The Ashtavinayak Yatra temples are located at different locations around Pune. The eight shrines of Ashtavinayak Yatra are located around the Pune district.
Ashtavinayak Yatra is a reasonably priced tour that visits the eight temples of Lord Ganesha. In this article we will talk about the eight temples of Ashtavinayak Yatra and why they are unique in each form. From reading this article you will have an idea of the Ashtavinayak darshan list. You can do the Ashtavinayak Darshan online booking from anywhere in India.
The Ashtavinayak Yatra is a blessed trip that visits each of the eight temples that house the 8 Ganpati’s in their every religious form.
In this article, we shall cover the eight temples of Ashtavinayak Yatra and describe each of these 8 temples.
The eight temples of Ashtavinayak Yatra
The temples that one visits during the Ashtavinayak Yatra are as follows:
- Mayureshwar Temple
- Siddhatek Temple
- Ballaleshwar Temple
- Varadavinayak Temple
- Chintamani Temple
- Girijatmaj Temple
- Vighnewshwar Temple
- Mahaganapati Temple
Let\s discuss each of these temples in detail and the wonderful sights that each one offers.
Mayurehswar Temple
Mayureshwar Temple is located in Morgaon, Pune District. The temple is made from black stone and was constructed during the Bahamani era. The temple is situated at the center of the Morgaon village. The temple is easy to reach from Pune and is situated 55 km away from the city. The murti of Lord Ganesh seen here is riding a peacock and the trunk of Lord Ganesha is seen to be facing the left side.
Siddhatek Ganpati Temple
The Siddhatek Ganpati temple is the only temple of Lord Ganesha that has the trunk of the murti facing right. The temple is facing the north direction and is built on a small hillock. The inner sanctum of the temple is 15 feet high and 10 feet wide. The dol of the temple is 3 feet tall and 2.5 feet wide. Pilgrims to the temple have to circle the hillock of the temple. Circling the temple takes about 30 minutes to complete.
Ballaleshwar Temple
The Ballaleshwar temple is an important temple of Ashtavinayak Yatra that is located in the town of Pali that is close to the Mumbai-Pune expressway. The murti of the Ballaleshwar temple is a beautiful sight to behold, with its trunk pointing left and diamonds in the eyes and navel of the Murti. The temple of Ballaleshwar is located facing east and has two sanctums. The idol of Lord Ganesha seen in this temple is seated on a throne that is shaped like a tree.
Varadavinayak Temple
This temple houses the Ganpati statue that is said to be the giver of bounty and success. The idol of this temple faces the east and is located just 3 Kms from the Mumbai-Pune expressway. The murti of this temple was found immersed in a nearby lake and hence it has a weathered look. The murti is surrounded by a number of oil lamps that are said to be burning since 1893. The Varadavinayak temple is located near Khopoli which is not from Mumbai.
Chintamani Temple
The Chintamani temple is named after the Chintamani jewel that Lord Ganesha is believed to have got back from the greedy mythological character named Ghuna. The temple is north-facing and is situated next to a lake. The temple is located just 22 km from Pune and is close to the Pune-Solapur highway. The temple is located close to the confluence of three rivers, Mula, Mutha, and Bhima.
Girijatmaj Temple
It is at this spot that it is believed that Parvati did her penance to beget Lord Ganesha. The temple is located close to 18 caves of Buddhist origin. The temple is the eighth cave in this formation. The temple is unique as it is carved out of a single stone hill. The temple has 307 steps. The temple is impressive in size, being 53 feet long, 51 feet high, and 7 feet wide. The trunk of the murti in this temple, just like in other temples faces left. The temple is a masterpiece of the old era and faces south. The unique structure and construction of the temple ensure that the temple is well-lit by sunshine during the day.
Vighneshwar Temple
The Vighneshwar Temple is a stone temple that has a golden temple top. The temple was built around 1786 AD. The temple is located along the Pune-Nashik highway and is situated in the town of Ozhar. The Ganesh Murthi of this temple is beautiful to behold and is surrounded by
thick stone walls.
Mahaganpati Temple
The idol of the Mahaganpati Temple faces the east and is constructed in such a way that the rays of the sun fall directly on the holy murthi of Lord Ganesha. The Mahaganpati temple is built with a stone cycle that is around the temple. The idol within the temple sits in a cross-legged
position and has a broad forehead. The architecture of the temple is reminiscent of the 10th and 12th-century architectural styles.
