) of Maharashtra are very good examples.
Foremost among the shrines is Mayureshwar, (or Moreshwar) at Morgaon, some 64 kms from Pune. It was built in the 14th century by Morya Gosavi, who is said to have found a Ganesha statue in the sacred tank, which he chose to install at Chinchwad.
However, Ganesha, born as Mayureshwar or Moreshwar, riding a peacock, liberated the gods on Ganesh Chaturthi day, cutting Sindhu into three parts. Morgaon is supposed to be situated at the spot where the head fell. To this day, the deity from Chinchwad is carried in a palanquin to its birthplace, Morgaon, during the festivals of Maqh and Bhadrapad.
Closely associated with Morgaon is the Chintamani Ganpati (jewel of the mind) at Theur 25 kms from Pune. Morya Gosavi attained siddhi (knowledge) here and the temple was built by his son to commemorate the event.
There is a lake here, Chintamani Sarovar where Indra is supposed to have done penance. Brahma too, steadied his mind with penance at this spot, hence it is called Theur, probably from the word sthavara (steady). The deity's image here is only of the head and trunk.At Ranjangaon, 54 kms from Pune, the deity is known as the Mahaganapati (Ganapati the Great), as the original statue had as many as ten trunks and 20 arms. Legend has it that the towering idol was hidden to prevent its destruction and the present smaller idol, was installed instead. Yet the spirit of the Mahaganapati still holds sway, drawing faithful devotees in vast numbers during the Bhadrapad festival.
Shri Siddhi Vinayak, situated on the banks of Bhima at Siddhatek, Ahmednagar is also believed to be a pot where Morya Gosavi did penance. It is said that Peshwa Haripat Phadke's devotion to Ganesha earned him the title of Commander-in-Chief of the army.
Built in 1833, the temple at Ozar, 102 kms from Pune on the road to Narayangaon, is famous for its deepmala (garland of lights) audits golden dome. Here, Ganesha is worshipped in his incarnation of Vigneshwara - the Lord of obstacles. Legend has it that King Abhinandana performed many sacrifices to become another Indra. The latter, hearing of this, sent Kala (Time as the destroyer) himself in the form of Vighnasura to obstruct the sacrifices.
Situated on a hill on the banks of the Kukdi river is the temple of Girijatmaka (son of Girija) at Lenyadri. It can be reached only by climbing 283 steps, after which devotees are rewarded with a glimpse of the deity as well as Buddhist rock-cut carvings. According to folklore, Parvati, wanting a son, prayed and did penance for 12 years to Ganesha, who pleased with her devotion, was born as a child. The deity faces south and is particularly sacred because Ganesha's thread ceremony was supposed to have been performed here.
The temple at Pali, 38 kms from Khopoli, was named Ballaleshwar, after the devotee Ballal,to whom Ganapati is said to have revealed himself at this sacred spot. The wooden temple has been so constructed that on the two equinoxes, the rays of the sun supposedly fall directly on the deity.
Ballal was born to a merchant named Kalyan and Indumati. He was an ardent Ganesha worshipper and soon had all his friends following him to the forest. Ballal's friends' parents complained to Kalyan, who angered that his son was idling away his days and corrupting the village boys, beat him severely, threw away the Ganesha idol, tied him up and abandoned him, saying 'Let Ganesha free you'. The boy prayed to Ganesha, who appeared and freed him and then disappeared into the rock, which is the swayambhu idol at Ballaleshwar. It faces east and behind it is the Dhundi Vinayaka temple which one visits first, because it is supposed to have the idol that Kalyan threw away.
The Mahad Ganesh, 20 km from Khandala, is known as Shri Varad Vinayak - the bestower of blessings. Rukmangada, son of a brave, generous king, became a leper for no fault of his own. A sage's wife had been attracted to him and because he had repelled her advances, she had cursed him.
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